Fargo Dome Authority outlines convention center, hotel plan and budget update to Cass County commissioners

FARGO — Representatives from the Fargo Dome Authority told the Cass County Commission they expect a near break-even year for operations and presented a concept for a convention center attached to the Fargo Dome that would include a 150–200 room hotel on land leased from North Dakota State University.

The authority’s midyear financial summary showed 47 events through June 30 with about 183,000 total attendees and year-to-date event income of $1,454,000 versus a budgeted $1,500,000. ‘‘So far we've had 47 actual events. Attendance has been about 183,000, which is slightly below budget,’’ Rick Steen, a member of the Fargo Dome Authority board, told commissioners. He said other income was about $964,000 and noted indirect expenses of $2,000,569 led to a year-to-date net loss of $150,873 compared with a budgeted net loss of $128,496.

Why it matters: the authority says fall is the busy season and that its longer-term finances lean on two pools of resources — operating cash the Dome keeps for near-term capital needs and a separate permanent fund invested under the city’s investment policies. ‘‘The Fargo Dome does…