Last Minute Events Center Campaigning

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Sioux Falls voters will have the last say Tuesday on a proposed events center. 

Yard signs showing support for a proposed events center and yard signs showing opposition to building an events center aren't the only signs that Sioux Falls voters will go to the polls on Tuesday over a controversial topic. Radio ads for and against an events center were playing on several radio stations.

The Citizen's Network Against the Events Center runs a radio ad saying, “I'm convinced there's a better plan for an events center out there. One that won't make the parking problem at Howard Wood field even worse. One that won't put us instantly in debt.”

Build It Now’s radio ad says, “It's getting old driving a couple hundred miles just to spend money and have a good time. Tell me again why we can't spend our money in Sioux Falls.”

The Build it Now campaign also bought commercial television time to help get its message out.

In addition to the radio and television ads, don't be surprised if someone knocks on your door as both sides are using volunteers going door to door, spreading that last-minute message.

Bob Barclay organized the Citizen's Network Against the Events Center. He says the group’s last-minute message to voters is: It's the wrong time to build an events center when the economy is down and high numbers of people are unemployed.

"It's more of a want than a need in the community. Everybody wants an events center, or many people, I should say, want an events center, but not everybody sees it as a need right now," Barclay said.

Mike Sullivan is a co-chair for the Build it now campaign. Its last minute message is: if voters wait any longer for an events center, it will only cost more in the future.

"We'll continue doing all the things we've continued to do, but our main goal is to get people out to vote," Sullivan said.  "The economy has become a fallback for everything you don't want to do. It's easy to say no. It's time for Sioux Falls to step up and get this thing done."

The polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Sioux Falls for voters to decide the matter.