SYRACUSE -- Under the threat of having its funding withheld, Onondaga Community College has agreed to release financial reports on the college's SRC Arena.
OCC President Debbie Sydow told Onondaga County Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon in an email that the information would be released after he raised the possibility that the college's funding would be held up.
The Syracuse Post-Standard had sought the release of contracts with organizations that have leased the arena under Freedom of Information, but the college denied the request.
OCC reportedly told The Post-Standard that the information would put the college at a competitive disadvantage with other venues.
McMahon has criticized the refusal. He says OCC's budget is subsidized by county taxpayers and taxpayers also helped fund the construction costs of the 6.500 seat arena which opened in December.
Lawmakers fear that the arena will take business away from the OnCenter. McMahon also wants to know if revenue from the SRC Arena will help cover the operating costs of OCC so that "each year they're not asking for more and more money."
SRC Arena has already hosted a number of events. The contracts cover so many pages, OCC released them in two parts. To take a look at part one, click here. To read part two, click here. It is operated by Onondaga Enterprises Inc.
The information released by OCC relates to 14 contracts for events at the SRC Arena. Much of the financial information is either blank or redacted. It appears from the wording of the contracts that Branford Marsalis was paid $40 thousand, while Max and Ruby was charged $3 thousand. There's reference to a $75 thousand deposit for Mongomery Gentry with a $15 thousand increase for the bullriding event that accompanied the concert. The SRC Arena paid $40 thousand for Riverdance plus 70 percent of gross receipts over $100 thousand. The rental fee for the YWCA luncheon was waived, but ARC of Onondaga was charged $3200. The East Syracuse-Minoa High School commencement will be charged $3500.
