BLOOMINGTON - Three full-time jobs, retirement benefits and travel costs are part of the $100,000 in cuts made by U.S. Cellular Coliseum managers as the souring economy continues to make earning a profit for the year a challenge. | Interactive graphic: Coliseum finances, attendance | Video: ICE Racing at the Coliseum | Photo gallery

The cuts were announced and took effect Wednesday, the same day the city issued the December financial report which showed Coliseum operations making a profit of $1,800.

December is the first month of the current fiscal year to finish with a positive balance for the city-owned venue, but the overall operating loss for the year remains at a little more than $340,000. The city's fiscal year ends April 30.

Central Illinois Arena Management co-owner John Butler said the cuts are part of their attempts to adjust the Coliseum's budget going into the final quarter of the city's budget.

"We need to prepare for a worst-case scenario with the hope we can continue to attract shows that generate revenue for the building," Butler said. "We are taking the positive actions necessary to help offset a potential slowdown in the concert and entertainment industry."

The personnel cuts leave the Coliseum with 15 full-time employees.

In addition to cutting staff and suspending contributions to employee retirement benefits, Butler said all building improvements are on hold unless they are a matter of safety.

Butler said that includes the $112,000 approved by the City Council to build a ticket window enclosure. Under the proposal approved last month, the city would pay for the construction of the enclosure and Ticketmaster would pay a sponsorship fee of $15,000 every year for 10 years.

Initial estimates showed the building ending the fiscal year with a $125,000 profit, but Coliseum officials warned the City Council in December that now is unlikely. Instead, they said the Coliseum would be doing well if it broke even for the fiscal year.

Rob Fazzini, a member of the City Council's Coliseum liaison group, said that if the remaining four months of the fiscal year end as projected the Coliseum still will end with an operating loss of about $250,000. If there is a net loss, the city will have to use its own money to make it up.

The operating profit-or-loss estimates do not include the city's $2 million annual payment the city must make on $29 million in bonds issued to building the $35.8 million complex.

Fazzini also said arena managers are working on adding a basketball team and a soccer team as anchor tenants.

"Adding either or both would add an income source of minimal risk," Fazzini said.

The building had 20,191 people come through its doors in December for a variety of meetings, concerts and hockey games.

The Vince Gill and Amy Grant concert Dec. 20 brought in 3,764 people.

The hockey game with the highest attendance for the month drew 3,908 fans on Dec. 13. The lowest attendance for a hockey game 1,086 on Dec. 4.