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Menards Center shows improved revenue and proposes targeted equipment, furniture and software investments
Summary
Menards Center staff reported higher-than-expected rental hours and revenue, recommended furniture and display investments and discussed digital display advertising and software upgrades to improve operations.
Menards Center leadership told the council the facility’s rental hours and revenue have outperformed conservative projections and requested funds for furniture, equipment and software to support operations.
Director reported actual ice rental hours exceeded estimates last year — 3,600 hours used versus 3,220 estimated — and said the center had “a lot of success with our revenue” and “we hit million plus dollars” in gross revenue, well above pre‑COVID averages. Staff said rental hours are constrained by available ice and weekday/weekend schedules, and that growth depends on programming and community demand.
Line‑item requests included $15,000 for tables, chairs and furniture (up from $5,000) to replace worn tables and add benches and lobby furniture and a $2,000 increase for racks, carts and dollies to better store tables and equipment. Staff said these purchases were driven by operational wear and a need for safer handling of large equipment.
Computer software and display investments were discussed: staff detailed annual maintenance increases for scheduling software and asset management (MaintainX) and proposed using the Menards front‑of‑house screens more effectively. The director said the center’s front displays are linked to scheduling software and can rotate event flyers and that advertising partnerships could be explored with third‑party vendors to generate revenue while reducing staff maintenance. The council discussed potential to sell dasher board and screen advertising to support revenue.
Utility and energy management projects already installed — compressor system adjustments and lighting upgrades — were said to reduce some operating costs, although electricity and natural gas line items still rose overall due to market prices; water and sewer showed a notable decrease tied to improved circulation work.
No formal actions were taken; staff will return as part of the ongoing budget process for final appropriation decisions.
