COUNCIL REPORT Regular Council Report No. PRC 010-2018 Date: May 24, 2018 File No: 7900-20 To: Mayor and Council From: Kurt Houlden, Interim GM, Parks, Recreation & Culture Subject: Abbotsford Centre Annual Report for 2017, presented by Andrew Nash, General Manager, Abbotsford Centre RECOMMENDATION THAT Council receive for information the 2017 Annual Report of the Abbotsford Centre. REPORT CONCURRENCE General Manager City Manager The Interim General Manager concurs with The City Manager concurs with the the recommendation of this report. recommendation of this report. SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE The Abbotsford Centre 2017 Annual Report provides Council with an overview of the success of the operation including a highlight of the activities, trends and financial performance of the facility. BACKGROUND Spectra Venue Management (Spectra) has operated the Abbotsford Centre - a multi-use community, entertainment, cultural and sports facility on behalf of the City of Abbotsford since 2008. In 2014, the City of Abbotsford and Spectra Venue Management agreed to a new five year management and operating agreement, which included the “New Game Vision” (New Game), with enhanced community access; streamlined operating agreements; and revenue positive special events and anchor tenants. DISCUSSION In the past four years since the New Game was launched, the venue has increased community access, and generated a significant economic vibrancy for the businesses and residents of Abbotsford and surrounding area through successful event and community bookings. Report No. PRC 010-2018 Page 2 of 2 The “Abbotsford Centre 2017 Annual Report” (Attachment A) provides substantial detail. It was clearly another good year for the venue with 52 concerts and special events and hosting over 175,000 guests last year. In addition, minor hockey and other community groups had access to over 468 hours of ice time in 2017. The venue hosted numerous grad ceremonies in 2017 from local high school and post-secondary institutions. Events included 10 sold out concerts and the number of users for special functions increased dramatically over 2016 use. In addition, their General Manager is able to celebrate increasing financial success which realized the lowest subsidy ever from the City. The venue continues to be highly regarded in the event centre industry as noted within the report. FINANCIAL PLAN IMPLICATION The Abbotsford Centre had another favorable financial year in 2017. Major concerts and events in the venue resulted in lowest subsidy from the City since opening of the Abbotsford Centre. The actual subsidy for the year was $882,662 compared to the budgeted subsidy of $1,139,589 (net positive change of $256,927). Rajat Sharma General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services Signed 5/22/2018 1:56 PM IMPACTS ON COUNCIL POLICIES, STRATEGIC PLAN AND/OR COUNCIL DIRECTION The 2017 Annual Report of the Abbotsford Centre is in alignment with Council's direction for creating a Complete Community, Vibrant Economy and Fiscal Discipline. SUBSTANTIATION OF RECOMMENDATION Staff are seeking Council’s receipt of this report which serves as an introduction to the 2017 Abbotsford Centre Annual Report presented by its General Manager, Andrew Nash. Kurt Houlden Interim GM, Parks, Recreation & Culture Signed 5/15/2018 5:51 PM Kurt Houlden Interim GM, Parks, Recreation & Culture Signed 5/22/2018 2:51 PM ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A 2017 Abbotsford Centre Annual Report ABBOTSFORD Centre 2017 ANNUAL REPORT CHILLIWACK MONSTER TRUCK TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 03 MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER 04 2017 HIGHLIGHTS 07 2017 FACILITY USERS 10 COMMUNITY INITIATIVES 12 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 13 EVENT TICKET SALES 14 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 15 ECONOMIC IMPACT 16 LAUREN ALAINA ANNUAL EVENT SURVEY DATA 20 NET PROMOTER SCORE 22 THE GREAT EXPERIENCE 23 DIGITAL MARKETING INITATIVES 25 INTERACTIVE STATISTICS 26 OUR TEAM 27 KEY PARTNERSHIPS 29 PROMOTER COMMENTS 30 THANK YOU! 31 FUTURE OUTLOOK 33 JAMES FRASER VALLEY BARKER BAND MAMBA FIGHT THROWDOWN APPENDIX 34 2 ABBOTSFORD CENTRE SOLD OUT! DILJIT DOSANJH STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The venue credo – “Events. Experiences. Memories.” The Abbotsford Centre is committed to serving as a leading Canadian sports & entertainment venue by consistently providing its guests with outstanding event value, unique experiences, and lasting memories. We continue to strive to provide our guests with exceptional customer service. The Abbotsford Centre is the premiere sport, recreation, and entertainment facility in Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Global Spectrum Facility Management (DBA Spectra Venue Management), under the management agreement for the City of Abbotsford are committed to seeing the ‘New Game’ vision fulfilled. A New Game, an integrated approach to the development of the facility was adopted in 2014, and anchored on improved operating agreements, increased community access, and revenue - positive tenants. The extensive work over the past four years through relationships with leading industry promoters, the business community, and special user groups in the community has seen the Abbotsford Centre become the regional hub of concerts, special events, and high quality programming while providing a gathering place for residents of the community. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 3 MESSAGE FROM GENERAL MANAGER On behalf of Spectra Venue Management special functions at the venue increased from great events for the first part of the year and the staff of the Abbotsford Centre, 395 users in 2016 to 16,868 users in 2017. including Old Dominion, Santana, Jeff I am pleased to present the Abbotsford Dunham, Our Lady Peace & Matthew Good Centre Annual Report for 2017. The year I am extremely pleased to report that the Band, Cirque du Soleil, Steve Miller Band, proved to be another exceptional one for Abbotsford Centre achieved its lowest and Dirty Dancing. the Abbotsford Centre having hosted 52 subsidy from the City of Abbotsford since I would like to personally thank the concerts and special events, welcoming the opening of the venue. This achievement Abbotsford Centre staff for all their hard 176,670 guests into the venue, while setting is a direct result of: minimizing risk in event work and dedication. We continue to new benchmarks in guest experience and booking by ensuring major events are revenue financial accountability. raise the bar on an annual basis in terms of positive; increasing the amount of community professional achievement and this would usage and events that compliment major The vision of the New Game and creating not be possible without such talented and concerts and events in the venue; and the Abbotsford Centre has now come to life! dedicated staff. adopting new efficiencies in operations. Today the Abbotsford Centre is utilized by As we continue to push forward with our “ Welcoming more members of the community than ever As a supporter of the Abbotsford community, strategic direction through 2018 we would before. We continue to strive to bring great we continued to work with many organizations like to thank the residents of Abbotsford, 176,670 entertainment acts to Abbotsford, while this year including Canuck Place, Fraser Valley Mayor & Council, community partners, guests providing the opportunity for residents to Big Brothers & Sisters, Abbotsford Hospice suppliers, promoters, and staff for their utilize the facility on a daily basis for sport, Society, Cops for Cancer, Crystal Gala, and contributions throughout 2017. We share a into the recreation, and special events. many others by donating silent auction items common goal and believe in the potential venue, while and resources to make their events a success. and future of the Abbotsford Centre. The Working in partnership with key industry We believe by supporting the community and team at the Abbotsford Centre is poised setting new promoters, the Abbotsford Centre continues these organizations, we can create a stronger for a very exciting 2018 as we continue to benchmarks to be regarded as the premiere concert and more successful community. bring first class entertainment, sport, and location Western Canada, which was cultural events to Abbotsford. We look Finishing the 2017 calendar year as one of forward to another great year! in guest further underscored by ten sold out concert the hot spots in the touring marketplace, performances by Kip Moore, Gurdas Maan, experience the Abbotsford Centre was listed as 148th Sincerely, and financial Thomas Rhett, Dallas Smith, Seinfeld, top venue in the world based on ticket sales Foreigner, and I Love the 90s featuring as listed by Pollstar Magazine, and #1 in the ANDREWAndrew NASH Nash accountability.” Vanilla Ice and Salt n Pepa, and Diljit Dosanjh. Pacific Northwest (5,001 - 10,000 capacity). General Manager for Just as important, the number of users This success has already continued into Spectra Venue Management attending community, meetings, and other 2018 having already secured a number of Abbotsford Centre 4 ABBOTSFORD CENTRE PROFESSIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017 BULL RIDING (PBR)5 #1 DID YOU KNOW? CANADA’S #1 2,237 HAMBURGER PATTIES 5001 – 10,000 WERE FLIPPED 10 CAPACITY VENUE SOLD OUT VENUES TODAY 3,461 ORDERS OF SHOWS CHICKEN TENDERS portions have 3 pieces #1 IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST 106,370 VENUES TODAY TICKETS 65,461 SOLD LBS OF POPCORN CANADA’S 11TH RANKED VENUE POLLSTAR YEAR END RANKINGS 870 PRESHOW EXPERIENCES SERVICED DINNER PACKAGES & CRAFT BEER LOUNGE 20,000 GUESTS 52 TOP #148TH TOP IN 72 HOURS EVENTS VENUE WORLD WIDE IN NOVEMBER GUESTS DRANK POLLSTAR YEAR END RANKINGS 66,043 CUPS OF BEER EXCEEDED PROVIDED OVER 3,532 CUPS OF 17,000 CRAFT CORNER BEER $30,000 IN-KIND DONATIONS TO 79,402 FANS CRAFT BEER NON-PROFIT GROUPS ON FACEBOOK AND LOCAL CHARITIES PEOPLE HAVE JOINED 14 COMPANIES THE BACKSTAGE PASS WERE FEATURED IN 2017 MEMBERSHIP (INCREASE OF 23% IN 2017) 6 ABBOTSFORD CENTRE TI 2017 HIGHLIGHTS Spectra Venue Management continues to deliver WWE also made multiple stops at the venue in quality programming to the residents of Abbotsford February and than again in October. The two shows and the Fraser Valley.