Both the Convocation Center and the Rockford MetroCentre are facing financial difficulties this year.

NIU’s Convo Center has had financial losses on a quarter of its events this year, while the Rockford MetroCentre has drained reserves and has used up its line of credit.

The 10,000-seat MetroCentre in Rockford features sporting events, as well as annual fishing, arts and crafts shows.

Joe Coots, marketing manager for the Convo Center, said he had heard about the MetroCentre’s problems, but did not hear the specifics of the situation.

Initial costs for the building add to budget concerns for the Convo Center, and people’s interest in attending events held there needs to increase.

“Any building in America, there are a bunch of upstart costs in the first year,” Coots said.

The $36 million Convo Center will provide for larger scale shows and sporting events, and may compete with the MetroCentre.

“We’re not upset there is a new venue in DeKalb,” said Priscilla Cantu, marketing director for the Rockford MetroCentre. “We fill it in with other touring events,” Cantu said of the spaces between regularly scheduled shows.

The Convo Center’s events need to make sense for the arena and for the area, Coots said. One advantage the arena has is that NIU is home to nearly 25,000 students, Coots said.

Since DeKalb is a college town, the events held at the arena are different from those held at the MetroCentre, Cantu said.

The MetroCentre has more opportunities for advertising with a major newspaper and a local television station, Coots said. It also has a much larger population than DeKalb.

However, those involved in the programming of their arenas work with the same people.

“We learn from each other,” Cantu said. “We all know each other.”

Cantu said they often work with the same promoters and with other directors at different arenas.

“Our goal is to bring the best entertainment to the Northern Illinois area,” Coots said of both arenas.