A new downtown arena is already proving to be a success for the non-for-profit slated to run it and own two minor-league teams.
Despite the economy, a new downtown arena may be a bonanza for the not-for-profit running it, if early sales figures are any indication.
According to Joe Napoli, president of the baseball Toledo Mud Hens and president of the arena and its two teams, ticket and merchandise sales have been strong, even though the new arena isn’t slated to open until this fall.
Eighteen of the arena’s 20 suites have sold, an impressive stat when you consider they’re priced at $400,000 for a 10-year sports lease and for 10 years for all arena events, In addition, arena officials have sold 1,300 season tickets, including club seats going for $1,360 a season.
Two teams are slated to play at the arena: the ECHL’s Toledo Walleyes and AF2’s Toledo Bullfrongs. Napoli says the Walleyes are already in fourth or fifth place in ECHL merchandise sales.
