The DECC

When I came to Duluth in 1969, the Duluth Arena and Auditorium was only 3 years old. It was built in 1966 on a former ship scrap yard. A referendum was voted on to get enough public support to authorize 3.2 million in city bonds. It passed with 62 percent of the vote. It was paid in part by city bonds and 1/2 by a federal economic development grant. There have been many changes to this location in the last 36 years. In 1976 Pioneer Hall, with a sheet of ice for curling and hockey practice, was built. In the mid 90’s a convention center was added, to draw conventions to our city. A 12,000 square ft. ballroom and additional 25 meeting rooms on the harbor side made for a great place for weddings, meetings and other events. It opened in 2001. The Omnimax Theatre was built in 1996. This complex has come to be known as The DECC (The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center). It has become home to The Duluth Superior Symphony, Minnesota Ballet, and the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Women and Men’s Hockey team, to name just a few of the activities that take place at the DECC.

Big news and question now in 2006 is about another DECC expansion. A $67 million expansion hinges on a referendum the citizens of Duluth will be asked to vote about on Tuesday of this coming week. Voters will be asked to endorse a .75 percentage point increase in the city’s restaurant food and beverage sales tax, raising it to 9.75 %. If approved by the Minnesota Legislature, the addition tax would be used to pay for the city’s share of the expansion. Our governor is using Tuesday’s vote as a test to decide if the legislature will give their support of $33.5 million for the project.

Proponents of the expansion say it is needed to boost the local economy. It includes a new hockey arena for the U of MN Duluth (UMD) men’s and women’s hockey teams. UMD belongs to the WCHA league. Duluth’s capacity for hockey attendance is 5,333, the smallest arena in the league. Other events could also take place the same time as the hockey games, by using the existing arena.

The concert promoters say we need a larger arena for bigger and better known acts. With an additional 22,000 sq. ft. of floor-show space, the DECC could host another 10 major conventions a year.

One thought many people have is that our city is in financial problems already. If the proposal fails the lawmakers and the Governor will most likely vote against support.

Many I’ve talked with are against this, and many are for it. Will it only be those that are against, that make the effort to vote, or will we have a good voter turn out? It will be very interesting to see what develops. To fellow Duluthians, I say: whatever your opinion is, please go to the polls and VOTE on Tuesday.

Resources: http://www.decc.org
www.duluthnewstribune.com (2/19/06)