May 7—GRAND FORKS — In its 22nd year of operation, the Alerus Center fell short of its revenue goals but generated more than $16 million in economic impact for the Grand Forks region.
The events center ended 2023 with a $339,066 operating loss but generated more estimated economic impact than most of its last several years, bested only by the $22 million in spending the Alerus generated for the region in 2022.
There were 372 events with a total attendance of 193,329. Those numbers fell short of budgeted figures of 415 events and 229,370 attendees.
General Manager Anna Rosburg said the events center measures its success in economic impact generated.
"It's really important to understand the mission of the Alerus Center, which is to drive economic impact and quality of life for area citizens," she said.
The Alerus sold out its annual Professional Bull Riders' event for the first time, hosted the venue's largest comedy show by attendance and ticket sales (comedian Bert Kreischer), and held more ticketed events than in any year except for 2022. A concert by country music artist Kenny Chesney was "definitely the marquee ticketing event of the year," according to Rosburg.
On the flipside, the events center hosted a little more than half as many trade shows and conventions as well as wedding events than 2022, which Rosburg attributed to an off-cycle year for Grand Forks on the convention circuit and increasing competition with wedding venues like the Opal and the Olive Ann Hotel.
There were 13 trade shows and conventions with a cumulative attendance of 6,686. There were five weddings and 20 receptions.
The Alerus also dealt with the blowback of the Jonas Brothers' last-minute postponement and later cancellation of the group's planned November concert.
Rosburg conceded the pop act's last-minute cancellation cost the region in unspent consumer dollars — she estimated major concerts like the Jonas Brothers usually bring in $1 to $2 million in spending — as well as cut into the venue's bottom line with the hundreds of thousands of dollars in ticket sales it ultimately refunded.
"Our net operating income would be a very different number if that show played through," she said.
The venue's 2023 deficit was covered out of its operating reserves; venues like the Alerus Center will often exceed projected operating revenues one year and fall short the next.
The Alerus Center's most successful event, the Junior Grand Am youth basketball tournament last April, generated some $3.5 million in direct spending, according to an economic analysis by Visit Greater Grand Forks.