After months of closed door meetings, Mayor Mike Fahey’s CWS Oversight Committee announced Monday the city will go to the NCAA next week with a proposal for a new downtown stadium north of the Qwest Center.

The committee reached a unanimous decision and it isn't really different from what the mayor first proposed. The new stadium would be located in parking lots C and E north of the Qwest Center.

“I think the College World Series is an invaluable asset to Omaha and has been for more than 50 years," said Ken Stinson, chairman of the CWS Oversight Committee and chairman of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. "We're looking for another generation as host of the College World Series."

The Omaha Royals and Creighton would share the stadium and MECA would operate the facility.

Stinson said they carefully considered several proposals, including eight new sites, renovating Rosenblatt or building a new stadium where Rosenblatt stands.

The cost of the proposal is still under wraps. Fahey and Stinson refused to talk about how they'll pay for a new ballpark until after they meet with the NCAA next Tuesday in Indianapolis, part of the ongoing negotiations to keep the CWS here for perhaps another 25 years.

How much will the stadium cost? The committee can't say. That was the answer to many of the questions.

How much private money is there? “Not prepared to talk about it,” said Stinson.

What is the cost? “Not prepared to talk about it today," said Stinson.

According to Stinson, full details of the analysis and recommendation will be released publicly as soon as the preliminary recommendation has been presented to the NCAA and the NCAA has had sufficient time to review the information.

All of this could change if the NCAA doesn't like the recommendation of a downtown stadium, but remember, in October the NCAA said, “The NCAA has given the city a favorable response for building a new baseball park in downtown Omaha in exchange for a long-term deal.

The committee believes its work will impress the NCAA next week during the presentation, but didn't want College World Series officials to hear the details until the mayor shared them personally.

"In fairness, not everyone knows how to build baseball stadium,” said Fahey. “Certainly there are things they like in a baseball stadium. We have listened to them and it is important we go back and share that. There are going to be issues. We have hired some of the best professionals in the country."

The city is planning a series of town hall meetings after meeting with NCAA officials.

Supporters of a downtown stadium have long said that the CWS slogan is “the road to Omaha,” not the road to Rosenblatt.

Many fans are frustrated not only to be losing a stadium, but a reminder of their memories. The committee's reaction to opposition seems to center on two phrases, "give us time" and "trust us".

"I think the vast majority of the public will see the wisdom of our decision,” said Stinson.

The mayor is pleased with the recommendation, but realizes not everyone can be pleased, especially supporters of Rosenblatt.

"I think at the end of the day, when people look at it, they'll sit back and say this is a fair and impartial analysis," said Fahey. "I'm the one who will be held accountable by the people if this doesn't work out."

"This has been a game that has an already determined outcome." The game Omaha City Councilman Garry Gernandt is talking about is playing out in his district and it has everything to do with the mayor's hand-picked committee. "The NCAA has said from the get go, we did not ask for a new stadium."

Some estimates for a new stadium have exceeded $100 million. The estimate to upgrade Rosenblatt is around $30 million.

Gernandt says voters are being fed smoke and mirrors by the mayor. "It's obvious right now it's not gonna clear on the side of the people because they never had a voice."

Chuck Newcomb, owner of Big Horn Mountain Barbecue agrees. "I think it's a sad day in Omaha.” The restaurant is footsteps away from Rosenblatt. Newcomb says the stadium is all that customers talk about.

"What a beautiful monument to have when you see, coming into Omaha a stadium sitting on top of the hill and we've heard that many times."

Relocating the stadium is supposed to be a draw for north Omaha adding new jobs to the area. Don McPherson, owner of Styles and Evolution says he'll believe it when he sees it.

"I don't believe it's going to bring jobs into north Omaha unless they have a plan that they can show us that will provide in detail those type of jobs that they're talking about."

More questions than answers surround this announcement. There is still another issue. Rosenblatt itself is not paid for, so that money has to be considered. The stadium is $13 million in the red stemming from previous improvements. The cost to demolish it is estimated at $9 million.

Mike Swartz, heading into the Qwest Center Monday night for the Bon Jovi concert, thinks the mayor's plan should be given a chance.

"I think that's going to take a pretty good strategy because it's a mess down here most of the time when there's a big event, so you throw in another big event in there at the same time, could be interesting."

One of the next hurdles will be ironing out differences with the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority. The MECA board voted last week to adopt a resolution opposing a stadium in the Qwest lots. MECA threatened to sue the city.

"I think we'll be successful," said Fahey. "I'm optimistic."

Now MECA is concerned the city could sue MECA if negotiations fall apart and the city takes the parking lots.

"We do not believe that litigation to resolve an issue makes sense," said Stinson. "When its (the committee recommendation) fully explained to the public, I think they'll be very supportive of it."

The deadline for negotiations is the end of April. After that, the NCAA could open it up to other cities for negotiations.

MECA Chairman: "We are Disappointed"
MECA Chairman David Sokol issued a statement after the committee's news conference Monday in which he is quoted as saying, "We are disappointed in the College World Series Stadium Oversight Committee’s determination to build a new downtown stadium on Qwest Center Omaha parking lots C and E. Over the weekend, we tried to reach a compromise agreement that would allow constructive talks to begin over the use of our parking lots. However, the mayor refused to take the potential for litigation off the table. As long as the city of Omaha threatens legal action to take our property, there cannot be good faith negotiations.

“The position of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) Board has not changed. We are on record through the approval of the February 14 resolution that permission to use this property will not be given. MECA has a valid lease in place with the city of Omaha for this property, and we are prepared to enforce and defend this lease agreement.

“The NCAA, in a letter sent to Mayor Fahey and committee members just last week, indicated that there must be community consensus to keep the College World Series in Omaha, and it is clear there is no community consensus at this time."

Sokol also said MECA urges the mayor and committee to take the NCAA up on an offer to extend the current College World Series contract for up to five years and use the time to further examine the options.