Amid concerns from local residents that a sales tax-financed events center might ultimately force taxpayers to pay for the project, Christopher Comacho, president and CEO of the regional EDC, says the center is necessary to build a revenue base. The development is along Pacific Avenue and north of the one-million-sf Yuma Palms Regional Shopping Center. Comacho says the center would bring more people into Yuma for entertainment.
"Right now, we have a lot of sales tax leakage going to other communities," Comacho tells GlobeSt.com. "The only entertainment venue we have here are casinos. And beyond a farm-league baseball team, we have no professional sports or a venue for concerts and rodeos."
Steven Bielewicz, president of Global Properties, the Phoenix-based company that will oversee the center's development, says Yuma's location is ideal for a multi-purpose facility. For one thing, the town is along Interstate 8, halfway between Phoenix and San Diego. In addition, Yuma is close to the Mexican border. "Approximately one-third of all the tickets sold will come from patrons south of the border," Bielewicz believes.
[IMGCAP(2)]Assuming voters approve the facility, it will be used as a typical events center for concerts, the circus and a minor league professional hockey franchise that will play in the facility. Bielewicz says he hopes to attract an arena football team as well.
Global Properties is develops mid-size entertainment venues in secondary markets. It has one center operating in Hidalgo, TX, also near the Mexican border, and one about to break ground in Allen, a far northern suburb of Dallas. Other centers have been in operation for several years.
Bielewicz says he's seen commercial development thrive in the general area of events center developments. "We never know what the future will bring, of course," he adds. "But in looking back on prior experience that's the norm."
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