The operator of Canalside is being questioned after it spent its entire annual contract in less than nine months.
County Executive Mark Poloncarz is demanding a full accounting of the costs associated with Global Spectrum’s contract to determine what happened.
Global Spectrum runs events at Canalside and is asking for a 50 percent increase in its original contract just to open canals for ice skating this week.
Poloncarz says he has significant concerns about this situation.
Global Spectrum, one of the world's largest venue management companies, was hired this year after the contract with Buffalo Place was terminated.
The company is in charge of everything at Canalside, from events to concessions to maintenance.
The Buffalo News reports the directors of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation approved the increase, giving Global Spectrum an additional $860,020, bringing their total contract to more than $2.57 million.
The contract expires March 31, 2015.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation says the increase in spending for Global Spectrum will be worth it.
