Brides and grooms are walking down the aisles, not only in the church, but also in the Alerus Center.
Revenue from several wedding receptions helped put the Alerus in the black for the month of September. Revenue exceeded expenses by about $78,000, a figure Alerus Executive Director Steve Hyman calls "beautiful."
"We've still got the last quarter," Hyman said. "We're well on our way to meeting if not exceeding that budgeted number."
The Alerus is budgeted to come in about $6,000 in the black for 2008. Year-to-date figures released at Wednesday morning's meeting of the Alerus Center Commission have the center just less than $60,000 in the red.
Alerus officials said much of September's attendance revenue came during two UND football games, the Greater Grand Forks Jobs Fair and the inaugural Grand Forks Women's Show, but brides and grooms walking the red carpet could have the Alerus out of the red by year's end.
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"Can you say Canad Inns?" said Hyman. "Since Canad Inns opened, we've seen a 200 to 300 percent increase in the number of wedding receptions we handle. Typically, you're looking at a net of 10 to 15 thousand dollars per reception."
The Alerus will host the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Pride of Dakota Showcase, Neil Diamond and Disney's Winnie the Pooh in the final months of this year. Two more concert announcements are expected in the next couple of weeks.
The Alerus generated $114,000 toward Grand Forks taxes in September, bringing the total for the year to more than $550,000. City auditor John Schmisek said that shows the Alerus is more than paying for itself.
"We're always excited to see that generation of revenue going into the system," Schmisek said. "The Alerus could have some strong months ahead and at least get themselves into the black."
The economic impact of the Alerus amounted to $2.8 million in September and just more than $14 million for the year so far.
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1262; (800) 477-6572, ext. 262; or send e-mail to jjohnson2@gfherald.com .
