The Southeast Event Centre is heading into its busiest months with optimism, as the Southeast Events Group works through early challenges and shows signs of steady growth. Despite delays in opening and initial setbacks, the facility is now running closer to full capacity and gaining traction as a community hub. A busy start and growing pains Mayor Earl Funk said the first year of operations is a learning process. “We’re getting used to the building and so is the Southeast Events Group. They’re learning from the mistakes they made, and they won’t make them again,” Funk said. “It takes time to build a customer list and trust in the community, but I have confidence that in the long run, this will be a revenue generator for our city.” Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra noted that the new facilities, including a gym, walking track, and arena, are already popular with the public. “It really is a fantastic thing to have right in the heart of our city,” Zwaagstra said. “People from outside Steinbach are always amazed at just how large the facility is and the wide variety of activities it offers.” Financial snapshot: operating costs and funding SEG treasurer Jarrett Bishop and board president Grant Lazaruk shared details of the centre’s operating budget and funding sources. Excluding food services, the centre has an annual operating budget of $2.6 million. Of that, the City of Steinbach contributes approximately $700,000 per year. The remainder of the budget is covered by user fees and rentals, meaning most operating costs are generated on a user-pay basis rather than coming from taxpayers. Lazaruk also provided context on the cost of building the facility. The Southeast Event Centre is a $75 million project, with the City contributing just under $31 million. Federal, provincial, and private funding covered the remainder, including more than $17 million from the federal and provincial governments and roughly $25.5 million from private donors. Maximizing use and addressing challenges The Southeast Events Group has acknowledged the challenges brought by a delayed opening, which affected early revenue opportunities. Lazaruk said the facility is now moving toward full utilization. “With fall approaching, the assets within this facility are being used, and we are anticipating positive surpluses for each of these months, according to our internal budget,” he said. Bishop added that understanding the facility’s true operating costs is still a work in progress. “A lot of this stuff takes time for that to kind of boil down,” he said. “Revenue is coming in now, and the facility is busy. It’s going to take a little more time to fully understand all the operating costs.” SEG is also addressing operational challenges, including areas of the arena that feel cold and windy during events. Lazaruk said staff are consulting other facilities and engaging engineers and builders to explore solutions. “There’s no panic at this point,” he said. “It’s a startup. We anticipated challenges, but the construction delays added ongoing costs with no revenue. A meeting was held yesterday with all parties involved, including engineers and city staff, to take a deep dive and identify solutions. We’re now focused on maximizing utilization and solving the remaining issues.” Family-friendly expansion: Kidzone The centre continues to expand its offerings for families. The Kidzone play area is set to open on November 3. The facility shared on social media that testers have tried the climbing wall, slide, and tube window, and everything “checks out.” Volunteers are welcome to help keep children safe and ensure fun for all. A Child Abuse Registry Check and Criminal Record Check will be required. Interested community members can sign up at https://signup.com/go/OBVDoXO. Looking ahead With most areas of the centre now fully open, Funk said he hopes residents take full advantage of the facility. “It truly is magnificent that we have this facility,” he said. “There are so many opportunities here for sports, fitness, and community events, all under one roof.”