SMG and The City of Canton have executed a 5-year agreement for SMG to manage the Canton Memorial Civic Center.
SMG's full management began on March 15, 2011. In addition to day-to-day operations, SMG will handle the marketing, event booking, sales, food and beverage, maintenance and financial reporting for the Civic center. SMG has provided consulting and booking services to the City for the Civic Center since May 1, 2004.
“SMG is thrilled to continue and expand our relationship with the City of Canton at the Canton Memorial Civic Center,” stated Wes Westley, President and Chief Executive Officer of SMG. “With our new, full management contract in place, we look forward to working with the City to increase the quantity and quality of programming while continuing efforts to reduce operating expenses and City subsidies.”
“The execution of this contract turns the page and opens an exciting new chapter in the history of the Canton Memorial Civic Center,” stated Warren Price, Canton's Director of Public Service. “This agreement is the result of almost two years of hard work and negotiations between the Office of Public Service, City Council, and our largest labor union, AFSCME 2937. We were only able to move in this direction by working together. The New Year brings with it the promising hope of new life at the Civic Center. This latest evolution in our relationship with SMG is expected to cut costs and make operations at the Civic Center more efficient, thereby helping the City to balance the budget for 2011 and beyond while still providing essential services to hard working Canton families.”
