A proposed Blue Cross Arena at Community War Arena management deal from SMG calls for a lower subsidy from the city and more investments in features like a new sound system.
Rochester city officials were optimistic about a proposed Blue Cross Arena at Community War Arena management deal from SMG calling for a lower subsidy from the city and more investments in features like a new sound system.
SMG, which has managed Blue Cross Arena since 2000, is pitching a five-year contract extension that considerably lessens the city subsidy. This would be accomplished by SMG taking control of concessions and sharing that revenue with both the city and the main arena tenants, the Rochester Americans (AHL) and the Rochester Knighthawks (NLL).
It’s been a long haul to reach this point, as there’s been plenty of tumult at the arena and on the Rochester sports scene in the last year. Part of the tumult was the uncertain status of the Americans; with a new owner, a new parent club (the Florida Panthers) and a GM solely focused on the team (Jody Gage gave up his duties with the Knighthawks to focus on the hockey operations), the Amerks appear to be back on the right track.
