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Bob Crane Community Center reports strong first-year use but some programs run at a loss
Summary
In a city council presentation, staff reported 12,545 paid memberships, roughly $3.6 million in first‑year revenue and broad community use; childcare and esports operate at a deficit and staff said they will reassess staffing and programming to improve cost recovery.
The city’s Bob Crane Community Center marked its first full year of operations with higher‑than‑expected use but pockets of subsidized services, staff told the Upper Arlington City Council on April 20.
Recreation Superintendent Matt Lover said the center recorded 12,545 paid memberships through March 31, of which 11,060 were residents, and logged about 40,436 membership visits over the year. "As of March 31, we had 12,545 paid memberships," Lover said, noting peak daily traffic reached 2,571 visits on Jan. 2. Staff also reported 603 rentals and roughly $143,000 in rental revenue for the year, and about $133,863 in day‑pass revenue.
City staff stressed that memberships—and contractual Medicare supplement programs such as SilverSneakers and Renew Active—are the primary revenue drivers. Director of operations Debbie (identified in the presentation) told council the center’s total revenue for the April‑to‑March reporting period was about $3.6 million against roughly $2.7 million in expenses, producing about a 131% cost‑recovery rate on the community‑center budget alone.
Why it matters: the center’s usage exceeded feasibility estimates, producing surplus operating results early but also concentrating wear and tear on facilities and creating operating questions for subsidized services. Council members asked whether excess usage would force higher ongoing maintenance and earlier replacement of equipment; staff said the city is tracking accelerated maintenance needs and will revise custodial and maintenance contracts accordingly.
Several programs, however, operate as intentional community subsidies. Staff described childwatch as a core service that helps members use fitness programming but acknowledged the service ran a structural deficit in the first months. "Child watch in particular is tied to membership," Lover said; staff added the program’s financials are influenced by staffing and class‑linked revenue and that the city offers a financial‑assistance program limited to Upper Arlington residents.
Esports likewise has modest participation relative to its capital outlay: staff reported about 34 consistent esports members, roughly 92 visits per month, with revenue of roughly $3,836 and operating expenses driven by staff time of about $51,906. Council and staff said they will continue experimenting with fee waivers, free days and school partnerships to increase usage.
Council members and staff also discussed operational details: parking coordination with nearby Kingsdale and Coventry businesses; rooftop solar panels (staff said the system is active but several inverters required contractor attention and have since been reactivated); tenant performance (CoreCafe is operating but underperforming); and an upcoming outdoor performance series slated for Friday, July 24.
What’s next: staff will return with follow‑up data on nonresident demographics, conversions from guest passes to memberships, and potential operational changes to custodial contracts and staffing levels to address maintenance and peak demand.
