Sanford Center Takeover

The Sanford Center in Bemidji is set to take on brand new management as the city voted to not
renew the contract with current management company Legends Global at their City Council
meeting on Tuesday as part of their preparations for the end of that contract in March of 2027.
Legends Global operates in 5 different continents and over 450 high profile venues across the
world, so hopes were high going into the agreement but disappointing financial results ultimately
led to City Manager Rich Spiczka proposing a new plan for the city to take over management of
the center.

A part of the plan for the city take over of the Center, which has been the home of the Bemidji
State University Beavers hockey teams as well as a hub for concerts, wedding receptions,
rodeos, expos, conventions, graduations, and more, is to reduce the operational costs which will
include reducing the number of full time employees from 16 down to 10. The new plan will also
involve installing Spiczka as the new executive director of the Sanford Center while retaining his
current duties as City Manager.

The vote was ultimately fairly one-sided with a final tally of 6-1 in favor of the city taking over full
event center operation duties with ward 4 councilor Emelie Rivera who asked for more time to
come to a decision. The changes in management will go into effect in March 2027.

For more information go to the Bemidji city website at https://www.ci.bemidji.mn.us/