By Chris Thew
Chronicle staff

     Right after the dust settles from the 74th Omak Stampede, the City of Omak plans to open bids for construction of the first phase of the Okanogan Valley Equestrian and Cultural Events Center, according to Kurt Danison, city contract planner.      The project will be advertised in July and bids will be opened Aug. 16 - four days after the final day of this year's Omak Stampede and World-Famous Suicide Race.      The city council will then be asked to approve the winning bid Aug. 20, according to Danison.      The worst of the arena's wooden grandstands will be replaced with a permanent concrete, steel and aluminum structure that will seat 2,200 people and provide restrooms, a large meeting area/beer garden, concession areas and stalls located underneath the structure. Cost of the first phase is estimated at $4.4 million, according to architects.
     Omak mayor Dale Sparber said he hopes the arena can be built with the money available.
     "I hope they come back within our budget," said Sparber. "Demolition is pretty cut and dried. The plans are all set."
     Sparber said the concern would be with the cost of materials.
     "That's something we can't control," he said. "You don't know one day to the next what a two-by-four is going to cost or any of that stuff."
     Even with the rising cost of construction materials, Danison said he's hopeful arena bids will be favorable to the city.
     "Who really knows? There are so many variables as to the cost of the thing," said Danison. "When the architects made the current estimate, they included a bit of that factor."
     Danison said the city has been hearing from contractors, including one working on Omak High School, that they would be interested since they are in the area.
     Several Stampede officials have said the city should scrap the current plans and just put a full bleacher system in without concessions and bathrooms, which they claim could be built for $3.6 million.
     City administrator Ralph Malone said that just isn't an option.
     "We sold this to the Legislature based on a concept and a design," said Malone. "We could say 'let's bait and switch,' but we really can't do that."
     "We're going to make whatever we get work, we just need more than a total of 3,000 seats," said Jim Hensarling, Omak Stampede president.
     However, if the arena module is not completed by the second weekend in August, 2008, Hensarling said he doesn't know what Stampede would do if it couldn't open for its 75th anniversary.
     "It's really scary because we sign our contracts in December," said Hensarling. "Some of our contracts have basically been verbalized. It would be catastrophic if we couldn't have the 75th on time."
     With 2,200 seats in the new module and 800 chute seats - also known as the Maley bleachers - as the only seats anyone is sure would pass inspection, Hensarling said he hopes the city can find a way to fund additional sections of bleacher seats to replace sections in the north and east ends of the current arena.
     Phased plans call for the east bleachers to be removed and replaced with 3,000 bleacher seats and the north sections to be replaced with 1,500 seats - a total of 7,500 seats if all wooden sections were replaced.
     "We have evolved to a level in pro rodeo sports and in order to maintain that level, in order to bring in acts that we do, in order to bring in the cowboys we do, we have to be able to sell a lot of tickets," said Hensarling.
     He said one major concern for Omak Stampede Inc. is not being able to sell tickets for the new module at this year's Stampede.
     "We presently can't sell tickets for next year, because we don't know what's going to be there," said Hensarling. "We're not going to be able to sell tickets until we know what the final drawings are."
     Danison said the city already is giving notice to all companies on its small works roster for removal of the current arena's south stands. He said Stampede officials are contacting companies about cutting up the seats to use the wood for fund-raisers or other projects.
     "There's some value in it as far as historic and sentimental value," said Danison, who added that bolts and other items from the dilapidated structure also could be sold. He said he hopes the Stampede organization would use the money to help pay for additional seats at the arena.
     "The Stampede is only a few weeks away so I think they're a little bit busy," said Danison.
     Hensarling said he'd like to see the old seats sold to Stampede fans, but also thinks that something should be made out of part of the materials, such as using some of the wood on a temporary stage that can be put into the arena.
     "If they want a seat or a board or something, I would love to keep some of that history," said Hensarling, who said he thinks the money should be used first to install seat backs on all the bleachers.
     "Any surplus, I would propose that that stay in our local community for cancer patients," said Hensarling, pointing to the Stampede's involvement with Tough Enough To Wear Pink, a ProRodeo activity that benefits breast cancer research.
     As for other fund raising, Danison said the city has put together a draft packet to raise money through sales of bricks, seats or other items, but he has not heard of anyone taking the reins on the project.
     "At some point there will need to be a concentrated fund-raiser," said Danison.
     As for who will manage the new facility, Danison said there are still questions, but he believes the city will sit down with Stampede officials to come to an agreement.
     "There needs to be something put in place," said Danison.
     Sparber said the groups would sit down and come to an agreement on managing and marketing the facility. For years, Omak Stampede Inc. has leased and maintained the arena, and rented it out to other groups.
     "I hope they do, but I couldn't guarantee it," said Sparber. "It's going to be a completely different concept than what we're going through now."
     Malone said he'd would like to see the agreement run for at least five years.
     "I want some stability," said Malone. "We want the Stampede to be comfortable that we have a long-term relationship with them."
     Hensarling said he doesn't think the arrangement between the city and Stampede will change that much either.
     "I don't think the lease is going to change any," said Hensarling. "Stampede takes care of a lot of stuff over there."
     Stampede currently maintains the grandstands and pays utilities for the arena for the entire year.
     "I kind of see that staying as is," said Hensarling. "Stampede organization has run the arena for . . . years and I don't think they've done a very bad job."
     Danison said the new facility offers more flexibility for events and better seating.
     "It will be a different kind of venue," said Danison. "I know that it's really important as we get building to get a grasp of who will manage it and who will market it."
     Sparber echoed Danison's opinion that a new building would mean more use by groups.
     "What we're building is a multi-purpose facility," said Sparber. "We're looking at talking to people that do this all the time."
     Malone said he believes that operating the facility would not be in the city's best interest and that role should go to the Stampede organization.
     "The Stampede association knows how to put on rodeos, the city does not," said Malone. Stampede "should have a very strong management role to play in the whole thing."
     Malone said the current arena isn't a good place to hold events other than "animal type productions."
     Multi-purpose facilities generally do not make money, so the city is hoping the facility will support itself and the direct operating costs, according to Malone.
     Hensarling said the new, functional arena could bring in some big acts - if a temporary stage is built with electrical service and a sound system.
     "A lot of it is what we end up with," said Hensarling. "We would certainly love to bring in some entertainment."
     Hensarling she he'd like to see more barrel racing or roping, cutting horses, junior rodeos, spring bull riding and team penning events.
     Sparber said Stampede is running the current facility, but when questioned whether the city would allow volunteers to maintain the new structure, Sparber balked at his answer.
     "That's something we'll have to determine," said Sparber.
     "We need to sit down and negotiate on what they're going to do and what we're going to do and who's paying for what," said Malone. "I don't have a problem with the Stampede organization doing maintenance on the facility. Repair - that will be another kettle of fish."
     Malone said the city would be sure to include language that requires review and approval from the city before any modifications to the structure are done.
     "I think that's something that's going to have to be negotiated," said Hensarling. "In the past, we have paid for all repairs."
     Stampede has paid for construction of the office, additional bathrooms, a shop, shoring up stands and painting of the facility every couple years, according to Hensarling.
     "All of those monies were generated with what we make off of Stampede," said Hensarling. "Nobody knows what kind of budget is going to be needed for the new arena."
     If there are major problems with the new building, Hensarling said the city would likely have to bear the cost.
     "Catastrophic (costs) will probably have to be borne by the city," said Hensarling. "Hopefully there won't be any catastrophic things. I guess that's why we have insurance."