Dubuque city officials plan new Five Flags management; current company announces layoffs

Dubuque city staff are negotiating an agreement with a new management company for Five Flags Center, and more than 150 layoffs have been announced as the current company’s contract nears its end. City officials propose that, pending City Council approval of the contract later this month, the city-owned civic center be managed starting July 1 by Oak View Group (OVG), which also operates Dubuque’s Grand River Center. The city has contracted with ASM Global since 2004 for the management of Five Flags. That contract expires at the end of June. Members of a city committee were unanimous in their recommendation of OVG, which council documents state can provide operational efficiencies, cost saving (and) strategic event scheduling through shared resources between Five Flags and Grand River Center. A notice filed with Iowa Workforce Development states that ASM Global will lay off 160 employees in Dubuque effective June 30. However, Five Flags General Manager Aaron Rainey said that only about 10 of those positions are full-time.