A temporary arrangement to have Pegula Sports and Entertainment oversee Blue Cross Arena management is now moving to a permanent basis after negotiations between the firm and the city of Rochester (NY).
The Pegula Sports and Entertainment affiliate, Rochester Arena LLC, and the city have agreed to a a preliminary agreement on the arena-management deal, with a final agreement expected to be signed by the end of the year. Pegula Sports and Entertainment signed to manage the home of the Rochester Americans (AHL) after the city severed an SMG management deal. From the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle:
Rochester Arena LLC, will continue paying the city $5,000 monthly (or $60,000 a year) to manage and operate Blue Cross Arena at the Community War Memorial, including concessions, ticketing and booking events, and retain revenues from advertising, suite sales and other funds generated from operations. And RA will pay all operating expenses, including half the Rochester Police Department’s costs related to arena events….
There is a proposed increase in user fees assessed on tickets valued at $6 or more, raising the added charge from $1.25 to $2.75. The city and RA will split the increase, resulting in an additional $200,000 for city coffers.
Pegula Sports and Entertainment owns the arena’s main sports tenant, the Rochester Americans (AHL), as well as the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Pegula Sports and Entertainment also manages several of the venues associated with these teams, including Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, HarborCenter and New Era Field. The firm has been busy as of late: besides entering the Rochester arena-management deal, the firm is also evaluating upgrades to KeyBank Arena and a potential new home of the Buffalo Bills.
RELATED STORIES: Pegula Sports Assumes Interim Blue Cross Arena Management; Pegula Sports and Entertainment Could Assume Interim Blue Cross Arena Management; Rochester Ends SMG’s Blue Cross Arena Contract
