January 26, 2008

Review committee to announce potential stadium sites

The review committee was formed four months ago after Fahey announced plans to build a new downtown stadium specifically for the College World Series. The CWS has been held at the aging Rosenblatt Stadium since 1950 but the NCAA has asked for major improvements in order to keep the event in Omaha.

The initial site Fahey proposed, parking lot D next to the Qwest Center, was met with much

	Proposed downtown Omaha stadium location options

controversy. After MECA board members vehemently opposed the plan, stating a concern over lost parking and the possible blocking of any future expansion to the convention center and arena, the baseball committee was formed.

Ken Stinson, chairman of Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc., is leading the committee. Other members include Fahey; Jack Diesing Jr., president of College World Series of Omaha Inc.; Alan Stein, president of the Omaha Royals; Bruce Rasmussen, Creighton University athletic director and Mike McCarthy and Sue Morris of the fundraising organization Heritage Services. MECA Chairman David Sokol resigned from the committee last week claiming a possible conflict of interest over the site announcement.

The new preferred site mentioned frequently now is parking Lot C which is just across the street from Fahey's original choice. It's possible that 12th Street would need to be closed if Lot C were chosen as the stadium site in addition to the former concern from MECA about the loss of parking for the Qwest Center.

Other possible locations include the Civic Auditorium property which the city owns. The 53-year-old arena would need to be demolished to make way for a new ballpark. Mayor Fahey has said this location would have some limitations as it is located very close to Interstate 480, limiting the amount of parking. There is also a concern about traffic congestion in this area.

Locations previously identified besides Lot D include:

• A vacant area north of Abbott Drive, currently owned by Union Pacific
• Six blocks between 14th & 17th Streets, between Webster & Cuming

It is important to note that any of these options would come with a hefty price tag. It is estimated the cost to build a new stadium would cost up to $117 million. There has been no public information released as to where the money would come from.

A group of concerned citizens formed their own committee called 'Save Rosenblatt' several months ago and have been working on their own plan to renovate the existing stadium. NCAA officials have previously said major cosmetic and structural improvements would need to be made in order to keep the CWS at Rosenblatt.