By Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Despite numerous upgrades and efforts to attract events, Scottsdale’s WestWorld center continues to hemorrhage money.
An audit of the city-operated enterprise shows Scottsdale has subsidized operations to the tune of $335,000 to $878,000 a year during the past five years.
The shortfall could grow if finances continue down their current path.
WestWorld will need to raise revenue or cut costs by nearly $3 million in 2014-15 to cover its portion of operating costs as well as debt from an expansion project that already is under way, according to the audit.
In late 1996, Scottsdale finalized a deal to assume control of WestWorld, which was previously run by private operators. Critics denounced the $4 million purchase as a form of corporate welfare, while supporters said city ownership could inject new life into the financially troubled enterprise.
