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Port Authority hears riverboat update as Inland Marina sublease faces year-end renegotiation
Summary
Alexia Burgreen told the Port Authority of Evansville the city hosted 10 riverboat stops in 2024, that American Cruise Lines is the primary Ohio River partner, and that the port’s $58,000 annual Inland Marina sublease will require renegotiation at year-end amid modest per-visit economic returns.
Alexia Burgreen, a tourism representative, told the Port Authority of Evansville on Sept. 9 that the city hosted 10 riverboat stops in 2024—four more than planned after Mississippi reroutes—and that American Cruise Lines, which acquired American Queen, is now the primary partner for Ohio River calls. Burgreen said the boats increasingly stay in port for up to 24 hours, allowing for longer excursions and more activities for visitors.
The program’s continuation is not yet decided. "We are at the point, however, in our agreement with the city and with Inland Marina, that it would need to be renegotiated at the end of this year," Burgreen said, adding that the port authority pays the Inland Marina sublease of $58,000 annually plus repairs and maintenance. She characterized the arrangement as "quite expensive" for her organization and said it does not produce an immediate financial return despite bringing visitors into the community multiple times per year.
Why it matters: Burgreen estimated each stop generates about $8,000 in local economic impact. While modest on a per-call basis, the aggregate benefit was a primary argument for continuing the partnership: "when you think about it over the course of 10 visits, you know, that that would justify our ... investment," she said. Commissioners discussed possible ways to increase the local capture of visitor spending, including better coordination with downtown businesses, volunteers to greet guests, and involving the LST wartime museum in excursion rotations.
Burgreen described operational hurdles that limit local spending, notably that many excursions occur when downtown businesses are closed and that converting interest into walking downtown requires businesses to commit to being open during stops. She said Inland Marina and ticket-barge infrastructure support operations and that local tour guides sometimes board at prior stops to preview Evansville for arriving passengers.
Board members asked operational questions: how many stops (10), whether docking fees are charged (Burgreen: a nominal fee of $300), and whether the port can share future schedules so commissioners can attend and help promote excursions. Burgreen agreed to provide 2025–26 dates and to schedule more frequent briefings.
Burgreen also warned of a risk if the existing dock were removed and sold for scrap, as the river-vision plan could leave Evansville without docking capability: "that would be the other thing as we look forward to what we're going to do in the future with that particular asset," she said.
Next steps: Burgreen said she will set follow-up briefings, share proposed 2025–26 dates with the board, and meet with city leaders and Inland Marina as the year-end renegotiation approaches. Commissioners offered to help recruit volunteers, engage downtown businesses, and explore collaborative support to improve excursion offerings.
