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Dec
21
Homerun KC - More Downtown Baseball Supporters
December 21, 2005 |
A new political action committee has been formed to advocate for building a new Downtown baseball stadium. This group is separate from the Downtown Council and it’s efforts on the same front. It’s made up of a younger group of folks like Sean O’Byrne and Russ Johnson. They’re agenda is to renovate Arrowhead for the future, maintain Kauffman in the short-term, and begin planning for a Downtown stadium in 5-10 years. As a registered PAC the group is taking contributions.
Comments
17 Comments so far
Die! This idea must DIE! The thing is worse than Bob Hope and that “Whoomp there it is” song put together.
It’s over. There is never going to be a downtown baseball stadium!
Now be quiet or go play T-ball inside the PAC and call it performance art.
Ugh.
the only ones pushing this are the builders and developers downtown.
I don’t understand the reasoning for being completely against a downtown park.
If we’re going to be spending millions regardless I say look into it…
The only ones pushing to keep Kauffman are folks from crappy towns like Raytown and Independence that don’t have anything else going on. They’ve had 30 years to do somethig with the area around the sports complex and have completely wasted all of that time. If the best they can do is a drive-in and some trailer parks, then I say it’s time to let another community see what they can do to develop around a stadium.
A strong downtown will create a stronger kansas city community as a whole. I agree with summit, Raytown and Independence offer nothing to society. We should give downtown a chance before all of you backward minded conservatives criticize it.
A Stronger downtown Kansas City makes a stronger metro area all the way around.
The choice to me seems to be this. Do you want:
A. More money put into aging (and hard to maintain) Kauffman Stadium to keep it up to minimum MLB standards with nothing to do around the park
or…
B. Spend a little extra and get a brand new park that could last another 30-40 years that is in the heart of the city, that is state-of-the-art and give tourists and locals excitement and things do before and after the game.
Granted, the powers that be need to come up with a plan that is sensible and makes Mr. Glass pay his fair share, but isn’t this the kind of forward thinking Kansas City needs more of?
I personally would miss the old stadium, as I grew up watching the royals play there. However, with everything that is happening downtown, I think this is the right move. Most of the people who do not support this seem to be the people that did not support progress in the urban core as well. Any progressing thriving city, has a vibrant downtown. Plus after looking at the sketch of the proposed stadium, I would be within walking distance from my place, thus not having to get stuck in traffic.
developers, builders, and their employees are taxpayers, too, according to any municipality that hosts them. regardless, the voters will decide. it’s just too bad JACKCO leadership isn’t providing an alternative plan if this vote fails (other than the Wal-Mart-inspired “bare bones” approach).
tony, your schtick is *way* tired.
The “stronger downtown makes for a stronger metro” argument would be great if the rest of the metro area outside of Jackson County would help foot the bill. But it’s pretty clear they have no stake and no interest in the success of downtown Kansas City. Kansas City, Raytown and Independence will be stuck with the bill for this boondoogle.
And really, why throw away good money? The Royals suck, and they will continue to suck as long as that cheap ass David Glass continues to own the team. There’s no comparison between St. Louis and Kansas City. St. Louis can field a competetive team and has the draw to justify a new stadium. Even with a new stadium, the Royals would still be better off forfeiting the season. They are an embarrassment.
The only people to benefit from this are developers and David Glass.
prm, you’d be surprised at how many Jocos worked on the arena election campaign. There was huge interest from the Kansas side, and lots of people wisthing they could vote for it. Bistate II might have passed in Joco if it included a downtown baseball stadium instead of putting more money into Kauffman.
Summit Guy - Right, just like all the wonderful development KC has done around Kemper. Also, the sports complex IS in Kansas City, not Raytown or Independence. And the drive-in and trailer parks you mention are also in KC. What does Lee’s Summit have to offer except excessive numbers of strip malls and horrible traffic?
Drew - so the 140,000+ residents of Independence have nothing to offer society? Nice sentiment, Merry Christmas to you, too.
I live in Raytown, so I guess my money is no good anyway for arrogant jackasses like SummitGuy and Drew. I guess they won’t care when I vote NO for any tax money going toward stadiums, no matter where they are located.
LS88 - I am very aware that the stadiums are in KCMO proper, but they are practically adjacent to the Raytown and Independence city limits. Both towns had an incredible opportunity to use the nearby stadiums as a catalyst for other development. Raytown ought to be full of bars and restaurants catering to the before/after game crowd, but all it’s managed to do in 30 years is Applebees.
Imagine if Independence or Raytown had built something like KCK’s Village West adjacent to the stadiums 30 years ago. The stadiums provided Eastern Jackson County with an amazing opportunity to creat some really cool developments, and they competely squandered that opportunity.
So we need taxpayer financed development like Village West (Star Bonds) built next to taxpayer financed stadiums? Is there anything my tax dollars shouldn’t be used for?
Jackson county has an out-of-control murder rate and crumbling infrastructure. The stadium issue is a distraction from the real issues facing the metro area.
This web site is a great idea, but it has not been updated since it opened. Why? A lot has happened regarding the Stadiums and the upcoming vote. Every week an update of the happening and homerunKC’s view and it’s accomplishments would be nice. Downtown baseball is the right thing to do for the entire metro area and the internet avenue can help it happen.
I live in Joco and I support a downtown ballpark. Put a bistate vote for a downtown facility, and I’ll support it and anything for the ‘arts’ they attach to it. This community (metro area) needs to advance. We need to compete with other midwestern cities, and this is a step in the right direction. I would also support an Arrowhead Refurbishment tax or a new stadium by the track. The Mayor has kickstarted this movement, lets keep the ball rolling KC.
Can anyone tell me where I can see the proposal for a downtown stadium? I’m interested in knowing the size of the structure and a couple other things.
I want to let you know about doumentary on the abuse of eminent domain and corpwefare in kansas citty well comming out in next year half.We spent eight year trying to get answer to why is the city doing this and ripping off the taxpayers.Check out your wedsite and spead the word about us thanks philip klein.