FIVE YEARS LATER, SHOW ME CENTER STILL A THRIVING ASSET

Five years ago this week, more than 7,000 people crowded into Cape Girardeau's new multipurpose arena to see rocker Tina Turner in concert.

Since that first sellout less than two months after the Show Me Center's coronation in August 1987 nearly 1.8 million people have attended some 2,155 events at the facility. That includes more than 750 arena-type events such as the Tina Turner show.

Show Me Center Manager David Ross said he's amazed at the attendance figures and the quality of artists that have performed at the facility during the past five years.

Ross said: "When I met with the Board of Managers for an interview before the facility was even built, I told the board, `If we do eight shows a year, we'll do really well and probably break even. If we do 10, I get to keep my job and everybody will be happy, and if I do 12, I could be elected mayor.'

"Well, the first year we did 24 shows and everything went out the window."

Ross said attendance has far exceeded expectations, and the one-millionth customer entered the Show Me Center for a Southeast Indians basketball game only 2 years after the center opened. Now the facility soon will usher in customer number two million.

"As far as attendance, our major goal was to make the Show Me Center operate in the black and pay for itself operationally, and we've been able to do that each year," Ross said.

The $13.5-million facility, first discussed for Cape Girardeau about a decade ago, was a unique joint project of Southeast Missouri State University and the city.

Early controversy over the site of the facility, financing, and once built its name, now seem a distant memory as few people would deny the Show Me Center's value to the community.

About 740,000 have attended the arena events alone since 1987, including the more than 60 concerts. The number of arena events and attendance at such events has declined steadily during the past two years, Ross said.

But the facility has seen a corresponding increase in meetings, conventions and private rentals. For example, in September 1987 there were 21 overall meetings and events at the Show Me Center.

That number increased to 48 one year later, and has nearly doubled since, with 91 events held this September.

About 284,000 people have attended the smaller meetings and conventions, while about 219,000 have attended various university events.

Another large portion of attendance comes from university athletic events, which have drawn about 547,000 people.

Although the Show Me Center has rightly served its function as a multipurpose building, the most notable events have been the concerts. Country and western, rock and Christian artists all have sold out the facility.

The biggest concert crowd was the night of July 22, 1988, when 7,355 people packed the Show Me Center to see Aerosmith and a then-little-known band called Guns and Roses.

Christian performer Carman, who combines dramatic effects with rock-oriented contemporary Gospel music, has drawn the most fans in repeat performances.

Of the top 10 Show Me Center crowds, three were at Carman concerts: the second largest (7,307) for an Aug. 6, 1990 show, sixth (7,150) for a March 24, 1989 show, and 10th (6,713) for a July 23, 1992 show.

The top country draw was Randy Travis and Shenandoah Feb. 15, 1990, when 7,270 people came. Travis also drew 7,005 people for a Nov. 20, 1988 concert with Tammy Wynette.

Other top draws include Motley Crue and Ratt, July 19, 1990 (7,197), George Strait and Pam Tillis, Feb. 29, 1992 (7,000), and Poison, Nov. 12, 1988 (6,740).

The largest crowd for an event was 7,718, who came to see then-President Ronald Reagan on Sept. 14, 1988.

"That was a major, major highlight," said Ross, "not so much that we had the president here, but in the fact that the community came together to pull off an incredible event."

Ross said securing Bob Hope for the Show Me Center's grand opening ceremonies in August 1987 also was a breakthrough for the facility.

"I don't think people believed at that point that we'd be able to bring major stars into Cape Girardeau," he said. "When we announced Bob Hope, it sort of broke the ice."

Other highlights cited by Ross were a Barry Manilow concert in 1987, which he called the "best pure performance, entertainment-wise, that's been done," a December 1987 Alice Cooper that drew protests from people in the community because of Cooper's "shock-rock" performance, and the women's NCAA Division II National Basketball Finals in spring 1991.

Ross said he took the greatest satisfaction in bringing Ringling Brothers Circus' "Greatest Show on Earth" in 1990 a show he began working on when he started his job in 1987.

"When the people came and saw that, they were amazed," he said. "They weren't expecting the caliber of circus that it was. People walked away understanding why it's been called the `Greatest Show on Earth.'"

Ross said people continue to marvel at the variety of events that have been held at the Show Me Center. The floor has been transformed for rodeo, professional wrestling Hulk Hogan and the World Wrestling Federation drew 7,692 one year "monster truck" pulls, ice skating, and theater shows.

Ross said he'll continue to try to bring those shows people want to see, not always an easy task.

"You tend to be like crystal ball readers," he said. "This is the way the market's going, so we have to go with it. We try to get out in front of the curve, but it's not easy to do."

As an example, Ross cited Randy Travis. The country singer sold out the Show Me Center twice before and when he did a concert Oct. 11, his latest album was on the top of the country charts.

"You'd think he was a guarantee sellout, but we couldn't even get 4,000," Ross said.

He contrasted the Travis show with the Guns and Roses and Aerosmith concert in 1988. "Guns and Roses was an unknown band, and that show went through the roof," he said.

Ross conceded that the Show Me Center had booked fewer rock 'n' roll shows the past two years in lieu of more country concerts. But, he added, that's what audiences want to hear today.

"Essentially, we're kind of a conduit," he said. "If the current flavor of entertainment out there is rock 'n' roll, obviously we're going to be doing rock 'n' roll.

"But we've seen a decline in rock 'n' roll as we used to know it. At the same time, there's been major growth in country music."

The Show Me Center manager said other factors also have affected the number of rock shows. He said amphitheaters have "changed the face of the industry."

Because outdoor amphitheaters have a limited season each year, they tend to book as many concerts as possible, drawing headline entertainment away from arenas like the Show Me Center.

An increase in conventions and trade shows at the Show Me Center, which were rare in its first few years of operation, now also have replaced some of the arena entertainment.

Ross said the key to the success of the Show Me Center is a willingness to respond to market changes, while continuing to secure a variety of events.

For example, the facility hosted "Phantom of the Opera" Oct. 10, its first live theater event. Ross said it's likely more such events will be held.

"We've always strived for variety," he said. "I expect it will continue as long as the demand is there and people are willing to pay to see it."