Possible joint events center study gets $15,000

Carson Valley visitors bureau and business officials should have a better idea by August whether the area can support a new events center.

The Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors discussed the possibilities for a regional events center with members of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce on Monday night at the Community Center.

The group decided to pay as much as $15,000 plus expenses to an outside consultant to define supply and demand for the proposed center and for an analysis of what type of competition for event business would factor in the decision to build it.

A new, joint-county events center is not intended as a replacement for the existing fairgrounds in the area. The idea of building a new center is being discussed as a way to provide the area with a multi-use facility, much like the Reno Livestock Center that could host events like horse shows, fairs, car and motorcycle racing, truck shows and auctions.

As directed, Carl Ribaudo of Strategic Marketing Group in South Lake Tahoe will draft a request for proposal to be sent out Jan. 1, if it is approved by the board at its next meeting Nov. 25. The study would solicit consultants to complete the initial limited study to look at whether building a center in the Carson Valley could work. This study could be completed as early as August, Ribaudo said.

Throughout the brainstorming session Monday, members of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce stressed their desire to locate the center within a two-mile radius of the junction of highways 50 and 395 to draw visitors from Lake Tahoe and from surrounding counties. Board members wanted to take a broader look at location possibilities.

"It's not location, location, location at any cost," said Ray Masayko, Carson City mayor and board member.

Other board members agreed the center should be located where it could provide the best access and gain the most support by event-goers.

The group will decide whether or not to move forward with further analysis about the event center after the first report is completed.

The next step would be to look at financial feasibility, management of the facility, size, location, quality of life issues and funding sources.