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Federal Way PAC reports steady usage, mixed revenue; staff expects summer rebound
Summary
Stacia Winters, general manager of the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center (the PAC), presented January–March 2025 attendance and financials: about 10,000 attendees, ticket revenue down from last year but event operating income improved; staff forecast a revenue rebound as larger summer events come online.
Stacia Winters, general manager of the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center (PAC), told the Parks & Public Safety Committee that PAC attendance for January–March 2025 totaled just over 10,000 and that ticket revenue, rental revenue and food-and‑beverage results varied versus 2024.
Winters said PAC ticket revenue for the quarter was $173,000 (versus $221,000 in 2024), rental revenue about $119,000 (up slightly from 2024) and food and beverage revenue about $118,500 (down from $145,000 in 2024). She noted that the mix of events — more conferences and smaller meetings in early 2025 versus larger concerts last year — affects comparative ticket revenue.
Winters highlighted community and school events, including a larger MLK Day celebration (attendance rose from about 100 in 2024 to 421 in 2025) and a Federal Way Public Schools music festival that drew more than 800 family members across two performances. She also highlighted PAC Presents and ticketed shows, including a Cirque‑style presentation that drew more than 500 attendees during the quarter.
On event operating income (event revenue minus event expenses), Winters reported stronger margins: January $16,835, February $53,149 and March $13,849, and year‑to‑date event operating income outpacing some prior months. She said that while gross ticket revenue was below 2024, the PAC improved bottom‑line margins by focusing on event quality and expense control.
Council members asked for clarifications on accounting and reporting. Winters explained that city financial reports (FedRack) are closed on the city’s schedule and divide some annual budgets evenly by 12 months, whereas PAC seasonal patterns peak in different months; she recommended a six‑month check to better assess year performance. Members also asked about waived rent for city events, pavilion rental reporting as in‑kind support, carnival lease revenue (city minimum rent plus potential percentage of sales), and options for developing new recurring rentals such as show tech rehearsals.
Winters said usage days year to date were 70 and that the PAC had 231 usage days already contracted for the year, exceeding the annual goal of 222 usage days. She noted upcoming highlights and partnerships, including a senior health fair, Arts Explosion and NCAA‑related podcast events and a live podcast that raised funds for wildfire‑affected swim programs.
Committee members praised the PAC team and asked staff to explore clearer reporting of waived rent as in‑kind support so the PAC’s work and revenue impacts are more visible in financial summaries.
