LEWISTON – The Androscoggin Bank Colisee lost money last year and needs money to keep operating this year, City Administrator Jim Bennett said Saturday.

Bennett is recommending the city loan the Colisee $250,000 to keep going this year, and reserve another $300,000 in case it’s needed.

The Lewiston City Council will consider those recommendations when it meets Tuesday night.

The up-to-$550,000 would come from a $1.1 million surplus the city now has, Bennett said, adding that the loan would not raise taxes, and that the proposed $300,000 reserve may not be needed.

A recent audit shows that in the past year the Colisee lost $477,553. That is $41,000 less than what it lost the year before, but “There is a gap to reach the break-even point at the facility,” reads a report to councilors. The facility generated $3.2 million in revenues, and it generated 2.5 times that much spent within the community, according to the report.

There are two reasons why the Colisee lost money: lower attendance at hockey games last year and not enough entertainment events booked at the facility.

Last year, Lewiston Maineiacs hockey tickets fell short of projections. Average attendance at games was 2,499, short 300 of what was expected.

Even if the hockey ticket sales met projections, “The Maineiacs by itself won’t do it,” Bennett said. The facility needs to book 36 events a year to be profitable. In the past year, there were big-name events that sold out – Larry the Cable Guy and Dierks Bentley – but there needs to be more.

Most concerts are booked one year in advance, and the Colisee as an entertainment facility is still young. Concerts and other nonhockey entertainment didn’t begin to get booked until February 2005, Bennett said.

Overall, these types of facilities are not moneymakers, Bennett said. “I don’t think the Cumberland County Civic Center makes a profit.”

City officials said they’re optimistic that the Colisee is headed in the right direction.

More events are expected to be booked next year.

So far this year’s hockey ticket sales are above last year’s, Bennett said. In addition, the Maineiacs are the No. 1 team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. If their success continues, it will likely mean more playoff games later this season and more ticket sales.

Norm Rousseau, a city councilor who chairs the Colisee board, said more people are turning out at games this year. “We’re in a building mode,” Rousseau said. “Ticket sales are better than they were last year.”

Ticket sales average more than 2,500 per game, and that’s expected to go higher after the holidays, Bennett said.

The community is enjoying the facility, Rousseau said. “It gives them a place to go, things to do. Hopefully, as time goes forward, it will be paying its own way.”

If the council approves the $550,000 combined loan and reserve for the Colisee, it will not raise property taxes, Bennett said. In the last three out of four years, Lewiston’s property taxes have either gone down or not increased, he said.

The City Council begins to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. The Colisee loan item is near the end of the agenda.

To see the agenda go to: http://ci.lewiston.me.us/council/minutes/2006/index.htm