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Hotel-Motel Tax Board <br />Minutes 11/1/2019 <br />Pg. 2 <br /> <br />Jarnecke reported that the $1.26 million capital improvement projects will be completed in the <br />building by the end of the year. The reconfiguration of the parking lot entry off Martin Luther King <br />Jr. Boulevard is underway and will be complete by the end of the month. The North elevator project <br />is waiting for the last bid and the North restrooms renovation are going back out to bid. These <br />projects will be completed early 2020. <br /> <br />Jarnecke gave updates on renovating the Bendix Theatre into the Bendix Arena for e-sports. A <br />consultant group has been retained and have toured the facility for their thoughts and recommendations. <br />The consultants suggested utilizing Convention Hall and Discovery Ballroom for national events and <br />that the Bendix Arena might be arena three. The Bendix Arena quote specifications are being <br />completed for carpeting and chairs with January and February 2020 blocked on the calendar for <br />construction. The product could be positioned with a LAN café where members could come in any <br />day of the week and play on 30-50 gaming stations. This would provide a spot in the market to <br />build community and provides an opportunity to market the Bendix Arena for e-sports and provides <br />a different form of feedback. The Civic Center Board of Managers agreed to cash flow the project <br />so that the project can be completed in 2020. Staff are working with VSBM staff to submit a bid to <br />host the inaugural National Association of Collegiate E-sports Annual Convention with 300-500 <br />attendees July 15-17, 2020, which dates would open the Bendix Arena. Sponsors will be located in <br />the market. President Gregg Chenoweth of Bethel University visited with his Crossroads Conference <br />Commissioner Larry Sinclair and confirmed that six out of the eleven institutions in the Crossroads <br />Conference are starting e-sports. A meeting was held last week with the e-sports segment of the <br />Indiana State Athletic Association on hosting a tournament for 16 schools. Groups are interested in <br />hosting their own events on a quarterly basis. Discussion followed on the age range for e-sports <br />being under age 29 and that Indiana schools are very intentional about recruiting females to the <br />program. Possible naming rights and sponsorship opportunities are being discussed. <br /> <br />City of Mishawaka – Sports Complex <br />Ken Prince, City Planner with the City of Mishawaka, presented an inaugural report on the progress <br />of the new sports complex to be built in Mishawaka. Working with VSBM, one developer has <br />submitted a bid for building an indoor/outdoor facility which is currently being evaluated. Financials <br />will be presented at a future meeting. Road construction will be complete this year, depending on <br />the weather, and 95% of the infrastructure is complete. Prince will report update at future meetings. <br />Anthony encourage indoor events so the building can be utilized in the winter months when the <br />hotels are most empty. <br /> <br />Visit South Bend Mishawaka: <br />Rob DeCleene reviewed the Smith Travel Research (STR) report for the month of September 2019. <br />This has been a great year of events such as Garth Brooks, NHL Winter Classic, USA Hockey National <br />Championship, US Senior Golf Open, Liverpool Soccer Friendly, and Midwest Minor League Baseball <br />All-Star Game. Next year will be great with the Bill Joel concert June 20, 2020, the first Presidential <br />Debate on September 29, 2020, and Notre Dame football season. Fox News has 200 rooms per <br />night (800 rooms total) reserved at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel September 25-29 plus CNN, other <br />national media outlets and security will be here for an anticipated 3,500 room nights for the event. <br />Century Center will host three major conventions because of the additional downtown hotel rooms. <br /> <br />New hotel inventory will be opening – a SpringHill Suites in Roseland in 2020 Q1; La Quinta in <br />Roseland; and the Four Winds Casino broke ground 9-11-19 with 23 stories, full-service spa, 5,000 <br />ft. of event space plus break outs to open Fall 2021. Four Winds will have 317 rooms; however, <br />their primary clients are their casino players. Discussion followed about collection of Hotel-Motel tax <br />being an ongoing discussion as the Pokagons are a sovereign nation.