Public Markets To Manage And Operate Finley Stadium

  • Thursday, June 22, 2017
  • Gail Perry
UTC football players run onto the field before their game against VMI in 2016
UTC football players run onto the field before their game against VMI in 2016
photo by M.A. Locke

The Stadium Corporation board of directors, at a special board meeting Thursday, gave approval for Public Markets, Inc., (PMI) the entity that oversees the Chattanooga Market, the River Market, the Collegedale Market and Cambridge Square Market, to handle the management, operations and administration of the stadium.

Executive Director of PMI Chris Thomas and his staff stepped in to serve as interim managers after the departure of Paul Smith, the past executive director of Finley Stadium/Davenport Field. The sentiment expressed by several board members was that the transition will be easier because the interim period has been instrumental in aligning the stadium’s employees with Mr. Thomas.

The initial term of the agreement is for three years with an automatic renewal yearly if both parties are satisfied with the arrangement.

The PMI will be an independent contractor with respect to TSC. The stadium staff will remain employees of TSC, but PMI will provide management and staffing services that have traditionally been performed by the Executive Director of the stadium. This includes human resource staffing and management, event management and operations, event booking, maintaining insurance and marketing for new events. Food and beverage management, facilities management including the execution of capital improvement projects, and skybox and Campaign Corporation billing will also be the responsibilities of the PMI.

The stadium corporation has agreed to pay PMI $8,333.33 per month for their services.

“We evaluated several strong candidates and management options, but ultimately felt that the track record and hands-on nature of the Market team provided the best solution for Finley moving forward,” said Gordon Davenport, chairman of the Stadium Corporation. “We are excited about the future, and look forward to a great partnership.”

“Finley Stadium and the First Tennessee Pavilion have been the home of the Chattanooga Market for the last 17 years, and our entire staff is looking forward to working with Chattanooga FC and UTC towards the creation of great fan experiences,” said Mr. Thomas. “We love Chattanooga, and greatly admire the impact that Finley Stadium complex has had on our community.”

Management team changes include Katie Pagnani as assistant executive director, Hayley Church as guest services manager, Sarah Hooper as Food & Beverage manager, and Ethan Nelson as facilities manager. The expanded management team will also include Accounting Manager Brandy Ridge and Melissa Siragusa as director of Marketing and Public Relations.

Discussion also took place about the future of the red brick building adjacent to the First Tennessee Pavilion, known as “The Lookout Building.” It is owned by the city of Chattanooga and over the past two weeks there has been conversation about what to do with the structure that is in deteriorating condition with a collapsed roof.

The city has plans to issue RFPs to redevelop the building. Director of the Stadium Board Gordon Davenport said that Cornerstone, the historic preservation organization in Chattanooga, actively wants to maintain the building that dates from 1896.

It was the consensus of the stadium board to be supportive of what the city decides and for the redevelopment plans which could potentially be for retail space or a restaurant. Several board members made the recommendation to include the conditions that Finley Stadium remains in control of parking and event-day access before the RFP document is developed. The stadium board will vote only whether to give consent for the process, at the next board meeting which is tentatively scheduled for July 25. 

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