La Crosse Center begins search for management firm

The La Crosse Center is ready to advertise for a partner to help manage some of the civic center’s business. 

This week, the center board approved a “request for proposals,” also called an RFP, aimed at bringing in outside companies to help with booking concerts or other events in the building, or to provide supervision for specific departments. 

Center board president Brent Smith says it’s unlikely that a management firm would be hired to run the entire facility.  He says a contract would probably be modeled after the way that the Forest Hills golf course is owned by the city of La Crosse, but managed by a private firm.

The need for management assistance has been studied by the center since the retirement last year of its long-time director, Art Fahey.

The city of La Crosse would still own the 43-year-old building, which was just expanded in the last few years.  The center board hopes to choose finalists by late March, and possibly approve a contract this summer.