[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6132809,"mediaKeyId","5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f","parentId",5714788,"title","Delta Marriott team pitches attached convention center with hotel linkage and parking garage option","audioSeconds",2007,"startMs",209285,"endMs",2216690,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f&start=209&end=2216","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f/thumbnail_209285.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6132809/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Delta-Marriott-team-pitches-attached-convention-center-with-hotel-linkage-and-parking-garage-option","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132809-af3c67990058f565e28d48ae749c82cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440669&Signature=XDwOoLrwUzzEi2fRwXei6jCre6pnxUT5US7rlb2jeUiolilfd6i~7n~WTrDat0Kq12Kl5GBmSnwH1TM~EajePMWmTxI-7p2rsYu~LUb1sykGrp-DBR-1r0kpaNaVsJUg6r~L6s59R6JJGvfyvpm8PX7DAjDZd9mkrkxr7zriUb26XxP6vHdyVOZME2Rwob8tguJTxFu2xidZMoPGNWI2xPb01ZaDJMAvVlYrlFVyf5lAXmz722z6d-5X3s7h2q3lcCh1rSmCvTm38~-3cO8UE4GawiRStYvbzjyettEVJigu2ymh15YOaLvDgPPi8bVG5i~a6wCqi2uKb5~J4eSWuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The City of Fargo","date","2025-08-23T08:04:32Z","article","Norm Wesley, Delta Marriott representative, presented the Delta Marriott proposal to the Convention Center Committee, saying the team would attach a new convention facility to the existing 185‑room Delta Marriott and that the site could deliver about 63,000 square feet of convention and conference space when combined with the hotel’s existing meeting rooms. \"We will absolutely support it, and we will do whatever it takes to collaborate and make this convention center a tremendous success,\" Wesley said.

The proposal described two development scenarios. In scenario A the convention facility would attach to the north wing of the Delta Marriott and connect directly to a proposed parking garage; in scenario B the new space would connect to the hotel’s existing 23,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 15,000‑square‑foot Crystal Ballroom. Dave Ekman, partner with Bridge Hospitality, said the team modeled a parking garage sized at roughly 400–500 vehicles and said paid parking and a possible TIF or similar instrument could help fund it, subject to city cooperation.

Why it matters: the Delta team emphasized hotel‑convention integration as a booking priority for planners, arguing that having a full‑service hotel physically connected to the convention space and an existing cluster of hotels within walking distance helps attract larger citywide events. \"Having Marriott as the flag ... brings access to a global audience and a very loyal base of planners and business travelers,\" Matteo Leslie, a member of the presenting team, said.

What the proposal would deliver: the presenters said their plan could provide flexible, modern meeting space on a single floor with the option for a second floor later, pre‑function areas, back‑of‑house delivery/loading, and a secondary 4,000‑square‑foot kitchen to supplement the hotel’s existing 6,000‑square‑foot kitchen. The team estimated a construction cost roughly in the ballpark of industry norms they cited (examples in discussion ranged from about $800 to $1,000+ per square foot), and they said they had modeled a rough $40 million target construction budget while acknowledging the budget would require value engineering and further financial work in later rounds.

Finance and operations: the Delta team proposed separating a below‑market land lease from the capital budget so land cost would be treated in operating expenses rather than the $40 million construction figure. They described a flexible operating approach in which Delta/National Hospitality Services would operate food and beverage and potentially other services, but they said they were open to outside vendors under quality standards. Wesley and Ekman said the hotel group could provide operating cash cushions and partner with lenders, and that the proposal included modeling of a revenue share for food and beverage rather than a fixed operating obligation.

Questions and limits: Commissioner Pepporn pressed the presenters on kitchen sizes, land control and lease terms, and expandability; the team confirmed the Delta currently operates a 185‑room full‑service hotel, controls the site land, and proposed a below‑market land lease to reduce up‑front land cost to public funding. Presenters said the project could expand upward or across contiguous land in the future, and they acknowledged that achieving the full square footage targets identified in the RFP would require additional financial engineering. Mayor Charlie and others asked whether parking would be developer‑funded and for how long a TIF or pilot might run; the presenters said those specifics would be developed in later stages and that paid parking and a financing instrument would likely be needed to support a structured parking garage.

Booking and CVB coordination: presenters said they expect to work closely with the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) on booking priority and windows. Leslie explained that the hotel’s current booking window (typically one month to two years for hotel business) differs from the CVB’s booking cycles for larger conventions (often two to four years), and the team argued that timeline differences could be coordinated to reduce conflicts between hotel functions and convention bookings.

What was not decided: the committee received the Delta team’s conceptual plan and Q&A; no formal direction, motion, or vote occurred during the meeting.

Ending note: the Delta Marriott presentation closed with the team offering to supply more detailed architectural and financial modeling if they advance to a later round, and the committee moved on to the next proposer after the Q&A period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fargo City Convention Center Committee - 08.22.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Norm Wesley, Delta Marriott representative, presented the Delta Marriott proposal to the Convention Center Committee, saying the team would attach a new convention facility to the existing 185‑room Delta Marriott and that the site could deliver about 63,000 square feet of convention and conference space when combined with the hotel’s existing meeting rooms.","taxTitle","Fargo , Cass County, North Dakota","taxId",2742,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132793,"Committee chair and staff outline scoring system, deadlines and consultant review for proposal shortlist",389,5933620,6322970,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f&start=5933&end=6322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f/thumbnail_5933620.jpg","/articles/6132793/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Committee-chair-and-staff-outline-scoring-system-deadlines-and-consultant-review-for-proposal-shortlist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132793-fa0017e6d7ea77bdceaefd11be46abdb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440669&Signature=d10ussI-bMiTtJoxR8-cfSkENmUJsHn5-orAIpk~csLrySX07MGYqX8KTadQxFscN4QhA044AFJ-2tUqItycvjYYgXp-YlKwkUgL688eUFJX~vs4dAr5NCa4ok5hxbFGOKQB8mgOKZ96hXmFLbZtToG3qXelv-1UuoNw59XgApwXQGgy8cuLu7pq~jVF88spwOYrVbe11Yz7tRWKDDXdeGXEfLQWdunUjOvqpBRHNCcbpkhcmOSVDnV9~cRgXdCyhPn1R1b4xuVA3AL57p8c2p52hR0eC1aZt0XAA~oN0ZXzrCz~HG-vhUZvjNsQM6m-2g2bgeHnjZodlnDx6ruwGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jim Gilmore, city staff, briefed the committee on the scoring process and the online Bonfire system the committee will use to rate the nine proposals. He said each committee member must enter scores into Bonfire and that the system requires a short justification when members enter particularly low or high scores. \"When you do do the scoring, the way the system works, they it asks you for a reason why you pick 0 or why you pick 5,\" Gilmore said, and he recommended typing a brief justification for outlying scores to aid later review.

Gilmore and Mayor Charlie walked the committee through the timeline: the committee will hear all nine presentations, committee members will be able to score through the Bonfire system with scores due by the Wednesday the presenters named (committee mentioned the \"seventeenth\" as the score deadline), and the consultant HVS will submit a separate scoring package. Gilmore said the Bonfire system will show averages to the committee and that city staff can assist members who have login issues; if the system fails for an individual, staff will accept paper scores and input them.

Committee discussion and recordkeeping: the chair and staff clarified that submitted scores are public records and available under open records rules, but they said the committee would focus discussion on aggregate averages during the meeting to identify a shortlist. Mayor Charlie described an anticipated process in which committee discussion would follow the scoring average and the committee would likely narrow the field to the top three or four proposals over multiple meetings.

What was not decided: the committee set no formal shortlisting at the meeting; members were reminded about meeting dates and that the next discussions likely would occur after the scoring window closed. Committee members asked for calendar and invite clarifications and staff said they would ensure updated invites and provide assistance for members who did not receive calendar changes.

Ending: Gilmore reminded members that consultants will also score separately and that the consultant results would be available for side‑by‑side comparison with the committee averages; the committee did not act on selection or shortlisting in this session.","City staff and Committee chair explained the Bonfire scoring system, a requirement to include a short justification for extreme scores, consultant (HVS) separate scoring, and the schedule for committee scoring and future meetings to narrow the field.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132798,"Enclave proposes convention center anchored to Scheels Arena in Urban Plains with emphasis on parking, ice‑cover flexibility and energy efficiencies",1570,4336335,5906620,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f&start=4336&end=5906","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f/thumbnail_4336335.jpg","/articles/6132798/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Enclave-proposes-convention-center-anchored-to-Scheels-Arena-in-Urban-Plains-with-emphasis-on-parking-icecover-flexibility-and-energy-efficiencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132798-14fb698403eb5706c7a5f2456602e734/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440669&Signature=GeMs~hxAql4il4a5yPHzfdIt5dHWqbou6QYSVSr9b7qkKEiKQjWC~md~VG5nUtpFgS82Uhneg-jAuQfU-MohkbEzyDv0BGsBHjbIahCDVhCDwG-utQnEyaBTHGkuSTNv9Wv3gdB-KHQctyq5WjhrwDWvZ68x56SKloz05TCx0WbL7PI4ceKPCCN-l4GS25F75QU0Fgqn9FZLw~hLntulYaGzC1XLqnHtBKE7~ry2YVUyORb0rl6O4ULeZxEqoNoylz-14-FdV5dA-JVCZVrWoCrmsFvmbCTUM9NySIVRxoTm7QdqcQ~nRiZuOaZr9vxNGF3vf30R-d4Y5imNzJN7Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin Morris, co‑founder and co‑CEO of Enclave, presented a proposal to site the convention center in the Urban Plains neighborhood adjacent to Shields Arena and the Farmers Union Insurance Center, arguing the campus would multiply sellable event space by combining arena, ice practice and new exhibit/ballroom areas. \"We selected our team with Brandt, and TVS this location for a variety of reasons,\" Morris said, noting strong interstate access, existing entertainment investments and a planned lifestyle / entertainment district dubbed the \"Quarter Pie.\"

Design and site: Rob Swedberg of TVS said the proposal treats the combined campus as a contiguous, flexible footprint that can operate as a larger combined inventory of sellable space — TVS modeled the site to function like a 150,000‑square‑foot campus when combined with existing arena and Farmers Union spaces. Swedberg also said designers tested parking capacity on the site and concluded the surface parking layout can meet event demands for the drive market the team expects to serve.

Operations and logistics: John Kram (referred to as John Crum in introductions), general manager of Shields Arena, said his team would propose to manage the combined campus. \"We propose that we'd be the managers of this,\" he said, adding that the arena is privately financed and currently operates without public subsidy. Kram explained the team already operates more than 100 events per year and believes the joint campus would allow them to capture events the market now turns away because of limited space.

Ice sheet / multipurpose use: The team emphasized that the Farmers Union Insurance Center’s ice surfaces can be covered and repurposed for exhibit space on a timetable the team regularly executes; presenters said the venue can reconfigure from ice to event surface in roughly an eight‑hour window and that concurrent uses (for example a convention and a game or concert in the arena) are operationally feasible.

Finance and land: The presenters said much of the land relevant to the proposed campus is controlled by the park district and Urban Plains stakeholders; they described utilities and site infrastructure as in place and characterized the site as shovel ready. The team said the core convention build could be pursued within a notional $40 million capital envelope with attention to a one‑level simple layout to control cost, while acknowledging the hotel element (a full‑service 150‑room property proposed on the east side of the site) may require additional assistance or incentive.

Energy and operating cost considerations: presenters described plans to pursue operational efficiencies including possible reuse of excess heat from the arena ice plant to heat the convention facility as an energy‑savings measure. They also emphasized surface parking initially and said a parking structure was not necessary for the first phase.

What was not decided: presenters outlined program, operational approach and preliminary financing thoughts but did not present a final funding package or a formal agreement with the park district; committee members asked about land control, availability of ice sheets and timing for conversion, and the presenters said they had existing agreements and operational experience to manage overlapping events.

Ending: the Enclave team offered to supply more detailed pro formas and design material if shortlisted; no formal action or vote occurred at the meeting.","Enclave and partners proposed a convention center integrated with Shields Arena and the Farmers Union Insurance Center in the Urban Plains neighborhood, highlighting drive‑market access, 1,600 nearby hotel rooms within two miles, surface parking, potential energy synergies with arena ice plant, and a management model led by local arena operators.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132804,"Bruhala team proposes Unicorn Park neighborhood redevelopment, cites 31‑acre site and potential $75–$100M TIF benefit",1219,2298730,3518335,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f&start=2298&end=3518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714788-051e9a5ba877352806d512e8a6299a0f/thumbnail_2298730.jpg","/articles/6132804/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Bruhala-team-proposes-Unicorn-Park-neighborhood-redevelopment-cites-31acre-site-and-potential-75100M-TIF-benefit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132804-71298bc73cbc45654feb9695de7f424b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440669&Signature=TZmiqS6sODyfWu0xPzIS4LD28fwiHvh9JvsO5hbfOfHrnw~4LxzqDuB~jK-hlW27cYsYTGSpthXXomUGY-QtV4aDGTMX-sz6zlQHKnBq-UtGlAhgPS9Y84Vneg1caJzz3I8S46jPXrVJtmbHFKjW9H1GVnMVbzUagAcsMC6PqZzXGqHMYb0YqVpmpvnfivGl3ZUk2WpEzF~I8NkfjLxXRfJmG0bKz8gfzwhEDd9RxlNYfg4e85m4PL~O~xoKIbSyjLFVpxBhkYrvarhzgN44~O6KkCCZj~21FXkPYcXb-rP96okZ8uOCvAslzd0~pPvOcx-2kM7~vlBJaygjHupqrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kevin Bartram, developer with the Bruhala team, and Mark Bjornstead, design/brand lead, presented a proposal that centers the convention facility in the Unicorn Park neighborhood on a 31‑acre infill site. \"This site presents, you know, really an incredible opportunity for the city,\" Bartram said, noting the team’s plans for a 160‑room hotel attached to the convention center, adjacency to Bridal (a food and beverage complex), and integration into an evolving entertainment district.

The team described the proposal as a neighborhood redevelopment, not just a single building, and stressed the broader tax and development upside. Mark Bjornstead said the site could generate tax‑increment financing (TIF) revenue they estimated to be \"75 to over a $100,000,000 over the life of that TIF,\" money the team framed as available to the city for future public objectives. The presenters argued that a centrally located convention center with a high concentration of local food, beverage and entertainment venues would increase spillover spending to downtown Fargo and strengthen the local hotel base.

Design and program: Rob Remark of JLG described the proposed layout as a convention center with an attached 160‑room hotel and hotel adjacency to Bridal (about 42 rooms nearby), yielding roughly 200 rooms in the immediate area; he also emphasized flexible meeting and ballroom layouts, natural light in breakout rooms, and a central courtyard for outdoor activations. The team proposed a phased approach with room for future expansion and emphasized that the site is already served by roads and utilities, which they described as “shovel ready.”

Management and finance: the team proposed a unified management model that would operate the convention center, hotel, and catering together to maximize booking flexibility and operational responsiveness. They said the developer/operator group would accept development and operational risk, which they argued would reduce the city’s operating subsidy needs and allow more public funds to go into building a larger, higher‑quality facility. The Bruhala team framed the plan as a private development with public benefits, asking the city to explore a TIF district and other financing tools to support site infrastructure and long‑term growth.

Site considerations and community fit: the Bruhala presenters argued the site’s central location, walkability and proximity to established local restaurants at Bridal would give it an experiential advantage with visitors. The team addressed a common concern about railroad noise and said design and orientation would buffer event and hotel spaces from rail impacts. The presenters described plans to preserve connectivity to downtown and to create activated public spaces along First Avenue.

What was not decided: the presentation delivered concept plans, tax‑generation estimates and a management approach; the committee did not take formal action and did not request immediate commitments for a particular financing instrument. Several committee members asked questions about drain easements on adjacent parcels, exact event capacity for spillover spaces such as Brewhalla, and site contamination checks; presenters said the site had undergone Phase I and II environmental testing and described the site as ready for development.

Ending note: the Bruhala team concluded by saying the project would not only build a convention facility but could catalyze broader neighborhood development; they offered to provide follow‑up materials if shortlisted for later rounds.","Musler Bartram Architects, Cityscapes Development and Brewhalla presented a neighborhood‑scale convention center concept on a 31‑acre infill site near downtown Fargo, emphasizing connectivity to Bridal food hall, a 160‑room hotel, and TIF revenue potential for broader neighborhood investment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Delta Marriott team pitches attached convention center with hotel linkage and parking garage option

Committee chair and staff outline scoring system, deadlines and consultant review for proposal shortlist

Enclave proposes convention center anchored to Scheels Arena in Urban Plains with emphasis on parking, ice‑cover flexibility and energy efficiencies

Bruhala team proposes Unicorn Park neighborhood redevelopment, cites 31‑acre site and potential $75–$100M TIF benefit