Tunica County selects Roots to manage arena sports complex

The Tunica County Board of Supervisors voted to award a management contract for the county arena to Roots, with the contract described in the meeting as taking effect April 1, 2025, and continuing through Dec. 31, 2027, with an option to renew. The motion to select Roots carried after a vote; one supervisor recorded an opposing vote.

Board members said the county needs increased utilization of the arena and discussed which proposal would generate the largest return on the county's investment. Several supervisors described both finalists — identified in the meeting as “Roots” and a “Sports Facilities” company — as capable of operating the complex, but differing in emphasis on entertainment, sports programming and regional booking networks.

A county staff member told supervisors that the two proposals include different financial structures: the Roots proposal was described in discussion as “around $150,000 in the first year,” while the Sports Facilities proposal was described as roughly “$224,000” per year (board members used these rounded figures during debate). Supervisors also discussed the county’s current subsidy for the facility, which staff described as “a little over $800,000” and said the arena’s salary budget is about $400,000 including benefits.

Supervisors raised workforce and transition issues, including whether the selected manager would absorb existing employees and preserve retirement benefits. Board members were told both firms said they would attempt to retain current staff and transition employees into their retirement plans without forcing losses, and that ongoing bookings already on the calendar would be honored during the transition.

Discussion included how each firm’s regional relationships could affect booking. One supervisor noted the Sports Facilities company has a regional network that could make it easier to move shows between nearby markets; another said Roots focuses heavily on entertainment and music and questioned whether entertainment would convert to the revenue levels the county expects.

After discussion, a motion to engage Roots for the management contract was made, seconded and approved. One supervisor asked to have their opposing vote recorded.

The board did not supply a detailed line-item contract in the public discussion; supervisors asked staff to proceed with the transition work and preserve bookings and staff continuity during handover.

The item originated under the board’s old business agenda and concluded with a formal vote awarding management to Roots.