HEY, MACCARENA!
Last week, the cost and operation of the Dave and Roma McCoy Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) debuted on the stage of Mammoth Lakes Town Council.
Spoiler alert — it’s not a money maker.
The information was presented by Bill Blake, the principal of AMS, an arts focused consulting firm that has partnered with the Town of Mammoth Lakes and the Mammoth Lakes Foundation to build the center.
The cultural center is set to open in the spring of 2027. Once completed, the MACC will be roughly 7,482 square feet and include both a 259-seat Performing Arts Theatre and a renovated 38-seat Edison Theatre.
Funding for the MACC construction came from a myriad of sources: the Kern Community College Distrcit, which operates Cerro Coso College, contributed $7.5 million, $3 million came from the Mammoth Lakes Foundation, $500,000 came from the Tambour Foundation, and the town’s contributed a combined $5.82 million.
The theater will continue to be funded by an annual contribution of $300,000 from the town’s Measure U funding and $175,000 from its general fund.
That government funding will be critical even under optimistic outlooks.
During a typical year, Blake hoped the MACC would generate roughly $352,000 from admissions, facility rentals, event labor and technical assistance, food sales and facility fees. In sum, the center would generate $827,000 in revenue, which would off-set the $827,000 in operating costs.
He referred to a typical year as “a base year, which is the fourth, fifth, or sixth year after you’ve opened.”
This distinction is important because, “the first couple of years can have some wild variations,” Blake said.
Blake predicted that MACC would host 200 days of activity during a typical year. These would range from 12 visiting performances, 137 resident tenant performances and rehearsals (including Sierra Classic Theatre, Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre, and Chamber Music Unbound), 23 town performances, and 24 outside rental performances.
Tickets for these events would cost around $40, when calculated for the theatre sitting at 75% capacity.
“$40 is a smooth, rounded average,” Blake said. “Your lowest price could be $20 or $25, and your highest might be $60 or $65, depending on how your theatre manager wants to do things.”
The center also plans to open a concessions stand, though Blake did not give specific details as to what would be sold there.
“It’s [to be determined] as to how concessions are going to operate and whether or not there will be a liquor license,” Blake said. “But those [concession] fees can add up to be a significant source of revenue.”
During performances, resident tenants will pay the center a rental fee of $500 per night for the main theatre, and $250 per night for the smaller Edison theatre. Other non-profits will pay $800, and for-profits $1000. This price decreases slightly during stage rehearsals, clocking in on the main stage at $250 for resident tenants and $400 for other groups.
These price points made some individuals in the room nervous.
Chief among these concerns came from Roger Rea, the treasurer of the Eastern Sierra Community Chorus. The non-profit does not currently charge for tickets.
“Last Friday, we were at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and we had about 125 people come in. We took in $495,” Rea said during public comment. “We do get lots of other donations, but when I hear the numbers of $500 for an event and $250 the night beforehand, it doesn’t quite sound affordable to me.”
During the final moments of the presentation, the tone shifted to the feasibltiy of the project overall.
“I want to make sure we’re not over-estimating what this could generate,” mayor Amanda Rice said.
“I don’t think we’ve undershot you on cost,” Blake countered. “Given that these are done in 2026 dollars. I don’t know what 2028 or 2029 dollars will look like.”
“The wiggle,” he said, lies in whether the total cost of the operation would be $800,000 or $850,000.
“Where is the red ribbon, and where are the scissors sharpened?” asked councilmember John Wentworth. The audience erupted in laughter. But Wentworth was serious. “What happens if you bring in the act, pull up the curtain, and no one shows up. Where is that going to fall?”
Wentworth wasn’t looking for an answer, but somewhere to place responsibility. That’s show business, baby.
The Dave and Roma McCoy Arts and Cultural Center will be owned by the Town of Mammoth Lakes and operated by an Arts and Culture Manager.
AMS and the town have yet to hire this individual, though they are hopeful this role will be filled soon, as this person would be responsible for “positioning the venue as the premier regional hub for performing arts in the Eastern Sierra.” Applications for the role are now open.
