Post COVID-19, there will be a “new normal” for the convention, meetings and community events industry, and a private operator will bring with them in-depth knowledge regarding how best to position the operation of Century II in this new reality. This knowledge and expertise is not something that City staff currently possess.
The expertise of a private operator will provide guidance on how to right-size the operation going forward.
The City of Wichita anticipates that the shift toward a professional management services model will help reduce, and potentially eliminate, the on-going operating support the City provides Century II. This support is currently around $2.5 million annually. Once the City receives responses to the Request for Proposals, there will be a better understanding of the potential cost savings.