Directly from Chris @ the Bi-Center

Good morning. I’m sorry you are frustrated. I’ve forwarded your comments and the other emails to the Salina Wrestling Club.

Our concessions prices are not higher than Topeka, Wichita, Dodge City, Independence, KC, Omaha, etc. mid-size facilities in the Midwest region. For kid’s wrestling, we offered healthy options including granola bars, water, Powerade, and box lunches with sandwiches. We will discuss with the promoter potential menu items that the wrestling community enjoys so we can offer more options in the future. We have not changed concession pricing in years FYI.

The city is in the process of upgrading the computer technology at the facility so our patrons can enjoy tablets, laptops, and the like. We look forward to remedying this issue so please be patient as we get these items addressed.

Security has been directed not to allow outside food and beverage into the facility. Salina Wrestling Club also sends this information out in their registration packets. It would be our goal to not have to employ professional security to enforce this rule that has been in place for years. I apologize the security guard approached your situation below in that manner and I will address it personally.

Our staff works tirelessly with the Salina Wrestling Club to make this event happen. We spend weeks preparing and everyone in the community enjoys hosting the event. I am not comfortable with your language via email that makes personal judgments like greed or desiring justification to your satisfaction. Make an appointment with the Salina wrestling club to discuss and if they feel necessary, we’re happy to meet to discuss. Please channel future correspondence through the Salina Wrestling club.

Sincerely,
Chris

From: Jimmy Moison [mailto:jimmy.moison@cox.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 4:40 PM
To: Chris Bird; dlauver@salinakansas.org; dweiser@salinakansas.org; lpowell@salinakansas.org; ebrown@salinakansas.org
Subject: Salina Kansas TOC
Importance: High

I know you have heard from several people at this point regarding last weekend’s tournament about concessions and the strictness of the security staff. The Salina Wrestling Club did an outstanding job as always, but this year, the concessions were outrageous and the security staff was rude and treated kids as if they were adults. Let me share a personal event that went on in the lobby area:

My son just wrestled a hard match and I took him to the lobby area where we both opened a bag of Peanut M&M’s, a minute or so passed and an armed security guard approached us and said there is no outside food or beverages allowed, I told him that we haven’t been outside, He was quick to remind me that there were no arena food or beverages allowed either and that I should have read the sign on the way out. He turned away and I said it said the arena food and beverages will not be allowed back in after the doors, he said, excuse me, then quickly said “a rule is a rule, everyone else has to follow them as well” The fact of the matter is he was dead wrong. Read the signs and tell me what they say.

My whole point, is that we were paying rock concert prices for concessions that were not fit for a healthy day of wrestling. We were there for 12+ hours and all we had to eat/snack on were hot dogs, candy, pop, NOS energy drinks (that should not be sold to 10 year olds), and more junk food. This is an armature event and it seems as though it was just being a money maker, not even worrying about the sport of wrestling or the people footing the bill. The wrestling community as a whole will begin a petition soon if something doesn’t happen to have the tournament moved elsewhere. I have seen some of the responses from the board and it seems as though nobody really cares. I would like a follow –up regarding this matter please and will not back off until I get a justified and acceptable answer from someone. This weekend was ridiculous

Regards,

Jimmy Moison
785-224-73649