Five Flags Civic Center Assessment and Study

In 2017, the City of Dubuque hired consultant Conventions, Sports and Leisure International (CSL) to conduct a comprehensive study and assessment of the Five Flags Civic Center in consideration of expanding/improving the facility.  Since 2017 and following additional direction from the City Council and the Five Flags Civic Center Commission, the project has included multiple phases and the exploration of several options.  A complete history of this project is available on the Project History page.

In 2019, the Five Flags Civic Center Commission endorsed "Scenario 4 Hybrid" for the potential project. This scenario includes demolition of the existing Five Flags Center arena, improvements to Five Flags Theater, and the development of a new, state-of-the-industry arena via a northward expansion of the center’s current footprint. This option would increase attendee capacity to nearly 6,400 for concert events and 6,000 for arena floor events (i.e., no portable floor seats)

February 2022 Update: The City Council held a work session on Feb. 9, 2022 to review scenarios and determine future action. At this meeting, the City Council requested updated cost estimates and projections to further discuss a potential referendum.  

• CLICK HERE to view the agenda for this work session which includes a comprehensive list of background materials related to the project.
  
  
• CLICK HERE to watch a video of the presentation made to City Council at the Feb. 9, 2022, work session.

April 15, 2022 Update:  A consultant’s updated analysis of capital and operating costs for an expanded/improved Five Flags Civic Center has been completed and will be discussed by the Dubuque City Council at their Monday, April 18, meeting. 

The city council requested this updated analysis in order to more appropriately plan for a potential public referendum for the project.  If the city council chooses to pursue the project, a public referendum would be required and the soonest a public referendum vote could be held is September 13, 2022.  

The previous estimate for a total project cost was $74.34 million.  The updated analysis increases that estimate to $89.7 million, an almost 20.7% increase.  If a referendum is held and passed and the project was financed over 20 years, the City’s financial advisor has calculated the property tax impact to the average homeowner (based on an average home value of $159,503) would be $193.28 the first year and would decrease each year to $161.59 the final year.