Business hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Box office hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday	September 25, 2009 September 3, 2009 August 20, 2009 August 3, 2009 July 17, 2009 June 25, 2009 June 12, 2009
Contact information: Ocean Center 101 N. Atlantic Ave. Daytona Beach, FL 32118 Phone: (386) 254-4500 Toll-free: (800) 858-6444 Fax: (386) 254-4512

New space bookings stretch through 2012 and beyond
The first major event in the new Ocean Center space is slated for January 2009 with dates also on the books for 2010, 2011 and beyond. There are several contracts pending and the 2009 calendar shows nearly 300 days of bookings, including a wide variety of dates. To check out the Ocean Center calendar of events, click here.

Unique proposal keep costs under control
Two years ago, the Ocean Center expansion was in jeopardy due to construction crews in high demand, spread thin by a hot real estate market. So, in a strategic move to cut costs and increase efficiency, the Volusia County Council directed staff to take over management of the construction project, assigning day-to-day oversight to its owner representative, OCORP Inc. This has helped to keep costs under control, and has protected the contingency fund.

Revenues have kept pace with expenses, even with $76 million in new debt. The one-penny increase in the bed tax, the 2-percent resort tax and operating revenues have contributed to the Ocean Center’s profitable status, something that is welcome news to the Volusia County Council as it grapples with budget shortages on many fronts. County Chair Frank Bruno enlisted community support for a penny increase in the tourist bed tax to fund the expansion project.

Planning a grand opening to remember
Construction of the new elements of the complex is nearly complete. Renovation of existing elements of the complex will be finished by year’s end. Grand opening festivities grand opening events are planned for early 2009.

Ocean Center expansion: Did you know…

• The Ocean Center expansion is a $76 million endeavor, the largest construction project in Volusia County Government history
• 672 parking spaces will be added to complement the 1,393 parking spaces in the Ocean Center garage
• The temporary certificate of occupancy for the expansion project has been issued (September 2008).
• The total value of the Ocean Center infrastructure will be $156 million after the expansion
• The Ocean Center construction project has utilized 67,000 square feet of glass and metal wall panels, 60 million pounds of concrete, 3 miles of irrigation pipe, and 3.1 million pounds of structural steel

Ocean Center planning grand entrance for grand building

Thanks to a $3 million grant from the voter-approved ECHO program, the county’s Ocean Center will have a grand entrance that will enhance tourism throughout Volusia.

The exceptional category grant from the ECHO grants-in-aid program will be used to create a Cultural Information Center (CIC). The funds will be used for site preparation and construction of the CIC, an enhancement of 51,635 square feet of lobby space with gathering areas, restrooms and concession facilities. It will display works from the “Arts in Public Places” program and have dedicated areas for permanent and visiting art works and cultural displays from all areas of Volusia County. The grand entrance also will include a new façade and entrance along N. Atlantic Avenue.

The CIC will have a staffed desk to provide countywide cultural attractions information to beachside and Ocean Center event attendees. The center will be open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and longer during facility events.

Other features of the new entrance lobby and CIC will be a marquee mural on the west wall above the ballrooms doors, seen from inside and outside the facility. The mural will change with the center’s exhibits. The center and its displays will be in the highest pedestrian traffic area for the venue.