To their credit, Mr. Ochoa and McPier Chairman John Gates appear to have received the message that even high-value-added Chicago will have to seriously cut costs at a time when price is about all that counts.

McPier's payroll, long filled with sundry cousins and wives and brothers-in-law, has been slashed from 700 to 400 workers in the past three years, even as the convention center opened another building. Most of the center's electricians — a particular source of complaint through the years — have been fired, replaced with more-cooperative sorts who work under tighter controls. New workers now get defined-contribution pensions rather than the more-expensive defined-benefit type.

That's a start.

Other, bigger changes that McPier wants require legislative approval.

Like reducing the number of unions that move and build exhibits, so fewer standby workers must be paid. Like banning strikes and settling disputes through arbitration rather than softball negotiations.

Like allowing McPier to audit the books of the two large companies that actually operate conventions for trade groups to make sure cost savings are passed on to their clients. Like allowing McPier to refinance its debt instead of tapping the state treasury for an estimated $84 million in two years.