Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mud Island visitor attraction reports 10,000+ ticketed visitors, seeks infrastructure funds
Summary
Operators of the Mud Island immersive attraction told council they attracted about 10,283 ticketed visitors in months since reopening and reported over $220,000 in gross sales; presenters asked the city to clear obstacles for an initial $5 million infrastructure phase to stabilize building systems and support a larger district vision.
Gevon Knight, who identified himself as CEO, and other presenters reported that their Mud Island immersive attraction opened May 1 and has recorded roughly 10,283 ticketed visitors in the first three months. "Today is that the receipts and the evidence are definitely yes," Knight told the committee as he described attendance figures and sales that the team says demonstrate demand.
Presenters said early operations produced gross sales exceeding $220,000 and that the business has committed to payroll of about $650,000 annually while employing a mix of part-time and contractor labor. They described operational headwinds—56 days with a critical HVAC outage and a plumbing outage within 10 days of opening—but argued that stabilizing building systems would unlock broader district development. The team requested council support to "clear obstacles to start a minimum of a $5,000,000 1st phase infrastructure initiative" to address long-term building needs and recommended an independent forensic engineering assessment as the first step.
Councilmembers asked about parking, pricing and partnerships with River Parks; presenters said paid parking ranges from short-term rates to a 24-hour option that they believed was roughly $20–$24. Council asked staff from River Parks to return and discuss the partnership and noted the need to address paid parking and wayfinding as part of any broader infrastructure planning.
