Lewiston needs a greater sense of urgency regarding the Colisee.

Since the abrupt departure of General Manager Wayne Thornton in November, the city and Colisee Board of Directors have been content to leave management of the publicly owned facility in the hands of two emergency appointees.

City Treasurer Paul Labrecque and Assistant Fire Chief Paul Leclair are filling in. We are grateful that these two civil servants have been willing to take on the mammoth responsibilities of running the facility, but we are also concerned that no long-term plan has emerged. As it stands, Labrecque and Leclair will stay on for at least the next three months.

Lewiston has made a significant financial commitment, exceeding $4 million, when it took over ownership and operation of the Colisee in February. The Colisee is home to the Maineiacs, a semiprofessional hockey team that has proven itself extremely popular. But the original plan to make the facility self-sufficient also sought to attract other events to Lewiston, particularly during hockey’s off-season. Other venues are lining up those events, which include trade shows and concerts, now.

Instability in the management structure could put the Colisee at a disadvantage as it competes with other locations for bookings.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any rush to solve the problem. The Board of Directors hasn’t decided, at least not publicly, whether it will keep the current management team or conduct a search. City Administrator Jim Bennett told the Sun Journal that Labrecque and Leclair give the city time to consider different options, “allowing us the luxury of not having to make a quick decision” about the GM’s job. Bennett said he doesn’t expect to reconsider things for another 60 to 90 days, when the Colisee expansion is completed.

That could be too late, leaving the Colisee underutilized for much of the post-hockey year.

For the Colisee to be successful, it needs a full-time management team, experienced in attracting events and running a large venue. The idea of hiring a management company is worth exploring as is a more accelerated search for a professional manager to handle operations and promotions.