Our Operations

To view the 2018 Report to the Community, click here.

To view the schedule of our upcoming Board Meetings please click here.

To view the FCCFA’s 2018 Annual Audit, click here.

To view the FCCFA’s 2017 Annual Audit, click here.

To view the FCCFA’s 2016 Annual Audit, click here.

To view the FCCFA’s 2020 Operating and Capital Budget in detail, click here.

To view the FCCFA’s 2019 Operating and Capital Budget in detail, click here.

To view the FCCFA’s 2018 Operating and Capital Budget in detail, click here.

When the Franklin County Commissioners established the FCCFA in 1988, they authorized it to levy excise taxes on lodging to pay for constructing, operating, maintaining, expanding and administering the Convention Center. The first excise tax the FCCFA levied, in October 1988, was a 4 percent countywide bed tax on occupied hotel and motel rooms. In January 1989 the FCCFA, with approval from the City of Columbus, levied a second tax of .9 percent on occupied rooms within the city of Columbus.

Both taxes are still in effect and are used to pay principal and interest on funds borrowed to build and improve the Convention Center. Funds remaining after paying debt service are used to help operate, maintain and improve the Convention Center, as well as to meet other FCCFA financing needs.

In March 2012, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, Nationwide Realty Investors, Columbus Blue Jackets, The Ohio State University and the FCCFA agreed on a plan to strengthen Nationwide Arena’s financial foundation and ensure that the facilities remained a valuable community asset. Under the agreement, the FCCFA purchased the arena and its related facilities for $42.5 million, and a new entity called Columbus Arena Management was formed to manage the arena.

FCCFA financed the purchase by borrowing $32.5 million from Nationwide Insurance and $10 million from the State of Ohio. The FCCFA borrowed an additional $11.7 million from Nationwide to support arena operations in 2012 and initial capital improvements.

Casino Tax Collections

Voters approved the creation of four Ohio casinos in 2009, and the state levied a 33 percent tax on all gross casino revenues. Casino tax collections are distributed to a number of entities, including Ohio counties and cities. As part of the agreement, the city and county in 2013 began forwarding to the FCCFA a portion of casino tax collections as lease/sublease payments for the arena.

The amount is equal to 25 percent of the casino tax revenue Franklin County and the City of Columbus for 2013 through 2015, and will increase by 1 percent each year until FCCFA’s share reaches 32 percent in 2022. These tax revenues are first used to pay for operating and capital expenses associated with the arena; if casino revenues exceed operating and capital expenses, they also can be used to cover debt service obligations.

To view the FCCFA’s Records Retention Schedule, click here.

Executive Summary