When the Crown Complex wasshut down by the COVID-19 pandemic , the staff decided to help the community rather than sit on the sidelines, its general manager said.
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According to Crown Complex general manager Seth Benalt, during the 2018-2019 fiscal year the complex had an attendance of about 440,000 people and hosted about 90 events.
The following fiscal year, which included the temporary shutdown of the entertainment complex, it had an attendance of about 300,000 and about 120 unique events. The shutdown was from mid-March 2020until about April or May 2021.
Yet while the venue as unable to host entertainment, the staff found ways through the pandemic, to still serve the community.
“When the complex shut down during COVID and the county health department and emergency services came in and decided they were going to use the facility to run a vaccination clinic. We could have easily just turned the keys over to them and let them run their clinic,” Benalt said.
Instead, he said, staff worked to support the health department during the clinics.
“We did whatever we could do at no cost to the county or the health department or anyone so that we could help service the community.”
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In addition to helping with the vaccination clinics, the complex was also used by local food pantries to distribute food.
“We service the community — a, by providing good, wholesome entertainment of all types for folks that they want, but then we also try and get out into the community and be active, productive members of the community,” Benalt said.
As the complex spent time helping the community, the entertainment side was almost non-existent. During the 2020-21 fiscal year, the complex had about 40,000 people in attendance for the 15 events it held.
The main focus, in addition to entertainment, became sanitization and keeping guests healthy.
“Our priority is to provide a clean, healthy and safe environment,” Benalt said.
The complex’s current fiscal year is already looking better than its last. From July 1 through the end of November, about 180,000 people have attended its 40 events.
Staff writer Akira Kyles can be reached at akyles@gannett.com.
