Unmatched coverage: We are committed to covering community issues in the city of Kettering.
By the Numbers
Ticketed events: 36
Tickets sold: 98,000
Ticket revenue: $3.43 million
Total revenue: $4.6 million
Total expense: $4.3 million
Sold-out shows: 10
*Fraze Pavilion, 2013
Source: City of Kettering
The Fraze Pavilion in Kettering collected a profit for the fourth straight year, according to preliminary financial numbers provided by the city.
For the 2013 season, the Fraze generated $4.6 million in total revenue and had $4.3 million in total expenses — a profit of about $300,000. From 2010-12, the city generated a profit each year, including $660,838 last year.
The Fraze hosted a total of 36 ticketed events, sold approximately 98,000 tickets and generated $3.43 million in ticket revenue. There were 10 sold-out performances this year.
“We just keep continuing to grow in stature as far as the names we’ve been able to bring to Kettering,” said Karen Durham, general manager of the Fraze. “We’ve been able to bring in great performers year after year.”
The Fraze — owned and operated by the city of Kettering — is a popular 4,300-seat venue that opened in 1991.
The Fraze lost money in 17 of its previous 22 years of operation and had to subsidize from the general fund 14 times, but not since 2006, according to city records. It will not have to subsidize again this year, Durham said.
“We’ve been on a wonderful ride,” she said. “We’ve found a mix of programming that the region wants, and folks certainly like coming to the facility.”
The city made minor improvements in 2013 to improve visitor flow in the park, which cost less than $75,000, Durham said.
Significant facility upgrades are planned for the upcoming season, including replacing 2,000 seats, enclosing the patio area and renovating the interior of the concession building. Total cost will be $795,000, which will come out of the Fraze capital improvement fund.
“Each and every time spectators come here, we want to make sure they have a positive experience,” Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman said. “We’re very conscious to make sure we have good acts, a good staff, a good environment. We don’t have a blind eye when we’re looking at the facility. We have a critical eye.”
Several concerts have already been scheduled for 2014, and Durham said more programming announcements will be made by the end of January. She said the majority of the Fraze’s ticket buyers are within a 60-mile radius of the facility.
“We’re certainly watching that project,” Durham said. “It’s adding one more competitor to the region, and there’s already a lot of competition in this market for discretionary dollars. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. At the end of the day, people make choices based on what they like, and hopefully they’ll continue to spend money with us.”
The $2.6 million Fraze venue was funded 100 percent by community donations, the city has said. The Fraze has two full-time employees, about 350 seasonal employees in the summer and 50 volunteers.
About the Author