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Emotions ran high Wednesday as Sedgwick County commissioners voted not to open talks with a developer for the Kansas Coliseum, prompting one to say she thinks the complex will close eventually.
Commissioners decided 3-2 not to follow a committee's recommendation to negotiate with North American Management-Kansas, which wanted to build a mix of retail and entertainment on the more than 200-acre site off I-135 near 85th Street North.
The $25 million project, one of two proposals for the site, would have been a public-private partnership. The Coliseum will be replaced as an entertainment venue by Intrust Bank Arena next year.
"I think the Coliseum will eventually be boarded up, and I think that's a shame," said Commissioner Gwen Welshimer, who with Chairman Kelly Parks backed the North American proposal. "The door was open to do anything."
Others aren't as pessimistic.
Commissioner Karl Peterjohn said he hopes the county can preserve the complex' s pavilions, used for dog, livestock and horse shows, but sell other parts of the land, possibly for a large industrial park that economic leaders say the area needs.
"I don't consider this final in any way, shape or form," Peterjohn said of the decision not to negotiate with North American. He voted against the committee's recommendation, as did commissioners Tim Norton and Dave Unruh.
Unruh said he didn't know if the decision closes the door for North American or another group, Heritage, to come back with a retooled plan. Heritage Development Group had proposed a "Saddle Rock Rodeo Resort."
Unruh said he too favors turning the complex into an industrial site, but added, "I would say that all options are still open. If somebody has a good suggestion, I think we'd want to consider it."
Norton said he liked elements of both plans but was not ready to sign off on either.
"I think we're obligated to find the highest and best use" for the Coliseum, he said.
Unruh said he was concerned that North American's proposal for entertainment would compete with Intrust Bank Arena.
He also expressed concerns about private-public financing for retail development at the Coliseum site. North American estimated it would build a $25 million project; Heritage a $23 million project. Each proposed putting up $5 million in private money with the rest in public financing.
Both plans put the county at significant financial risk, but the committee thought the county could work with North American to reduce that risk, said assistant county manager Charlene Stevens, who led committee discussions.
Both groups said they would use STAR — sales tax and revenue — bonds as part of their financing. STAR bonds help develop major commercial projects by channeling state sales tax revenue from businesses in the district toward public improvements.
"In light of the fact that we've got retailers all over town who do not have that support, I'd have to be convinced of the equity of that," Unruh said.
Peterjohn also was concerned about financing that could put the county at risk.
Doug Spangler of North American is involved in the Wyandotte Nation casino plans in Park City. Stevens said North American had assured the county the Coliseum project was a stand-alone project and not dependent on a casino.
North American did not return calls for comment.
Parks' frustration at the vote was obvious. He lashed out several times, including a remark that he wouldn't be sitting at the bench 10 years from now but knew his district wanted to preserve Britt Brown Arena at the Coliseum.
"Some of you may think it may be a shorter time than that," said Parks, whose spot on the board is up for election next year.
That drew some laughs.
"I see some chuckling going on," he said. "Go for it. Whatever you think."
But 10 years from now, he said, he still plans to live in Valley Center. He said he can't go into a store there without someone telling him to save Britt Brown, which North American said it would do.
Later, he looked at the audience and said, "Be prepared to take your dog show to the new arena downtown. Be prepared to do that. That or you can go to Hutchinson or wherever I guess."
That drew some grumbling from the crowd.
"I'm going to tell you north-end people, I tried," Parks said. He did not return calls for additional comment.
County Manager William Buchanan had recommended closing the Coliseum in this year's budget proposal. But commissioners kept it open after an outcry from groups that use the pavilions.
Several groups that use the pavilions regularly supported the Heritage proposal.
Chris Kaegi-Stephens, a regional director for the Kansas Horse Council, which puts on EquiFest at the complex, said it would be an understatement to say the decision made her irate.
"I really don't think that the county commissioners have any idea the impact this is going to have, or how this has sealed the fate of the Kansas Coliseum," she said in an e-mail to The Eagle, adding that she couldn't believe North American had been recommended, given the public support for Heritage.
The committee didn't think Heritage had the experience to operate such a large facility and concluded that North American's plan had more potential, Stevens said.
The county gave Heritage permission to market the Coliseum complex for events last summer. It had a tentative agreement with the National High School Rodeo Association to have the Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals there in 2012 and 2013.
Heritage said it still wants to try to work with the county.
Stevens said the proposals are valid through February and staff will look for direction from the commission on how to proceed.
Welshimer said she was deeply disappointed.
"I think we sacrificed millions of dollars of future income to the county today and who knows how many jobs," she said. "We've lost Britt Brown and the pavilions up the road."
