Ground is now broken on Papillion farmland, marking the beginning of the Sarpy County Stadium. A portion of the funding sources yet to be determined, organizers say the stadium will become a reality by 2011.

The Royals will pay for a third of the $26 million project here at Hwy 370 and 126th Street. Another third is expected to come from taxes and naming rights. The remaining third could come from a number of sources like keno revenue or lodging taxes.

At Wednesday evening’s groundbreaking ceremony, Co-Principal of the Omaha Royals, Warren Buffett said he’s not worried about the funding.

"It'll work. I guarantee it, he said. “We didn't stick those shovels in the ground to put the dirt back in there later on."

The evening was really about celebration of the future of Sarpy County. And Papillion residents Richard and Marion Skelley are excited. "Some people will think there will be a lot of traffic. Well, there's traffic anyway,” said Marion.

Her husband added, “We don't know about the taxes yet, but we own our own home and we're willing to pay a little more tax just to have this stadium here then."

Little Leaguers were on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking. Some, running through corn stalks on the farm land donated by the Schewe family.

Thirteen year-old Clay Parson marveled, "It's just, a cornfield is gonna turn into a baseball field soon. I can't wait."

If ever there was a field of dreams, this is it. Eleven year-old Dallas Armstrong was much more excited to see baseball Hall-of-Fame legends on-hand for the groundbreaking, than for the ceremonial dirt dig itself. "To get like Bob Gibson's autograph and George Brett's autograph is an honor."

Bob Gibson said, “I played my first game, professional game in Omaha which was with the Cardinals at the time. And to see something like this develop out here is just wonderful."

George Brett added, after seeing the plans for this land, “I think everyone that comes to Sarpy County is really gonna be amazed."

Brett played for the Omaha Royals in 1974, before moving on to the Kansas City Royals where he achieved his greatest success.

He watched the Omaha Royals play at Rosenblatt Stadium earlier in the day, before the Sarpy County event and noted that stadium had probably run its course.

Buffett added, "The fans aren't down there with you. So, I think the team plays better with a crowd behind them. We've seen it with Nebraska football, and we're gonna see it with the Omaha Royals."

Brett said it looked like only 4,000 or so people were in the crowd for Wednesday's game, filling less than a fifth of the total audience.

"And you know that's tough, that's really tough to play in those circumstances," Brett said.

He thinks a more intimate stadium will be a big improvement. "People will notice the difference. It's gonna be an alive atmosphere and people will keep coming back."

Plenty of people, like the Stelleys, are already making plans to buy tickets. "I think it's gonna add to the economic growth of this area and to Sarpy County."

It may just sprout some big dreams, too, like those of Clay Parson. "I hope some day that I'll be here, playing on this field, hopefully."