Up For Debate: Omaha Divided Over Plan For New Ballpark
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Proposed Ballpark For College World Series
Dividing Ranks Among Omaha Officials, Entities |
The plan to build a $140M, 24,000-seat downtown ballpark in Omaha to host the College World Series (CWS) has "strained relations" in the city, "dividing those loyal to the event's traditions ... from folks who want to see Omaha turn the event into another glitzy sports stop," according to Matthew Futterman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The NCAA earlier this month "signed a contract to keep the [CWS] in Omaha for 25 more years, assuming the city approves the stadium," which is scheduled for completion by 2011. When the plan for a new stadium leaked in May '07, polls ran 70-30 against the stadium, and a Save Rosenblatt committee collected "more than 14,000 signatures" in support of Rosenblatt Stadium. The plan "also has alienated" the Triple-A PCL Omaha Royals, for whom the stadium possibly would serve as a home. The Royals decided that they "didn't much like it," as the team would "prefer a 7,500- to 10,000-seat facility to capture the intimacy" of its games. Royals co-Owner Alan Stein said that he would "prefer a ballpark with amenities popular elsewhere," such as the pool and two hot tubs at Zephyr Field in New Orleans. Stein is negotiating with the city of Omaha, but he said that "at least four other municipalities would build him a ballpark if he chooses to move" the team. But Omaha Mayor Michael Fahey has "made clear that for him, securing a long-term deal to keep the [CWS] was always more important than a splash zone for the Royals." And Futterman noted with word "spreading that the NCAA wanted to keep the event in Omaha, opposition to the project began to shrink" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/19).
MOVING ON: In Omaha, C. David Kotok reported the Omaha Zoo Foundation (OZF) BOD has "signed off on an agreement with the city to obtain the Rosenblatt Stadium property" for the $11.9M the city owes on past stadium improvements. The foundation plans to "raze the stadium to replace parking that will be lost to a major new exhibit and to add even more spaces." OZF President John Boyer said that an appraiser has set the market value of the Rosenblatt property at $9.15M (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 5/18).
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