It really came down to Mr. Brooks running the numbers, according to his management,

“Hey, make no mistake, we were going to make an a**load of money from doing our 27 shows in Sioux Falls. We even had to charter a private jet to haul all of the cash OUT OF SIOUX FALLS. We just figured it would be more economical for us to buy the Events Center.”

While most of the year Brooks shows will be booked at the EC, think Celine Dion, Vegas Show, they will do other shows, like monster trucks and rodeos, but they will also do country, country and country shows.

While Brooks won’t live in Sioux Falls permanently, he did purchase a very nice residence on the South Side.

“Garth got a Hell of a deal on a home by the Walmart on 85th and Minnesota. He loved how the Walmart sign illuminated his driveway at night.”

We asked what Brooks would do about the bent up siding on the EC. Management had a positive twist on that.

Besides getting a $1 million dollar discount on the purchase price due to the whacked siding job, it was actually a selling point.

“Garth liked how it looked like an old grain bin. Actually we will be adding fake rust streaks and a big auger. We are also going to change the landscaping to a field of corn around the EC.”

We wondered if the secret siding settlement was disclosed during the negotiations.

“Yeah, we saw it, but we won’t be releasing it to the public, they would crap their pants.”

We wondered if City Hall had any comments about the sale, and the mayor released this statement.

“This is a darn good deal for the good folks of Sioux Falls. Not only will we be able to pay off the bonds early on the Events Center, we will still have a great entertainment facility that was pretty much built for country shows anyway. And I will never have to answer questions about the siding anymore.”

We asked if there would be any major changes with Brooks management running the facility.

Besides the bars now will only serve Jack Daniels and Coors Light, all shows will be $75. Whether that is a Brooks show, a rodeo or a State ‘A’ tournament.

We asked if Garth himself had anything to say about the purchase. He did,

“Sorry Denny, there’s a new Sheriff in town.”

A bronze of Brooks is already being minted for the campus of the new Brooks Events Center.

21 Thoughts on “Garth Brooks buys Events Center

  1. The D@ily Spin on July 24, 2017 at 5:09 pm said:

    Try to find duct tape or Elmers glue in this town. The city bought it all to keep the EC together. Garth has nearly sold out hotel rooms. Oh boy, AirBNB profit for me. Am I going to pay bed tax to the city? I think not

  2. The D@ily Spin on July 24, 2017 at 5:19 pm said:

    Let’s properly welcome Garth to Denny’s state. He should wear his cowboy hat to public comment for the city council. We’re the state thats shaped like a credit card. Let the cubicle rats out for some music.

  3. WarrenPhear on July 24, 2017 at 8:30 pm said:

    Cities of similar size and demographics have done studies on the phenomenon known as event center economic impact. Over a three year period, similar sized venue, 14% of concert goers drive three or more hours to attend. The other 86%? How many of them are part of SF and it’s metro? How many of them are going to spend hundreds of extra dollars? Ticket sales will cost 4.5 million. Never to be circulated here again. If these “events” are such a win win, WHY have sales tax receipts nose dived since the opening of cowboy and cowgirl heaven?

  4. l3wis on July 24, 2017 at 9:03 pm said:

    Kelo is reporting that the EC plans to sell 36,000 gallons of beer during the Brooks shows. If you do the math of $8 per 16 OZ beer, that is $2.3 million in beer sales. I’m going to guess that about 80% of that will be profit after cost and taxes ($1.8 million) that goes directly into Ovations and SMG’s coffers. Guess where that money goes, yup, straight out the door . . .

    http://www.keloland.com/news/article/your-money-matters/garth-brooks-brings-in-big-business-to-sioux-falls

    The irony of all this, besides the fact that that profit will not be re-invested in the community, the taxpayers via the siding settlement will be paying for the extra 1000 sq feet of cooler space. How is that for a kick in the nads?

  5. Fluff Mc Fluffin on July 24, 2017 at 9:04 pm said:

    Yes, it’s horrible. I can’t believe they are bringing in a big ticket. Those bastards! I and my three friends don’t like Garth Brooks, they should bring in some jazz musician instead to fill the seats.

    (They built it. I voted no but it is here. Why keep bashing it? They are bringing opportunities for people to see a country legend right in their backyard when maybe they wouldn’t have been able to afford going 4-10 hours away to see him. You ever consider that?)

  6. l3wis on July 24, 2017 at 9:24 pm said:

    Fluff, first off, I didn’t vote for the EC in the ‘non-legal’ election (advisory vote). Though I got a ticket to the Foo-Fighters I typically don’t like arena shows.

    Secondly, it is not government’s job, and certainly not the purpose of my tax dollars to entertain people. If the EC were self sufficient or built by investors I wouldn’t say a word, but it is neither.

    As Warren said, when are we going to see the economic impact of the EC, because as of right now, it only costs us, to a tune of over $6 million a year after we pay operations, maintenance and the mortgage. Thank God it makes some money or that number would be higher.

    I have said it from the beginning, the EC was built to make a lot of OTHER people money, but not the taxpayers of Sioux Falls who are paying mortgage on a house they have to also pay rent on when they walk thru it’s doors.

  7. Briggs Warren on July 24, 2017 at 10:25 pm said:

    Im going to own up to the fact I was not paying very close attention to the event center vote when it happened. The only part I remember was Mikes victory walk on ice and wondering if he would fall. So I was wondering how long the contract between the city and SMG? I assume its 15+ years.

  8. The D@ily Spin on July 24, 2017 at 11:27 pm said:

    The EC is looking good. Once we run Mike off, there’s potential for a solvent city. NBC had a spot tonight about a bar as a nonprofit. It’s kinda like CMAR except profits go to charity. It thrills me that there’s a way to get sauced, escape sales tax, and do something for charity. If it’s like the United Way, executives are paid millions with meetings in Hawaii and hardly 10% going toward a good cause. I need some of this action.

  9. Fluff Mc Fluffin on July 25, 2017 at 2:22 am said:

    Okay, but it is still there. So what’s your solution, tear it down? I get what you are saying but what’s the solution to get the money back other than to pull a Brennan? You complain much but are short on solutions. We are stuck with it, so shouldn’t we make the best of it? Pulling huge tickets like Brooks IS making the best of a shitty situation.

  10. Warren Phear on July 25, 2017 at 6:48 am said:

    Binge drinking. Definded as 5 or more drinks per “event”.
    Look it up. Straight from CDC. If kelos numbers are correct, every person at this “event” will consume on average 60 ounces of beer. Be proud SF. I am sure after garth and trish open with “Baby, lets lay down and dance” the beer spickets will be running non stop for 2 hours.

    Really? Isnt that all this town is about? Beer sales? How many gallons were sold at jazzfest after the public water fountains were turned off?

    Frim the kelo story, and the bottom line.

    The city is adding 1,000 square feet of refrigeration space. They say that will hold an additional 15 palettes of kegs and cans of beer, which they say will give them more room to store cold beer, so they can get it to the fans faster.

    So, 6 million leaves the city in ticket sales. A couple more million leave in beer sales. Pretty soon, we got no money to spend the rest of the month.

  11. Fluff, there must be a change in the contracts with SMG and the other out of town vendors who strip the city of any chance to benefit from the EC management. The contracts to operate the facility leave so many holes for money to leak out of town. With all the investment money leaving town through commissions and ticket sales Phear is right, there will be no money left for our futures.

    We are just a money harvesting location on the map and nothing more. When these harvesters are done with us, they will move on to the next group of suckers.

  12. Warren Phear on July 25, 2017 at 10:43 am said:

    PREMIER Center staff estimate there’ll be between 11,000 to 12,000 people at each show. If just half of those people stay just one night in Sioux Falls the Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates that’ll be an $11 million economic impact to the city.

    Another line of pure SF BS.

  13. taxpayer on July 25, 2017 at 10:49 am said:

    The bottom line is every dollar Mike Huether AND the City Council have committed to in the past 7+ years for playthings is a dollar that is NOT available for infrastructure needs.

    And, it is infrastructure needs that ARE being cut in the 2018 CIP budget!

  14. DL.
    You don’t like it that your tax dollars are spent to entertain people yet you have no issues funding art as I pointed out before.

    You have shades of a conservative but your still lost in the liberal dark.

    I’m with fluff. It better be filled as much as possible. Kick smg to the curb and make the health department managment pour the beer.

  15. l3wis on July 25, 2017 at 2:54 pm said:

    LJL, first off, don’t ever confuse modern arena country with art.

    Secondly, it doesn’t cost me a $100 ticket and an $8 beer to view public art.

  16. anonymous on July 25, 2017 at 3:11 pm said:

    Mike was on Belfrage this morning talking about cutting off the non-profits the taxpayers have subsidized in the past. Two which he mentioned specifically are the Arts Council and the Bishop Dudley House.

    Bet he’ll be popular when he attends Mass on Sunday at Holy Spirit!

  17. scott on July 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm said:

    i would’ve thought that mmm sits in the chair next to the bishop on sunday mornings.

  18. FACT:
    Neither me, my wife or our church friends have ever seen Mike attend mass at the church he claims to be a member of.

    DL, while I too am not a fan of most country, you know good and well art is in the eye of the beholder. Having principals is being able to disregard your self interests and applying your principals to each based on the facts alone.

  19. Warren Phear on July 25, 2017 at 7:09 pm said:

    This weekend my spouse and I will be going to Strawbale Winery on Saturday. A full day of real entertainment, real food, and real beverage. All that for less than the price of two cowboy tickets. As an added bonus, that money we spend will stay in SF. Can’t say the same for any event at the denny. You can thank me personally, mr turbak, for helping to keep it local, and having a real sense of what economic impact really is.

  20. Fluff McFluffin on July 26, 2017 at 2:36 am said:

    Lots of valid points here. A good discussion for sure.

  21. ol'bubbleguts n wild rice on July 28, 2017 at 8:48 am said:

    oh thats sarcasm
    parody
    i git it
    awesome

    8)

    iaal obg

    they need shania down there in betty page’ish
    leopard skin btw

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