What is in a name?

Everything apparently when it comes to branding or marketing the Bismarck Civic Center and the community it serves.

The question of changing the name to something perceived as less "archaic" was mentioned several times at the Mayor's Economic Development Advisory Group meeting on Wednesday. The advisory group assembled at the center itself.

Questions about an on-site hotel for the Civic Center grounds also were revisited.

Sheri Grossman and Terry Harzinski of the Convention and Visitors Bureau opened the discussion.

Grossman stressed that national perception of the facilities available are key to landing large new conventions here.

"On the national level, we have a tough time with (the word) 'civic,'" Grossman said. She is sales director of the CVB.

"Nationally, they think of an old, archaic building that is not updated. They don't think of it as a convention center," she told the economic group.

"Just the words, 'Bismarck Convention Center' would help us a lot. It is a convention center, if that is what we want and need to sell "

"Another hot topic has been the convention center hotel," Harzinski said. "A hotel connected to this facility now would be fabulous for our industry." Harzinski is the executive director for the CVB.

Harzinski said the CVBhas been giving input into the Civic Center expansion plans.

"A lot of things we did talk about were more meeting rooms and more breakout rooms," he said.

He said that when promoting or contacting event planners, focus is placed on what is available in Bismarck.

"We don't tend to sit around thinking about what we don't have. If they want a 300-room hotel, connected to a convention center, we don't worry about that because we don't have it," Harzinski said.

Harzinski said the CVB promotes that there are 800 hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center and 20-some restaurants.

Charles Jeske, manager of the Bismarck Civic Center, later highlighted activity for the facility.

Jeske was asked what he was doing about changing the name.

"On our last marketing feasibility study, the consultant touched on that," he said. "We use the words 'civic center' and everybody assumes it's just a basketball court facility."

He said other centers like the Alerus in Grand Forks have had naming sponsors come in. He said while that option is a source of revenue, there is the risk of the facility losing its identity for Bismarck.

He said there must be a "niche" that ties all the uses of the building to Bismarck.

Jeske said a marketing feasibility study showed the Bismarck Civic Center needs a 20,000-square-foot multi-purpose room.

Jeske said he is in the process of looking at cost options for improving the structure.

He added that contact has been again made with Canad Inns to create a hotel on the grounds.

Jeske said his knowledge of Canad has been that it helps drive up average daily rates for other hotels and spurs improvements in other facilities.

Jeske said the consultant warned that although only a three-block walk to the center, a delegate from Florida may find a train crossing delay and the extreme cold of February unsettling.

"We really need to look at how we can put all these pieces together," Jeske said.

He said a skywalk plan is being considered in the master plan for the facility. He said that also could tie into additional parking downtown.

No decisions were made at the meeting. The next meeting is at 9 a.m. Nov. 25 at the Civic Center.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@;bismarcktribune.com.)