Who should foot the repair bill for UL's Cajundome?

[NewsCopy]

The 21-year-old Cajundome needs a face-lift. Bricks are crumbling around a second-story interior window, the result of water seepage. A section of metal roofing needs weatherproofing. Video screens and speakers are so old, parts are hard to find. Cajundome Director Greg Davis and his staff say they believe nearly $10 million is needed in the next five years to make repairs, replace equipment and upgrade the Cajundome to keep it competitive with other arenas vying for concerts and events. But neither the state/UL, which owns the Cajundome, nor Lafayette Consolidated Government, which is in charge of operating the facility, have been paying for upgrades, Davis said. "The city believes that it's the state's responsibility since the state owns the facility. The state believes it's the city's responsibility since it's the local area that benefits from the facility," Davis said. Both benefit. The 20-year direct and indirect tax impact from the Cajundome has meant $12.2 million for Lafayette Consolidated Government and $24.5 million to the state. The rest of the story Claire Taylor ctaylor@theadvertiser.com

[Cajun Express]

There is not question according to the article the state owns it, and according to the contract the city pays for minor repairs and maintanence. If this is accurate, the state needs to pay for major upkeep, and upgrades.

Frankly this is another result of short term thinking in Louisiana. I can just hear the coversation way back then,"lets get the damned thing built, don't address long term upkeep we will work that out in the future, we have a better chance of getting it passed without addressing upkeep. yea, that's the ticket!"

[rhineaux]

There is not question according to the article the state owns it, and according to the contract the city pays for minor repairs and maintanence. If this is accurate, the state needs to pay for major upkeep, and upgrades.

Frankly this is another result of short term thinking in Louisiana. I can just hear the coversation way back then,"lets get the damned thing built, don't address long term upkeep we will work that out in the future, we have a better chance of getting it passed without addressing upkeep. yea, that's the ticket!"

if these issues are a result of lack of maintenance, then the city should be responsible. i didn't really read the article though.

i've always heard that UL basketball gets a raw deal in their interactions with the cajundome. i don't understand that. if the state (and UL) owns it, then how can the city be giving the school a raw deal. just like you said, probably just a lack of forward thinking, and "let's just get the damn thing built."

[Cajun Express]

if these issues are a result of lack of maintenance, then the city should be responsible. i didn't really read the article though.

i've always heard that UL basketball gets a raw deal in their interactions with the cajundome. i don't understand that. if the state (and UL) owns it, then how can the city be giving the school a raw deal. just like you said, probably just a lack of forward thinking, and "let's just get the damn thing built."

IMO, maintanance to use your home as an example is when you replace a few shingles that go bad. Once the whole roof needs replacing because of age, then it is no longer maintance, but major repair or upgrade. Same thing with the dome.

It is my understanding that because the city is resoponsible for the managaement, we were given x number of dates to play. I think that is what we are missing, we only get so many dates we can mark off on the calender as our first choice, and only so many days period.

Building things without regard to future costs is a long time honored tradition in Louisiana. A couple of years ago I was talking to a UL alumnus who worked for the state in the highway department. He told me a story of as a young man he was presented with a road project in the Lake Charles area. He felt that the asphalt, or black top project was short sighted, and told the local state repesentative he needed a concrete road for the area. The rep told him "young man, you don't understand it, the folks will thank me for getting them a paved road instead of gravel, and they will thank me again when I provide them with the needed repairs to the black top road."

[Turbine]

There is not question according to the article the state owns it, and according to the contract the city pays for minor repairs and maintanence. If this is accurate, the state needs to pay for major upkeep, and upgrades.

I agree "state/UL" is in effect "State" but still it seems UL should be a bit more proactive in using its own facility.

It's like UL has to beg just to borrow its own facility even if on the night in question it was going unused.

How your 13 or so guarantee use days a year got turned into you must pay for more is fishy at best. I can understand being pushed aside for a paid booking but if empty it seems UL should have free reign.

jmo

[gorcajun]

Is the Mardi Gras room or any of the other meeting/banquet rooms available on 2/07/07 for the recruiting gala. The Townhouse Restaurant and Cajundome bartered into an agreeement. Perhaps the rooms are available but the University is over quota on allotted dates. Kinda makes you want to go "HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM".

[Kal]

He who writes the checks, makes the rules.

UL would be smart to jump and try to start gathering funds to cover part of the remodeling process. That would be some huge leverage when you are trying to negotiate future deals (like concessions). Basketball does not make a whole lot in concessions compared to other sports. There are a lot of holes in the contracts that UL has but here's a way to start patching those holes and making 'em waterproof.

[rhineaux]

He who writes the checks, makes the rules.

UL would be smart to jump and try to start gathering funds to cover part of the remodeling process. That would be some huge leverage when you are trying to negotiate future deals (like concessions). Basketball does not make a whole lot in concessions compared to other sports. There are a lot of holes in the contracts that UL has but here's a way to start patching those holes and making 'em waterproof.

If the proper folks have stayed dedicated to the proper maintenece, and dumping the obligated funds into the Cajundome each year (i.e., the city is supposed to give up to 500k for improvements), then its up to the state to come up with it. But if the city hasn't done its part every year to maintain the arena, then they should be partly responsible for the bill, along with the state. And by state, there should be no (/UL) next to it. Like someone in the article said, thye should be oging to the HoR and senate for these monies. There is no way that higher education should be, nor could it afford to, pay for something like this, especially since UL only uses it for basketball games and graduation, for the most part doesn't have its first dibs on how or when it can use the arena, and doesn't make its fair share off of revenue and such when the arena holds events. If UL rec'd recieved the entire gate (ticket sales, merchandise sales, and concessions) from each basketball game, plus a cut from other concerts and such events held there, then they would be more responsible. but, i don't even see how you could bring UL into this arguement. I guess its just another case of an uninformed/lazy job by a DA reporter.

[Kal]

If the proper folks have stayed dedicated to the proper maintenece, and dumping the obligated funds into the Cajundome each year (i.e., the city is supposed to give up to 500k for improvements), then its up to the state to come up with it. But if the city hasn't done its part every year to maintain the arena, then they should be partly responsible for the bill, along with the state. And by state, there should be no (/UL) next to it. Like someone in the article said, thye should be oging to the HoR and senate for these monies. There is no way that higher education should be, nor could it afford to, pay for something like this, especially since UL only uses it for basketball games and graduation, for the most part doesn't have its first dibs on how or when it can use the arena, and doesn't make its fair share off of revenue and such when the arena holds events. If UL rec'd recieved the entire gate (ticket sales, merchandise sales, and concessions) from each basketball game, plus a cut from other concerts and such events held there, then they would be more responsible. but, i don't even see how you could bring UL into this arguement. I guess its just another case of an uninformed/lazy job by a DA reporter.

I think that's sort of what I was hitting on. If UL puts up some money for this project then they can have a bigger influence on the Cajundome including taking larger gate money and concessions. "You got to be willing to spend money to make money" Business 101.

[rhineaux]

"You got to be willing to spend money to make money" Business 101.

good luck getting that basic, simple concept through the brains of the people of Lafayette with regards to UL.

[Kal]

good luck getting that basic, simple concept through the brains of the people of Lafayette with regards to UL.

No joke.

[NewsCopy]

The Cajundome is in serious need of funds for repair work, equipment replacement and overall upgrading. According to the Dome's director, Greg Davis, nearly $10 million will be required during the next five years to keep the facility competitive with other arenas. Those needs must be met. The Dome is one of our most valuable assets. It has contributed immeasurably to our quality of life, generated revenue for the operation of government, boosted tourism and anchored our spot as the sports and entertainment center of Acadiana. When the Dome faces money problems, one question always surfaces: Who has financial responsibility? Should it be Consolidated Government, which operates the facility, or state government and UL, the owners of record. We submit that there are major state and local benefits, and both should participate in funding repairs and upgrading. Cajundome revenue is impressive. Direct and indirect taxes during 20 years have meant $12.2 million for Lafayette Consolidated Government and $24.5 million for the state. Lafayette Parish schools have received $9.2 million. The rest of the story