SEA reports $107,940 available; Play Easy platform yields leads but few bookings

The Mitchell Sports and Events Authority reported year-to-date collections of $158,137 through July and a current available fund balance of $107,940 during its meeting. Aaron, authority staff, said award checks written to date totaled $86,700.

Aaron said the collections reflected recent monthly submissions: $20,574 submitted in May (for April records), $29,236 in June (for May records) and $37,482 in July (for June records), yielding year-to-date collections of $158,137. He also noted that room nights sold through July totaled 79,069, and compared to prior years the authority was up 2.8% versus 2024 (an increase of 2,249 room nights).

The authority noted that a $3,000 grant to Mitchell Baseball was declined and therefore not included in the $86,700 of award checks written. Aaron described Bid 4 designations: Bid 4 designated $150,000 and the carryover from 2024 increased 2025 revenue to $194,006.40, producing the available fund balance after expenses.

On the Play Easy RFP marketplace and destination microsite, authority staff reported the platform was activated beginning Jan. 1 after a December agreement. To date the authority logged 187 matched leads and 152 RFPs in the marketplace; the destination microsite recorded 117 unique visitors and 1,559 page views year to date. Event microsites logged 635 unique visitors and 2,078 views; users clicked registration links 64 times and ticketing links 31 times. Aaron said there were no hotel bookings made through the event microsites.

The authority also reviewed three evaluation forms with financial reconciliations for past events and noted individual event profits and losses in submitted reports. The board approved the minutes from the prior meeting (motion by Tim; second by Brian) prior to considering the financial report. The authority scheduled its next meeting for Sept. 9.