FULL STORY: Council commits more than $300,000 to improve Memorial Auditorium

The Worthington City Council on Wednesday approved more than $309,000 in restoration and modernization to the city-owned concert hall.

The city will spend up to $152,900 to replace all of the seats on the main level, which are more than half a century-old. The new seats will be wider and row spacing will be increased, reducing the seating capacity by 75 seats.

City staff have identified the kind of seat they want — comfortable and sturdy — and will now request bids from various companies. Seats will be replaced this summer. The city intends to replace the seats on the upper level at a later date.

The council also approved $156,598 to modernize the auditorium’s equipment — including a new light board, audio board, power distro, remote-control balcony lights, wireless microphones, and intercom headsets — and replace the worn-out stage draperies and a section of heavily-stained light-colored carpet in the lobby.

The new equipment will help the auditorium accompany its large variety of acts — it typically rents up-to-date equipment to accompany performers.

“We’re trying to create a facility that can be flexible for different events that are coming in, including different acts,” said Mark Brodin, auditorium technical advisor. “Sometimes we will need to supplement rental to make that work, but this will really help.”

The renovations will be paid with $31,450 from a Vance Family donation, $100,000 from the extension of the current local option sales tax and the rest out of leftover funds from original local option sales tax revenue. The renovations are expected to be complete by this fall.