Fargodome’s finances will rebound in March

FARGO — The Fargodome’s finances were less robust than expected through the end of February, but should show a healthy rebound thanks to March’s Bon Jovi concert and other events in coming weeks, an official said.

Fargodome figures put February’s net income at $146,139. It was budgeted to be $247,760. That left the dome $101,621 behind its budget goals for that month alone.

On the other hand, losses in January were less than half of what was expected.

The dome had budgeted for a net income loss of $93,780, but instead the loss was $43,952.

That was in large part due to a WWE professional wrestling event that added $42,681 to the bottom line, dome records show.

Despite that, the Fargodome is still $51,791 behind budget for the first two months of the year.

General Manager Rob Sobolik said Thursday that the rebound will be strong.

“We’re very confident that that gap will be more than made up with March, April, May and June,” Sobolik said.

He didn’t have figures available, but said the March 13 Bon Jovi concert pulled in 22,000 to 23,000 people. That didn’t quite match the band’s draw in its appearance two years ago, but “it was very successful.” There was also good attendance at the Shrine Circus and sportsmen’s show, he said.

April will bring John Mayer on the 8th, “Walking With Dinosaurs” the week after, and the North Dakota State University spring football game on the 24th.

Ticket sales are good for the May 7 Simon and Garfunkel concert and Nickelback is almost sold out for May 27, Sobolik said. May also features NDSU commencement and Fargo Marathon.

June will be highlighted by the nearly sold out Carrie Underwood concert on the 17th, and Rib Fest, he said.

Through the end of February, the dome has hosted 22 events, four more than budgeted,

Lower attendance and concessions spending at several events kept the dome from hitting budget targets for the first two months of the year, figures presented to the Fargo Dome Authority show.

The Jeff Dunham concert took in $20,758 less than was budgeted and the Red River Valley Home and Garden Show took in $9,434 less than expected.

The theater shows “Camelot” and “The Wedding Singer” were not well-received, pulling in $31,084 less than budgeted. Both shows posted operating income losses.

The Monster Jam motorsports show took in $17,400 less than expected. Other income, including meeting room rental, was $10,877 less than budgeted.

Helmut Schmidt is a reporter at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: nd business, business, fargodome