Sacramento Convention Center

REASON FOR INVESTIGATION

The Grand Jury was interested in the operation of the Sacramento Convention Center.

BACKGROUND

The Convention Center is administered by a Director who has additional management responsibilities for the City Cemetery, the Crocker Art Museum, four City golf courses, the Discovery Education Center and Museum, Old Sacramento, Miller Park Marina, the Metropolitan Arts Commission, the Sports Commission, Fairytale Town and other special events and services.

PROCEDURES FOLLOWED

The Grand Jury toured the convention facilities and held a number of interviews with the Director. Requests were made for the Convention Center's current budget, listing of future bookings and the Director's estimate of how much time is spent on his various responsibilities during an average week.

FINDINGS

1. The Convention Center is significantly underutilized by major conventions.
2. The Convention Center has a minimal promotion budget.
3. The Director's time is diluted by too many other responsibilities.

CONCLUSIONS

A primary reason the Convention Center is unable to draw major conventions is because of inadequate promotional activities.

The demands on the Director's time make it extremely difficult for the Director to give proper attention to the promotion of the Convention Center.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Increase the Convention Center's budget for promotional activities related to obtaining future major convention bookings.

2. Reduce the scope of the Director's job responsibilities.

RESPONSE REQUIRED
The Penal Code requires responses to the recommendations contained in its report be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Sacramento Superior and Municipal Courts and Municipal Courts by September 30, 1997, from:

City of Sacramento