Revenues up at some entertainment venues

Courtesy photo: Brock Neely Carlos Mencia's show at the Clovis Civic Center sold 950 of 1,100 tickets.

Clovis Civic Center and Curry County Events Center saw increased revenues over the past two years. This is good news to City Commissioner Bobby Sandoval, who said entertainment industries in Clovis and Portales are important cultural outlets for people from across the globe, who come to Cannon Air Force Base.

College and university entertainment venues did not fare as well. Eastern New Mexico University’s fine arts department, which provides three venues of entertainment — art, theater and music, does not keep attendance records or declined to give them. Clovis Community College’s Cultural Arts Series reported a slight decline in attendance last year.

All area entertainment venues are supported by gross receipts taxes and operate at a loss. Sandoval said their purpose is not to make a profit, but to improve quality of life and generate tourism revenues for city businesses. Events Center Manager Kevin Jolley cites an increase in Clovis gross receipts taxes — 2.6 percent in 2010 and 4.5 percent in 2011 — as evidence the industry is doing its job.