By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Nesbitt Contracting Co. can be compensated up to $2.5 million for certain municipal construction work in the Scottsdale “downtown entertainment district.”
Scottsdale City Council earlier this month approved a $1 million increase to the cap on single-order job requests made to Nesbitt Contracting Co. for underway downtown entertainment district lightning project. The local governing board unanimously approved the spending limit increase at its June 21 regular meeting, which was a part of the consent agenda at City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
Melanie Gibson, Scottsdale Public Works project coordinator, says the request, in part, is to meet deadlines for the anticipated Super Bowl LVII celebrations planned in and around Old Town Scottsdale in February 2023.
“Job order contracting is a method for procuring construction services authorized by title 34 of the Arizona Revised Statutes as an alternative to the traditional design-bid-build procurement method,” she said in regard to the downtown entertainment district lightning project.
“The JOC single job order limit increase, from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, is needed in order to write an all-inclusive job order with Nesbitt Contracting to complete the ‘Downtown Entertainment District’ lighting project. Due to the time constraints and increasing costs, using the JOC alternative delivery method is the best option to complete the construction prior to the 2023 Superbowl.”
Ms. Gibson explains the contract increase does not encumber any future municipal funds.
“Funds for individual job orders issued under these contracts are available in various CIP projects,” she explained. “Available operational funding may also be used to perform construction work using this contract as well. Total construction cost for all projects under this contract will not exceed $10,000,000 for the remainder of the initial two-year term.”
Scottsdale & the big game
While Super Bowl LVII is Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the greater Scottsdale area is poised to be the event epicenter for the big game, officials opine.
The magnitude of the tourism event that is the Super Bowl is staggering, numbers from the 2015 event include:
- $720 million in economic impact on region.
- $2 million in grants to 27 youth-based Arizona 501(C)(3) nonprofits serving an estimated 400,000 youth.
- 120,000 visitors to branded events.
- 175,000 passengers coming and going through Sky Harbor International Airport.
- A 53% increase in bed tax remits reaching a total of $2.3 million during the week of the event.
- A 33% increase in sales tax going from $1.2 million to $1.6 million during the week of the event.
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, which is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit effort, is responsible for planning and executing Super Bowl LVII in 2023. Aside from execution of the event the host committee seeks to accomplish three main objectives:
- Showcase Arizona as a global platform;
- Fuel the economic engine for the metropolitan region; and
- Leave a lasting legacy.
