Former Hornets GM Carl Scheer and his sports consulting
firm, ScheerSports Inc., are profiled by Erik Spanberg in
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF CHARLOTTE. ScheerSports Inc. "is
rapidly becoming the dominant player nationally in the
business of arena development for midsize cities without
major league franchises." ScheerSports will generate $3M in
revenue in '97, ten times more than in '92. Spanberg writes
that "nearly all" the growth can be attributed to the Bi-Lo
Center, a $63M arena in Greenville, SC, and its spinoff
projects, including development consulting in Manchester,
NH, and Stamford, CT. With partner Steven Stern, Scheer
"has begun scouring for stadium consulting projects in
markets similar to Greenville" (BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/14).
NET GAINS: Steven Stern "estimates" fees on $50-60M
projects at $500,000 and up, "typically 1% to 3% of total
development cost." The Greenville arena includes 600 club
seats that will generate $900,000 annually at $1,500 a
piece, as well as 30 luxury suites that will bring in $1.35M
annually. ScheerSports "has an exclusive first option to
sell the premium seating, which could generate as much as
$230,000 during the first five years through 5% commissions
on suite sales and renewals and a one-time 18% fee on club
seat sales." Scheer "plans to lure fans" to the Bi-Lo
Center with an ECHL hockey team, "generating profits of up
to" $2M annually for ScheerSports and "rent revenue for the
facility" (THE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/14 issue).
