Kent city leaders hope that the thousands expected to attend Skate America over the weekend provide a much needed boost for ShoWare Center.
In the past three years, the arena has lost $1.2 million, an amount the City of Kent has paid for from the capital budget.
However, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke defends the arena.
"The fact that ShoWare Center attracts so many people to the community has relaly kept some of our businesses alive," Cooke said.
The city has commissioned an economic analysis on the ShoWare Center, which should be complete by the end of the year.
