TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) _ New Mexico Spaceport Authority executive director Christine Anderson will present new strategies next month for generating revenue for the multi-million dollar spaceport.
She is set to show a revised five-year business plan to regional and local officials that calls for Spaceport to look for new tenants, market the facility for commercial filming and open up for tourism.
Spaceport America’s hopes have been tied to anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, which is developing a spaceship. But Virgin Galactic suffered a huge setback last fall when a rocket-powered spacecraft broke apart during a test flight in the California desert, killing one pilot.
Spaceport still needs Virgin to succeed for its own financial independence, Anderson told the Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/1IC9IPT). But Spaceport envisions scaling back on how much of the operating budget comes from legislative-approved funding.
Some lawmakers have said they’re tired of taxpayers footing the bill for the $218.5 million facility. The state’s general fund kicked in $450,000 for $2.6 million in expenses for Spaceport America in fiscal 2015. Spaceport used revenue from business propositions, including the $1 million from Virgin Galactic’s lease, to pay for 60 percent of it. Construction bonds and funds from previous years covered the rest.
Taxes imposed in Dona Ana and Sierra counties have contributed more than $76 million to the facility’s construction. Billy Garrett, Dona Ana County Commission chairman, said the company should have been searching for alternative revenue sources a long time ago.
“That should have started from the very beginning, in my opinion. I think it has been a weak effort that has been overly reliant on Virgin,” Garrett said.
Anderson said the spaceport team was more focused on getting construction of the facility done. But now, they can concentrate on promotion with construction on the verge of being completed. They even hired a marketing director last month.
Spaceport plans to brand itself as the venue for photo shoots, weddings and other events. Anderson points out that companies, including Nike, J. Crew and British automakers Aston Martin have used the space for their advertising. She declined to say how much they paid.
Spaceport American is also looking into creating its own line of merchandising and special tours. Anderson said she would like to offer $59 tours starting in June with the Gateway Gallery opening and a temporary visitors’ center 30 miles away in Truth or Consequences. The gallery contains interactive video games, displays, a simulator ride and a view of Virgin’s hangar.