Sioux Falls Business Journal

Until then Dwayne was of average height. And because no one else in my immediate family is considered tall, we weren’t expecting this new vertical stretch.

But there we were – the three of us, plus my younger sister – often in a clothing store trying to find a shirt with sleeves that would reach my brother’s wrists or pants that hit his ankles. And ones affordable enough so that if he grew out of them a little later, it wouldn’t hurt Mom’s feelings too much to replace them.
I remember the way she would shake her head and flash that frustrated look whenever facing the inevitable choice once she found clothes that fit both my parents’ budget and my brother.
Either Mom would buy several pieces so that Dwayne could enjoy options and wouldn’t have to overuse any one item or she would buy only a few pieces because she would have to replace them soon anyway. Most times, she opted for the latter.
In many ways, this growing city is facing the same dilemma regarding the outgrown Arena as well as other facilities.
In particular, the 46-year-old Arena is like the shirts whose sleeves fell short of my brother’s wrists. It’s just too small to host some of the events that Sioux Falls now looks to land.
And the city is facing a frustrating choice of what to do next.
About three years ago, a local study group proposed incorporating the Arena into the Sioux Falls Convention Center, but that was when dreams of a possible new events center still were floating high.
Recently, the City Council announced plans to find out what the immediate maintenance needs are for both the Arena and Washington Pavilion. And that sounds a lot like my Mom’s buy-just-enough approach.
But Mom also knew – just as Sioux Falls very well could discover after the maintenance study is finished – there are some moments when it’s time to switch strategies.
I remember some shopping trips, especially when my siblings and I were even younger, when Mom purposefully would buy clothes for us that were a little more expensive and a little too big. She knew the clothes would last, and we would grow into them. And she would spend money for certain items only once.
I don’t recall Mom ever liking those times, but she knew that was the best approach in the long run.
In the Arena’s case, it’s also possible that the accumulation of some maintenance or upgrade costs could be estimated at a level where it would make more sense to invest in a better-fitting facility.
I mean, let’s face it. We can get by with the Arena for only so much longer. Eventually, we’ll need to deal honestly with the fact that Sioux Falls’ entertainment needs are growing.
Forget, for the moment, the ongoing debate of where a new events center might sit – either at or near the current Arena site or downtown.
First, Sioux Falls needs to find the courage to change strategies in dealing with some issues regarding our growth.