City Looks Into Options To Bring More Life to Fargo Civic Center

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney wants to bring life back to the Fargo Civic Center in 2025.

It is used for just a few events each year as of now including the popular Christkindlmarkt.

Mahoney wants city staff to look for event promotion and management, food services and a long-term operating agreement to bring more events back to the building.

They’ll also seek out public input and come back to the commission later this month or next with ideas.

Commissioner Dave Piepkorn is against the idea since he says the building needs work including a furnace that is very old and bringing it up to code.

He says the city has no money.

“For operating the building you have to know what it’s going to cost. And on top of that we don’t have any money. Once again we don’t have any money, we are over the fiscal cliff and now we’re just deciding how hard we’re going to land,” said Piepkorn who was the only commissioner to vote against the idea.

“Hearing for what’s possible short terms so that we can continue to utilize this assett I think would be a benefit to the downtown,” said Commissioner Denise Kolpack.

The civic center was built in 1961 and has hosted a number of concerts, sporting events and trade shows over the years.

It last turned a small profit in 2006 according to city figures.