05-17-2007 Now performing at the Morris: A $5.9 million impact

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who has contributed the most to the overall life of the Department of Business Administration and Economics, and the Outstanding Achievement Award in Economics, its highest honor. Her work was conducted under the direction of Professor Jerome L. McElroy at the Department of Business Administration, Economics and Mathematics at Saint Mary's College. McElroy also coordinated the economic impact study for the Century Center. Oberst completed the survey for under $100. The study focused on three distinct audience groups: • Nearly 6,000 patrons of the Morris Performing Arts Center, who received an e- mail invitation to an online survey. The 922 responses represented a 15 percent response rate. • Telephone interviews with nearly 100 local businesses, whose services are impacted by Morris events. • Surveys of about 200 visitors to an event at the Palais Royale. In 2004, a study by the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management found that Morris patrons have a $3.12 million indirect economic impact on South Bend, excluding the cost of admission and spending by Palais Royale visitors. The study concluded that in 2004 an anticipated 156,000 visitors would have a $3.12 million indirect economic impact on the city, excluding cost of admission. The current findings, adjusted for inflation, are within 5 percent of the projected economic impact by Americans for the Arts for a city with a population size similar to South Bend. In addition, the Saint Mary's survey of businesses noted that 23 percent of businesses required additional staffing in conjunction with events at the Morris. More than 80 percent of those businesses pay average gross wages of$6 to $8 per hour. Built for more than $1 million in 1921 as the Palace Theater,the Morris underwent a 26- month, $17.4-million renovation before reopening in February 2000. Since reopening, the Morris has hosted around 100 events annually. It now ranks 38th worldwide based on total ticket sales, according to Pollstar, the concert industry's leading trade publication. The Morris also received the 2006 Prime Site Award from Facilities Magazine for its "outstanding service to event clientele." Last month, the Morris Bistro shared in the first interior improvement Pride of Place Award from DTSB. The Palais Royale Ballroom originally opened in February 1922. It was used as a disco and a boxing arena before closing in 1968. Restoration began in December 2001 and the Palais reopened on New Year's Eve 2002 after a$6.9-million public-private renovation effort. Last month, the Palais Royale received DTSB's first Pride of Place Award for historic preservation. - 30 -