|
|
Updated: 2:29 PM Feb 28, 2008
Rosenblatt renovation off the table Omaha has formally unveiled a plan for a new baseball stadium to be built in the Qwest Center parking log. It's a $128 million venue. Rosenblatt renovation is no longer being considered.
Posted: 10:15 AM Feb 27, 2008Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com |
|
450 Comments 
Poll 
Omaha has formally unveiled a plan for a new baseball stadium to be built in the Qwest Center parking log. It's a $128 million venue. Rosenblatt renovation is no longer being considered.
Jack Diesing, with CWS Inc. says, "Certainly Rosenblatt Stadium was a good option but the downtown stadium was the best option."
There had been concerns about cooperation from MECA, the board that oversees Qwest Center operations. Chairman David Sokol says MECA and the City of Omaha have reached a memorandum agreement. That means they can begin "good faith" negotiations without the threat of a lawsuit.
Sokol says he wants to see the College World Series stay in Omaha, but must also consider what is in the best interest for the Qwest Center and it's customers.
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and his stadium committee made their plans for a new stadium public Wednesday afternoon.
Diesing said, "In baseball terms, it's time to step up to the plate and swing for the fences."
The stadium committee began looking at all the options in October 2007 and Tuesday presented its findings to the NCAA in Indianapolis. The committee chose parking lots C and E at the Qwest center as the site for a new downtown stadium and said Wednesday they are moving forward with this option and Rosenblatt Stadium is not longer a viable alternative.
In addition to renovating Rosenblatt Stadium, the committee considered eight sites in the downtown area during its evaluations. The committee's objectives were to "recommend the best alternative to serve CWS within available funds" that was "the best interest for all of Omaha."
Each site was scored in several categories and the site with the highest score was parking lots C and E.
The eight sites considered were:
Funding issues were also considered by the committee. The cost of a new stadium is estimated at $127.84 million while the cost of renovating Rosenblatt Stadium is estimated at $72.57 million. The debt still owed on Rosenblatt, $11.95 million, must also be added to each of these costs bringing the final cost totals to $139.79 million and $84.52 million, respectively. 
Money to pay for the new stadium would come from private donations, public money and stadium revenue sources. The committee estimates $42.95 million could be raised in private money for the new stadium; $37.60 million would come from stadium revenue sources, including premium seating, naming rights, parking revenue and a seat tax and the remaining $59.24 million would come from public funding. This money would be raised by a proposed 1% increase in the hotel/motel tax, a $2.00 increase in the city's rental car fee and Keno funds.
Ken Stinson, chairman of the Stadium Oversight Committee, said the downtown proposal will benefit the target area for site development and the Rosenblatt neighborhood.
Stinson said as the North Downtown continues to grow, "a new stadium will definitely be a catalyst to that development."
As for moving the city's baseball venue north, Stinson said, "A new stadium will create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Henry Doorly Zoo."
The stadium committee placed its proposal on a Web site that went online as the Wednesday news conference was taking place. Click here to view the site.
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey said at the Wednesday afternoon news conference that this was the day he has been waiting for.
He said, "I am confident that this proposal will allow Omaha to serve as the host of the College World Series for many, many years to come."
Public Forum Discussions
South Omaha
March 6, 2008
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Laritzen Gardens Great Hall
North Omaha
March 8, 2008
10 a.m. to Noon
Omaha North High School
4410 N. 36th St.
Gymnasium
Midtown Omaha
March 10, 2008
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Westside High School
8701 Pacific St.
Auditorium
