$1.8M bill: City pays Dayton Convention Center’s shortfall

But just how deep are the problems?

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Since 2012, the convention center’s expenses have exceeded its revenues by nearly $1.8 million, according to city data obtained by this newspaper.

The city’s general fund has had to cover the shortfall.

This year alone, the convention center operated at a loss of $180,777 through early December.

Convention Center revenues were significantly depressed during and after the Great Recession, said Diane Shannon, deputy director of the city’s office of management and budget.

The city has had success at reducing the center’s personnel expenses, but other costs have been harder to control given the age of the facility and the need for increased maintenance and security, she said.

Through the end of the third quarter, the convention center hosted 133 events and was projected to finish the year with 178 events. That’s down from 207 events in 2016.

2017 was the first year in many in which the Transportation Center’s revenues and expenses were not included in the convention center’s numbers.

The Dayton Convention Center (and transportation garage) operated at a loss of:

$200,994 in 2012;

$420,997 in 2013;

$248,771 in 2014;

$520,660 in 2015;

$204,717 in 2016.