Spending between $55,000 and $60,000 on professional marketing and management of the Colisee is a good investment that should pay off for Lewiston.

The city, which bought the arena in 2004, recently completed major renovations on the former Central Maine Civic Center. The facility, however, has been without a professional management team since the turmoil surrounding the abrupt resignation of General Manager Wayne Thornton in November. Treasurer Paul Labrecque and Assistant Fire Chief Paul Leclair managed the facility through a successful season of Maineiacs hockey.

Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast Spectacor, will run the Colisee for at least the next three years. The company, which manages 45 other arenas and convention centers, will receive a flat fee, plus the opportunity for significant bonuses if it exceeds the city’s expectations.

With national reach and influence within the entertainment and convention industry, Global Spectrum has the potential to raise the profile of the Colisee, link it to a network of similarly sized facilities and draw larger acts.

It’ll take some work. The Colisee needs about 36 events a year to break even, more than twice the number of events that are normally on the schedule. By contracting with specialists, the city puts itself in a better position to succeed.