Minutes of the FARGODOME Authority meeting
A regular meeting of the Fargo Dome Authority was held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. in FARGODOME Meeting Room 203 with President Blake Nelson presiding.
Members present: President Blake Nelson, Troy Goergen, David Suppes, Michael Ellingson, Nancy Jordheim (via phone), and Rick Steen (via phone).
Members absent: Dan Armbrust.
Others present: Ryan Green – City of Fargo; Sarah Dykema, Director of Sales and Marketing – FARGODOME; Amanda Muellenbach, Administrative and Auxiliary Services Manager – FARGODOME; Bernie Larson, Assistant General Manager – FARGODOME; Susan Thompson, Director of Finance – FARGODOME and Rob Sobolik, General Manager – FARGODOME.
Media present: Barry Amundson – The Forum
President Blake Nelson called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
David Suppes made a motion, seconded by Troy Goergen, to approve the agenda of the March 30, 2021 Fargo Dome Authority meeting as presented. Motion carried.
Nancy Jordheim made a motion, seconded by Mike Ellingson, to approve the minutes from the February 23, 2021 Fargo Dome Authority meeting. Motion carried.
Rob Sobolik presented the General Manager’s report as follows:
• Year-to-Date Net Income through February 2021 is stated at -$290,825 which is a negative variance (to budget) of $221,500.
• Upon review, David Suppes made a motion, seconded by Mike Ellingson, to approve the February 2021 financial statements as presented.
On call of the roll, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Armbrust.
The motion was declared carried.
• Past and Upcoming Events: RRV Sportsmen’s Show was held March 4-7, 2021. NDSU Football vs. Illinois State was held March 13, 2021. NDSU Football vs. UND was held March 20, 2021. NDSU Football vs. SDSU will be held April 3, 2021. Midwest Premiere Football League Youth Football Games will be held April 11, 2021.
Mike Ellingson presented the Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committee report. The Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committees met on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Items discussed included:
• February 2021 Financial Statements: The February 2021 Financial Statements were reviewed by the Finance Committee at the meeting on March 24, 2021.
• Economic Impact Study Overview: Susan provided the committees with an overview of the economic impact study that was completed in 2020. Please see attachment. The study will be presented to the City at an upcoming meeting.
• Food & Beverage POS System: There were seven responses to the RFP that was sent out for the Food & Beverage POS system. FARGODOME staff have narrowed it down to three finalists. The finalists are currently being evaluated and a decision will be made in the upcoming weeks.
• Project Updates:
o Dressing Room & Catering Room Remodel - Rob noted that there are some small items still being addressed. The final completion of the project should be end of spring.
o Canopy Repairs – A request for proposal is currently out for this project with responses due by April 8.
o LED Lighting Project – FARGODOME staff continues to work with Vareberg Engineering and RLE on this project. The priority will be the lighting on the concourse. More information on this item will be available at upcoming meetings.
o Ticketing RFP – FARGODOME has received three responses to the Ticketing RFP. FARGODOME staff is currently in the process of reviewing the responses and will be setting up interviews soon.
o Shuttered Venue Grant – Rob provided the committees with an overview of the Shuttered Venue grants that are being administered by the Small Business Association. FARGODOME will be applying for the grant. The SBA will begin accepting grant applications on April 8. More information on this item will be discussed at upcoming meetings.
o Website – FARGODOME will be sending out a request for qualifications to update the website. The last time the website was updated was in 2011/2012. More information on this item will be presented to the committees this summer.
• Escrow Balance & Performance Reports: The FARGODOME permanent fund performance, year-to-date, through January 2021 is 13.97%. Please see attachments.
Mike Ellingson made a motion to approve the Building and Finance Committee report as presented.
On call of the roll, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Armbrust.
The motion was declared carried.
Nominating Committee: Blake appointed Troy Goergen, David Suppes and Nancy Jordheim to the 2021 Nominating Committee. The committee will bring forward the proposed slate of officers at the next Authority meeting.
Mike Ellingson made a motion, seconded by Rick Steen, to accept the Nominating Committee as presented.
On call of the roll, Ellingson, Goergen, Jordheim, Nelson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Armbrust.
The motion was declared carried.
The next Fargo Dome Authority meeting will be on April 27, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:53 p.m.