DISCUSSION: TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

[Stargazer]

I hope it works out for the Royals to move...but the city and MECA said the stadium would work and be profitable without them involved.

And if that were the end result ... I suspect there would be a stampede to sign recall petitions in time for the November general election ... forget the senate bid .. white elephant delivered.

[thenewguy]

in the paper today, they gave the figure for what the Royals actually pay per year for using the old stadium ($5,000...that's right: $5,000. Brad may have said that actual number a while ago, but i didn't remember it). The Royals said that they understand that they would most likely not get a deal like that, but would be very willing to move downtown if parking isn't expensive (right now people pay nothing to park, and that typically in minor league parks, parking is $2-$3...they said $6 may be appropriate). The World Herald also said that they get $100,000 from the city each year for vacation the stadium for the college world series (since June is typically the most profitable month for baseball), and that they get 9% of concession proceeds during the world series. The Royals said they understood things would be different but again, would be more willing to move if the contract with MECA were fair. They're going to meet with minority share holders (Buffett is one of them) to see what they'd want to do, since all parties involved have expressed their desire to stay in Omaha. I hope it works out for the Royals to move...but the city and MECA said the stadium would work and be profitable without them involved.

I never knew the numbers, I just said that they would not get as good of a deal from MECA.

My bad...i thought you did I was just covering any bases that i thought needed covered. Either way, i was shocked as can be that they were only paying 5k. I wouldn't be surprised if it was at least 10x that at the downtown stadium, or more.

[OmahaJaysCU]

Also in the article, it sounds like it is a done deal that Creighton will play there, which I am not a fan of, but whatever.

No final deal has been signed with Creighton, but negotiations have been going smoothly with the university, Thorson said.

There are fewer, if any, contentious issues with Creighton than with the Royals.

"We're optimistic that it will work out," said Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen. "We're excited to play most, if not all, our games in the downtown stadium."

[Stargazer]

Yeah, if we thought the Royals looked silly in an empty 25,000 seat stadium... just wait until we see the Bluejays (I guess we saw that this weekend though, huh)... well at least until Nebraska comes to play.

It would be nice if they surprised us with a strategy other than covering the empty seats with big banners... but some how, I'm guessing that is all we're going to have.

I know... how about shills from the homeless shelters.

[OmahaJaysCU]

Yeah, if we thought the Royals looked silly in an empty 25,000 seat stadium... just wait until we see the Bluejays (I guess we saw that this weekend though, huh)... well at least until Nebraska comes to play.

I wouldn't read too much into the attendance this weekend. Those were quite possible the worst baseball playing conditions ever. From what I was told, Creighton had sold 1,400 tickets to those games, which isn't great, but is much much better than anything they can draw at the complex. I am not saying it will be full, it will be far from that, but its still light years better than what we can draw at the Complex.

[thenewguy]

I think that it would be good for Creighton and for the stadium in terms of community involvement and seeing the stadium succeed. I will say that i have never been to a Creighton baseball game, and though my brother is Creighton Alumni, i haven't been because it's hard to park at CU. If it were at the stadium, i'd be much more willing to go because of the easier access, nicer amenities, etc (which is the same thing for the future attendance increases for the Royals). In terms of potential, i think the downtown ballpark is going to tap into something that many people aren't even thinking of.

[Erik]

I think that it would be good for Creighton and for the stadium in terms of community involvement and seeing the stadium succeed. I will say that i have never been to a Creighton baseball game, and though my brother is Creighton Alumni, i haven't been because it's hard to park at CU. If it were at the stadium, i'd be much more willing to go because of the easier access, nicer amenities, etc (which is the same thing for the future attendance increases for the Royals). In terms of potential, i think the downtown ballpark is going to tap into something that many people aren't even thinking of.

I know I'm almost the biggest advocate for the stadium for development reasons..

But, I seriously would be going to more royals and even Creighton games. Especially if Creighton plays NU.

[Brad]

You can watch the MECA meeting live on wowt.com right now.

One interesting thing I have heard so far is Dynamic parking signs that point to the different lot around downtown with up to the min available parking counts.

[Stargazer]

They could shave 20% off of their parking lot queue times by reducing the parking fee to $5.

[Uffda]

They could shave 20% off of their parking lot queue times by reducing the parking fee to $5

Good Point --- I would agree with that.

[Brad]

So, I just got a little confused....

Did Daub just bash the plan.... MECA just passed the plan, and then Daub turned around and fast forwarded the plan?

Weird.

[Brad]

Breaking News: MECA and city agree on plan for downtown stadium

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10309560

The Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority board’s unanimous vote for the project was a reversal from its earlier position. It had previously opposed the 24,000-seat, $140 million stadium on parking lots C and E.

[the1wags]

Good news. Now they need to get the NCAA long term contract details ironed out and get the Royals signed up too. We MUST have the Royals playing at this new ballpark.

[guitarguy]

lol i love the completely twisted and negative comments on the wowt.com site people saying how its a backroom deal and how its going to be a mistake to build it haha i guess these people dont understand basic economics and the need for a new stadium

adam

[TechnicalDisaster]

Good news. Now they need to get the NCAA long term contract details ironed out and get the Royals signed up too. We MUST have the Royals playing at this new ballpark.

What makes you think so? Did you read the OWH story:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10308548

The facts:
The Royals only pay $5,000 per year to the city to use Rosenblatt. They also keep all profits from the concessions sold during their games, and 9 percent of the concessions sold at CWS games. The team also receives $100,000 annually from the city to vacate Rosenblatt during the CWS.

What, exactly, is the city getting by keeping the Royals?

[Brad]

Sokol made it sound like the Royals don't need to be and should not be part of this stadium. I hope we get them in the stadium or they build their own downtown stadium.

[Big E]

I hope it works out for the Royals to move...but the city and MECA said the stadium would work and be profitable without them involved.

And if that were the end result ... I suspect there would be a stampede to sign recall petitions in time for the November general election ... forget the senate bid .. white elephant delivered.

The number of people that attend Royals games on a regular basis COMBINED with the number of people that don't pay income tax on their "parking fees" during the CWS are not enough to put together a significant recall operation.

-Big E

[DTO Luv]

Sokol made it sound like the Royals don't need to be and should not be part of this stadium. I hope we get them in the stadium or they build their own downtown stadium.

So you're saying there should be 2 DTS if the Royals don't play at this one?

[Brad]

No, there should be 4

CWS Stadium
Royals Stadium
CU Soccer Stadium
Central Stadium

I know 90% of the city doesn't give a |expletive|, but I want the Royals to stay.

[Bob from Omaha]

lol i love the completely twisted and negative comments on the wowt.com site people saying how its a backroom deal and how its going to be a mistake to build it haha i guess these people dont understand basic economics and the need for a new stadium

adam

I wondered whatever happened to Diane Marie Hayes. (She was a naysayer on the old OWH forums when the Qwest Center was proposed.)

[Brad]

The agreement approved by MECA today:

Agreement with MECA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fee: City will pay the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority $75,000 per year to run the stadium.

Financial performance: City offers up to $100,000 in payments for better-than-expected results. MECA is responsible for up to $100,000 in operating losses per year.

Capital improvement fund: The city is responsible for building a $5 million fund with payments of $250,000 to $500,000 a year. The money would come from ballpark profits, if available, or city tax revenues.

Omaha Royals: City and MECA will try to reach a lease agreement by May 15.

Creighton baseball team: Tentative commitment has been reached for Creighton to play in the stadium. That agreement will be put in writing.

Parking: Increase total stalls by 369.

12th and Capitol properties: City has until Dec. 31, 2009, to buy Hauff Sporting Goods and Ferguson Enterprises.

Swanson property: City demolishes vacant plant and paves for parking. MECA has until 2019 to recruit a full-service hotel of 350 rooms or more.

[the1wags]

Good news. Now they need to get the NCAA long term contract details ironed out and get the Royals signed up too. We MUST have the Royals playing at this new ballpark.

What makes you think so? Did you read the OWH story:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10308548

The facts:
The Royals only pay $5,000 per year to the city to use Rosenblatt. They also keep all profits from the concessions sold during their games, and 9 percent of the concessions sold at CWS games. The team also receives $100,000 annually from the city to vacate Rosenblatt during the CWS.

What, exactly, is the city getting by keeping the Royals?

When I said that we MUST have the Royals play in the new park, it wasn't from me thinking they are required to make any financials work. It's more me thinking that as great as having the CWS downtown, that having the stadium sit 50 weeks a year empty is STUPID. Instead of having the CWS + 70ish Royals games a year, now we will have a empty zone (though a nice one) in NDT 50 weeks of the year.

They said on Big Sports 590 that David Sokal said that the money is a wash with or without the Royals there. If it's a wash, then why not give them another "sweetheart" deal, if even just for adding to the foot traffic downtown. I'd rather get paid only 5k a year and have a tenant than nothing the rest of the summer.

What's the alternative? Jeff's Werner Stadium at Southport? I don't like the idea solely on that it would take activity that SHOULD BE downtown and move it to the suburbs. Even worse? Them leaving altogether for another city. Don't think there aren't other cities out there that would like a AAA club.

[joeglow]

Good news. Now they need to get the NCAA long term contract details ironed out and get the Royals signed up too. We MUST have the Royals playing at this new ballpark.

What makes you think so? Did you read the OWH story:

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10308548

The facts:
The Royals only pay $5,000 per year to the city to use Rosenblatt. They also keep all profits from the concessions sold during their games, and 9 percent of the concessions sold at CWS games. The team also receives $100,000 annually from the city to vacate Rosenblatt during the CWS.

What, exactly, is the city getting by keeping the Royals?

Yeah. A stadium that is vacant 50 weeks out of the year will look GREAT as the first thing people see coming in from the airport.

You need to take basic economics. It is not a matter of what this individual project can do on its own. It is a matter of pissing away prime real estate that could be used for economic benefits year round and not just a week and a half a year.

[ShawJ]

edited.

[Erik]

The thought of the stadium sitting empty for 50 weeks out of the year not only makes me sick to my stomach, but really makes me think very hard about doing anything at all.

Then again, somebody from the Royals org said that they are willing to pay substantially more to stay here and at the new stadium than go to another city, however, staying in the city isn't on their biggest priorities list.

If I remember reading the article right.

[ShawJ]

Probably a stupid idea, but could the stadium be used for events, such as small concerts? I realize this would be extremely difficult to do with the Qwest right next door, but I'm just trying to think of solutions.

[the1wags]

Another thing that irks me is MECA already having said something like this.

From the World-Herald...

"Another provision rules out any discount from the standard $6 parking fee for Qwest Center lots. The Royals wanted a reduced fee of $2 to $3 per car."

Now I understand totally that if there are events at the Qwest Center and a baseball game that $6 should be in effect. But what about some 1:05 Sunday afternoon game with nothing going on next door? Still have to have $6 a stall? I'd rather get the $2-3 dollars a stall the Royals have suggested than get no money when the lots are sitting empty. This is the kind of thing that MECA needs to think about when they deal, and not put in some blanket "I SAID IT'S $6!!!!! in an agreement.

[Coyote]

Alan Stein called into 1620 this afternoon after he received numerous e-mails about today's news. He basically said that he had good faith dealings with MECA but after he heard that Sokol had basically said he would prefer that the Royals would not wish the Royals to be tenants downtown and that this $6 parking would probably reduce the amount of money people would spend in an evening you could hear his throat dry up. I now think that all the back room negotiations were on MECA's part and that they have really |expletive| everything up by their greed and pride.

[Erik]

Alan Stein called into 1620 this afternoon after he received numerous e-mails about today's news. He basically said that he had good faith dealings with MECA but after he heard that Sokol had basically said he would prefer that the Royals would not wish the Royals to be tenants downtown and that this $6 parking would probably reduce the amount of money people would spend in an evening you could hear his throat dry up. I now think that all the back room negotiations were on MECA's part and that they have really |expletive| everything up by their greed and pride.

Now I think I am going to be sick

Now I really don't see a point in building the stadium if Sokol runs them out of town

[OmahaJaysCU]

Well, now that makes signing Creighton on a bigger deal. It sounds like they are in, but I will wait until the ink is dry to get excited about that. Creighton signing on does add 25+ games spread out from March-May. But I makes me sick to think about this stadium sitting empty from July-February.

[Coyote]

How long does Memorial Stadium in Lincoln stay vacant?

BTW Stein did say that he was 100% committed to staying in the Omaha market.

It goes to say that MECA is all about getting all the money from this deal. Parking, concessions, naming rights, Swanson...
They are business men and are not looking at the benefits for Omaha but for their pet - MECA.

[Stargazer]

The number of people that attend Royals games on a regular basis COMBINED with the number of people that don't pay income tax on their "parking fees" during the CWS are not enough to put together a significant recall operation.

Forget support of the Royals and Rosenblatt... I'm talking about the community wide backlash which would follow the building a stadium which ends up sitting empty most of the year.

[nebport5]

I don't believe that MECA is planning on have the stadium sitting empty all year, hence the no "sweetheart" deals. Why let the Royals play there for next to nothing when MECA could make more by booking a like Dave Matthews show or some other marquee event that they don't have to discount to get people to come to.

With that said, I really hope to see the Royals in the new stadium. Surely they realize the possibility of increased attendance as a result of being downtown and in a new stadium.


Stargazer wrote:

Forget support of the Royals and Rosenblatt... I'm talking about the community wide backlash which would follow the building a stadium which ends up sitting empty most of the year.

Some might say that Rosenblatt sits empty most of the year now.

[Erik]

I don't believe that MECA is planning on have the stadium sitting empty all year, hence the no "sweetheart" deals. Why let the Royals play there for next to nothing when MECA could make more by booking a like Dave Matthews show or some other marquee event that they don't have to discount to get people to come to.

With that said, I really hope to see the Royals in the new stadium. Surely they realize the possibility of increased attendance as a result of being downtown and in a new stadium.


Stargazer wrote:

Forget support of the Royals and Rosenblatt... I'm talking about the community wide backlash which would follow the building a stadium which ends up sitting empty most of the year.

Some might say that Rosenblatt sits empty most of the year now.

Probably because the Royals are unable to afford to have a AAA club anywhere but a city offering a sweetheart deal.. We don't need to make that much up front to use the stadium, just tax the concessions and such..

[Ingersoll1978]

So what would they propose as a tenant if the Royals didn't go in there? The new park isn't going to land MLB...so AAA is the only logical choice. MECA needs them there if they want it to be used year round.[/left]

[OmahaJaysCU]

AAA is 100% the only option. AA won't work because it is a bus league, as are high and low A. If the Royals do not play in the stadium, than it WILL sit empty aside from Creighton games. If the PCL doesn't like it, why would they allow another team to relocate to play in it. Its either the Royals or no one, and Sokol pretty much slammed the door on the Royals today.

What a jackass.

[omahahawk]

In regards to the Royals leaving, how much pull would the W twins (Walter and Warren) have in preventing that?

[Ingersoll1978]

I would assume the Royals would look to other communities in the area before leaving. I'd have to guess Council Bluffs would be on the top of that list (with the Iowa West Foundation)...followed by communities in Sarpy County.

Omaha needs to figure this out. The Royals is what is going to bring activity in that area throughout the summer...not just for two weeks. Here in Des Moines, the traffic to our Court Avenue District (which by the way...is FINALLY taking off!) from these games is substantial before and after these games.. I would assume the Royals would see a large attendance increase as well if it were to move...although the new stadium is WAY to large for their needs.

[DTO Luv]

I think the Royals should give the stadium a chance. The new stadium could do wonders for their attendance. And as the area around the stadium starts to take off that will bring more people down to the games themselves.

I was talking with wags tonight and he brought up a great point that MECA forcing the Royals out will look "great" for all of the potential developers who want people continuously in the area and not just 12 days a year. It is horribly unfortunate how short sighted MECA, namely David Sokol, is being.

He said it would be a wash financially to have the Royals be there or not be there. So why not at least try to make SOME money off of them being there. If people are going to pay what ever price to MECA for parking that's SOME money they would get 72 times a year as opposed to no times a year. Plus the Royals also have their big games like the 4th game and a few other well attended games that would bring people in paying MECA to park that wouldn't have otherwise done that.

I don't see the team moving to anywhere in Sarpy County. There's no single place that I think would put up the money for it.
I don't see them going over to CB either. Yes Iowa West may have money but they would still not have as good a location as DTO.

[Omaha Cowboy]

In regards to the Royals leaving, how much pull would the W twins (Walter and Warren) have in preventing that?

More than some may think..Alan Stein (principle owner of the Omaha Royals) would have to justify to Walter Scott and Warren Buffet (minority owners of the Omaha Royals and both Omaha billionaires) any franchise move outside of Omaha. And that folks, would be a tough sell..

The bottom line is, the Sokol talk is just rhetoric and smoke..Just like the stadium location issue between the city and MECA. This will be another game of poker..

In the end, I think the ORoyals will blink and play ball downtown..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace