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Avondale officials say new aquatic center drew 75,000 visits and exceeded revenue estimates
Summary
Aquatics Manager Mark Foote reported more than 75,000 visits since opening, roughly $230,000 in season revenue to Labor Day and filled swim lessons with wait lists; staff said they hired 62 temporary employees and plan expanded programming including night swims and a duathlon.
Mark Foote, Avondale’s aquatics manager, told the council on Sept. 9 that the city’s new aquatic center welcomed more than 75,000 total visits since opening and generated roughly $230,000 in season revenue (April through Labor Day), exceeding conservative estimates.
Foote said public swim visits exceeded 60,000, with about 44,000 recorded as resident visits and 3,000 nonresident visits; more than 1,500 unique individuals registered for lessons and teams, accounting for about 15,000 lesson visits. He also reported strong demand for room rentals and special events, including the Wave Fest launch and the May dedication of the Humble Roots sculpture.
“We’ve welcomed in over 75,000 people through the doors of our aquatic center,” Foote told the council, and staff added that Google reviews averaged 4.3 stars while most lessons had wait lists because of instructor shortages.
Foote said the city brought on 62 temporary staff this season—covering roughly 5,000 shifts and about 21,000 staff hours—and will review staffing patterns, consider adding security and tweak program schedules. Popular experiments such as night swim sessions have drawn near-capacity crowds and will be evaluated for expansion.
The presentation included planned fall and winter programming: a pups-plunge day, a duathlon on Oct. 10 (swim plus cross-country run), and a November CPR-focused safety event. Foote also said the center will continue to host high-school practices and state lifeguard competitions, and the city is negotiating a partnership to remain a Michael Phelps Foundation training site.
Councilmembers praised staff organization and the resident-only opening policy, noting strong community uptake; the mayor and council asked staff to explore additional programming tied to weekend sporting events and rental opportunities.
What’s next: staff will return with staffing and programming adjustments for future seasons and continue partnerships with local schools and training organizations.
