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Community leaders, UAF and vendors warn Assembly against closing Carlson Center
Summary
UAF, event promoters, sports and community groups told the assembly that the Carlson Center drives cultural, economic and athletic activity across the borough and that closing or repurposing it would displace UAF hockey, trade shows and community events.
Representatives from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, event promoters and multiple community organizations urged the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly to preserve the Carlson Center during Thursday’s budget public hearing, saying the arena and exhibit space host sports, conferences and cultural gatherings that generate local spending and community activity.
“The Carlson Center is more than just an arena. It's a cornerstone of Fairbanks,” Marissa Sharrrah, associate athletic director at UAF, said during public testimony. She told the assembly the arena seats more people than other local venues and that recent renovations signaled community investment in the facility.
Multiple users described concrete economic and community roles the facility plays: Courtney Shannon, an events coordinator, told the assembly that Carlson Center trade shows and expos provided more than $10 million in vendor revenue in a 2019-based vendor survey and estimated all vendor-driven activity at the center could total as much as $20 million when other events are included. “If the Carlson Center were to close, even temporarily, the economic impact and the ripple effect would be astronomical,” Shannon said.
University and youth sports groups said the arena is essential for regular-season play, tournaments and fundraising. Anna Culley, executive director of Hockey Club Fairbanks and president of the UAF Face Off Club, said Carlson Center ice time enabled youth tournaments and fundraisers that otherwise would not be possible. UAF and Nanooks officials said there is no comparable venue in Fairbanks capable of hosting NCAA Division I hockey and large university events.
Speakers also questioned whether rental-fee increases or private fundraising could make up a projected shortfall. Several event promoters said they could absorb modest fee increases, but smaller nonprofits and community groups warned that higher rates could price them out. Courtney Shannon said her company could “be willing to pay a little bit more within reason” to help keep the center open but could not speak for smaller event organizers.
Assembly members did not take action on the Carlson Center during the meeting. The budget hearing focused on proposed service levels and the assembly’s proposed appropriations; final budget action is scheduled for a later session. Testifiers asked the assembly to weigh the cost-saving options against impacts to nonprofit programming, university athletics, local tourism and vendor revenues.
Speakers who testified on behalf of preservation included UAF officials, event coordinators, youth sports coaches, volunteer organizers and small-business vendors. Several urged the borough to pursue revenue options targeted at visitors rather than steeply increasing fees for local users.
The assembly will continue budget deliberations on May 8; staff said amendments should be filed with clerks in advance so administrators and members can review possible changes to funding and fees.
