The new sports dome in Savage could lose a ton of money over the years, and that's OK, the suburb's top administrator says.
In a "State of the City" address to civic leaders, Barry Stock said there is no parallel with the notoriously troubled Vadnais Heights dome.
Any losses need to be thought of as an investment much like any park, he said. "Parks cost money. They are not free."
The $4.9 million seasonal dome, which opened last year, "did financially all right" in its first season, he said, but the city needs "to be prepared for it not to make money.
"It could lose maybe $100,000 to $200,000 a year. I still don't know if it will break even or make money. It won't lose more than that. To a lot of people that is a big number."
Offsets, he said, include vast amounts of time and money saved from a dome closer to home than Rosemount, and spending by users in local businesses.
There's a link to his talk at www.cityofsavage.com.
david peterson
