Renovation Update

The Wicomico Youth and Civic Center has a regional reputation for being a great place to hold or attend concerts, family shows, trade shows, sporting events, meetings and receptions. It is known to offer uncompromised service, fair prices, outstanding food, and clean & attractive facilities. Annually, the WY&CC hosts over 400 events, draws over 200,000 attendees and Encore Catering (our in-house catering) serves an average of 20,000 plates.

Local meeting, reception, and trade show planners have an array of options from which to choose within and outside our service area. There are 29 similar venues within the immediate marketplace (a 250 mile radius) that are competing with the WY&CC for concerts, family shows, trade shows and sporting events. Furthermore, there are over 80 similar venues located within a days’ drive. This does not include arenas operated by colleges and universities.

In 2011, the Maryland Stadium Authority contracted Tampa, FL consulting services Crossroads Consulting to perform a market and economic analysis of the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.  Crossroads Consulting is a recognized market leader in providing advisory and development planning services.  They specialize in multi-purpose facilities such as the WY&CC. 

Crossroads Kickoff Meeting Presentation
MD Stadium Authority Study Release PR January 16, 2012
Crossroads Consulting WYCC Final Report - Released January 16, 2012

Restoration Plan
In 2008, the County Council adopted a plan to restore the WY&CC. The approach has two parts and is funded by an admission fee (5%), hotel room tax (1%), rental fee on non-admission events (5%) and an annual budget appropriation of $140,000. Interest generated by this account is accrued to hedge inflation.A capital escrow account (sinking fund) to pay for items where the service life can’t be determined was also established. These items range in cost from $2,000 to $500,000. Examples include escalators, HVAC systems, food preparation equipment, carpet replacement, etc. The cost to fund these items over a 20 year period is $4,500,000.General obligation bonds were sold in the amount of $2,500,000. This is in per portion to annual debt service payments and revenue generated from dedicated fees (hotel room tax, seat, and restoration fees).

The total cost of items to be paid from the issuance of General Obligation Bonds is $7,400,000. Items include remedial roof repairs, full roof replacement, Normandy floor replacement & installation of utilities to support trade shows, replacement of stage, seating, corridor flooring & sky lights; exterior metal wall restoration, etc.

Improving the WY&CC can be viewed as an investment in our community’s future. This commitment will make it more competitive within the market place as it will be recognized as the venue of choice by event organizers. Having the ability to attract and retain new events will:

• Increase the quantity and quality of top flight cultural entertainment,
• Infuse new dollars into our local economy, and
• Reduce the tax appropriation required to balance the Center’s annual operating budget.

As Cary Somers states, “Without equivocation, the Youth and Civic Center should be the economic engine which drives the County. Few communities of its size have a facility of this size, location, and functionality.” Now is the time to protect this community treasure by posturing it to become a self-supporting enterprise that not only provides public service and cultural entertainment, but can accomplish it with minimal taxpayer’s support.

Completed Projects to Date

2007/2008
Lighting and energy upgrades
Install fire alarm panel and pull stations
Re-Key the building and added a swipe card entry system
Purchased 25 new radios
Lifetime masonry repaired the arena block wall
Purchased 74 Mity-Lite tables
Installed frip drives on the Midway duct socks
Purchased a new fork lift
Purchased 2 evacuation chair lifts
Purchased a new POS system for our concessions
Renovated the maintenance break room
Ordered 720 new banquet chairs for the Midway and DaNang rooms
Purchased a 42” LCD TV
Purchased (12) 10’ Ficus trees
Installed wooden blinds in the DaNang rooms
Purchased 6 ticket scanners for events
Purchased 2 new podiums
DaNang Compressors
Financial management software
Changed oil/filters in boilers