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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD James Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority said that after a year in business the MassMutual Center is "hitting our stride." City officials and area business people noted the first anniversary of the MassMutual Center on Wednesday with a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the facility followed by a "Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard" tourism trade show. The MassMutual Center opened on Sept. 28 last year. Rooney said that despite a change in the facility's general manager this first year was on an "upward spiral." In its first year, the center made it on the list of the top moneymaking entertainment venues in the world. Rooney said that for the center to continue to find success, the facility must continue working with other entities in the city to improve the parking, public safety and the over-all vibrancy of the downtown area. "We need to market what Springfield has to offer," he said. Rooney said that renovation of the present Civic Center Garage is something on his mind. "We've run some numbers and it's challenging," he said. Rather than try to renovate the existing garage, Rooney said a new garage needs to be built, which he said could cost between $20 million and $30 million. "I don't think it makes sense to band-aid the facility," he added. The center has helped bring people into the downtown area and Mary Kay Wydra said she is encouraged that the fall tourism season for the Pioneer Valley will be good. Wydra is president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. She said that falling gas prices should help the fall season. The region "held it own" this summer, she said. Some attractions, such as Six Flags New England, suffered with the rain in June, while other in-door destinations did well. After the breakfast the nearly 300 attendees walked through the "Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard" exhibit which featured booths and displays from the MassMutual Center, Springfield Symphony, the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, Home Show Springfield, Yankee Candle, Delaney House, Six Flags New England, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Magic Wings, Prime Outlets at Lee, Hampden Bank, Hampshire Hospitality Group, CJC Events, Volleyball Hall of Game, Springfield Falcons, Pinnacle Hotels, Sturbridge Host Hotel, Spirit of Springfield, Springfield Armory national Historic Site, Zoo at Forest Park, CityStage, Springfield Marriot, Holiday Inn, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, The Republican, MassLive, the Big E, Frigo's, Springfield Museums, the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Sheraton, Holyoke Mall, and the Hampton Inn. |