Wright State may outsource management of Nutter Center

Wright State University may outsource the management of its arena on campus.

University officials are currently having ongoing discussions about bringing in outside management companies to oprated the Nutter Center, said chief real estate and facilities Greg Sample during a board of trustees meeting this morning.

RELATED: At Nutter Center, concerts a hit, sports struggle

Sample is also president of Double Bowler Properties, a Wright State nonprofit organization that has been used to buy property and expand the university’s footprint. Sample said he could not provide more details of the ongoing discussions in the board’s public session.

Wright State administrators have also considered outsourcing the university’s parking operations but have yet to do so.

Usage of the Nutter Center will be part of Wright State’s ongoing budget considerations, according to a budget remediation plan given to the board Friday morning.

An analysis of a WSU audit in December showed that revenue has dipped by around $500,000 over at the Nutter Center over 17 years.

RELATED: WSU president: Campus should not be embarrassed by past mistakes

The revenue dip follows a decrease in the number of events at the Nutter Center since 2010, which makes boosting profits even more difficult.

The Nutter Center’s main arena vacancy rate over the past three academic years meant it went unused more than 160 days a year, according to the audit.

About the Author