GOCAL

5 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 GOCAL- ONTARIO CONVENT ION CENTER AND TOYOTA ARENA has thrived, surpassing its pre-COVID numbers and establishing itself as a success story. Krouse recounts, “The first event that we did when we were allowed to open after COVID was a 5000-person event. There were rules in those days when we first opened, we required the vaccination cards, we required the masks, and we had on-site testing. We all went through all of it. But what happened was, there was all this pent-up demand. We had record attendance, we had sellout shows, and we could barely get in there to do maintenance because the schedule was just so slammed.” The arena also boasts noteworthy food and beverage sales, generating approximately $10.5 million per year. Furthermore, events held at the arena attract a significant number of overnight visitors, with around 50% of attendees choosing to stay in the region’s hotels. Entertainment District Coming Soon Although it is common for Krouse to be questioned as to why the arena does so well with proximity to both the L.A. Arena, and the Honda Center in nearby Orange County, he points out, “We have our demographic here. We have our market here. We have 5 million residents here.” The success of the arena has brought forward plans for the creation of an entertainment district on the same site, which will include housing, shopping, dining, and a large outdoor plaza that surrounds the building. This area will also feature a 2,500-seat performing arts theater, to welcome Broadway-style shows to the district. “We expect to break ground on phase one in October,” Krouse shares. “That has already had initial approval. We are doing some redesign on the next two phases, which will follow pretty quickly.”