Marion A&P eyes firms for Sultana study

Marion A&P eyes firms for Sultana study

City wants to know feasibility, economic impact of museum investment

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion Advertising and Promotions Commission is mulling over proposals from a number of firms who have submitted their qualifications to conduct a feasibility and economic impact study to help determine whether the city should build a rodeo arena and Sultana museum.

Mayor Frank Fogleman told the commission that they received four proposals for the rodeo arena and three for the Sultana.

“The impact study was advertised and the qualifications have arrived,” Fogleman said. “It is my hope that everyone will now review these submissions and score them.”

A& P agreed to fund two impact studies to give them a better sense of how much visitors would spend on food, lodging and other services in Marion if they go ahead and build a covered rodeo arena and bigger Sultana museum.

Officials with Esperanza Bonanza, the popular barbecue contest which draws thousands of visitors to Marion each May, approached the city about possibly helping to fund construction of an enclosed rodeo arena at the sports complex.

Esperanza Bonanza hosts a rodeo as part of the three day event and draws about 200 participants and 2,000 spectators.

Building a rodeo arena would cost about $300,000. Andy and Joanie Taylor, who are active on the rodeo circuit and with Esperanza Bonanza, have offered to contribute about $125,000 towards the cost of building an arena.

A recent feasibility study for the Sultana museum concluded that the museum would draw about 35,000 visitors a year. The study did not, however, determine how much money the museum would contribute to the local economy.

“We should have asked him to do an economic impact study,” Fogleman said. “That would tell us the impact it would have on area businesses from these visitors coming to town.”

Dr. Ruth Hawkins of Arkansas State University who has been assisting the city with the Sultana museum, did a preliminary study which projected that the city would collect an additional $200,000 a year in taxes.

Fogleman said he has no idea, however, what kind of economic impact a rodeo arena would have or how many people it would draw. “It is a different form of entertainment and I know it has a following,” Fogleman said. “So I think to have a professional help us out and give us an idea about attendance and the type of events that we might anticipate hosting will better arm us in making a decision on whether we want to build our own arena or not.”

Fogleman noted that West Memphis, Jonesboro, and Searcy all have rodeo arenas.

“Searcy has a covered arena and they have craft fairs, antique car shows, flea markets, farmers markets, rodeos and a number of events there,” Fogleman said. “So maybe we could be as fortunate as they are with theirs.”

Councilman David Bigger agreed that a study was needed.

“I want to hear the study first either way,” Bigger said. “I have no idea. I am out of my realm when it comes to rodeo. I have no idea what impact it will have.”

Bigger said that there are already a number of rodeo arenas close by in Mississippi and is concerned that there won’t be enough events to justify the cost of building one in Marion.

“I’m skeptical mainly because I just don’t know how big the rodeo circuit is,” Bigger said. “There are so many around here. I don’t know if it can support it. It’s tough as a councilman to spend money on something because I don’t know what impact it will have. I don’t want to build a rodeo arena to have flea markets. I don’t think that will have a huge economic impact.”

A& P Chairman Khalil Nashaat asked whether the Taylors would be willing to split the cost.

“Can we get Mr. Taylor to do it fifty-fifty if it is something he believes in?”

Nashaat asked.

The Taylors have offered to manage the arena and make sure that it is utilized. Fogleman said the city likely wouldn’t even be having the conversation of whether to build a rodeo arena had the Taylors not made such a generous offer. However, Fogleman added that a rodeo arena would add to the quality of life in Marion and that he would like to see the sports complex get used more than just for baseball tournaments.

“But since he did, to me to spend a little money to get a professional review will give us more information to make a decision,” Fogleman said. “I think first and foremost we should get a better feel to see if this will have a positive impact on our community.”

By Mark Randall