A Pitch for the Sports Center; Landover Athletics Complex Seeks Sponsors Before Opening - The Washington Post

The swimming pools are still filled with construction materials,and the floor of the gymnastics center needs a mat. But in anotherfive months, Prince George's County officials expect all of the workto be done at the long-awaited state-of-the-art athletic center inLandover, the final payment to the county in a deal with Jack KentCooke that gave the Washington Redskins a new stadium.

Officials now are trying to sell naming rights to the center andmany of the sports venues inside and out. Scheduled to open inDecember, the sports center will be one of only a few in the countrythat can support national sporting events such as world-classswimming and high-level gymnastics competitions.

The complex, which has been described as 50 feet longer than theWashington Monument is tall, is part community center and partOlympic-caliber training and competition center. It will be a placewhere residents can go to work out. A 25,000-square-foot fitnesscenter will have free-weight and cardiovascular areas, aerobics anddance studios, a fitness space for children, party rooms, baby-sitting rooms, lockers, restrooms and classrooms.

But it also will be capable of hosting track meets and tradeshows.

The private management company hired by the county to run themammoth complex is in the process of putting together a 23-memberexecutive team. And while construction workers install an elevatorand finish the stairwells of the two-story structure, a sales team issoliciting corporate sponsorships.

Paul Brailsford, vice president of Washington-based Centers, whichwill operate the facility, said the name of the community center--nowcalled the sports and learning complex--will be changed to includethe name of the corporation that sponsors it. He said the companyhas been negotiating with technology firms, banks and softwarecompanies.

'While we haven't gotten to the point of closing any deals, wehave yet to get a lukewarm response,' he said.

Brailsford said response has been positive because businessesrecognize that the complex will give them quite a bit of exposure.Officials expect that the facility will draw a number of nationalsporting competitions in track, gymnastics and swimming.

'This building will probably be on ESPN 10 times a year,'Brailsford said. 'And because it's next to Jack Kent Cooke Stadium,it will get a lot of exposure.'

The complex sits on 80 acres off Sheriff Road in the shadow of thestadium, which opened in September 1997.

There is certainly not another facility like it in the county. Orin the Washington region, which is a source of pride for countycouncil member Marvin F. Wilson (D-Glenarden), who is largelyresponsible for getting Cooke to donate $3 million to get thefacility started. The entire price tag is closer to $32 million,much of it paid for by the Maryland-National Capital Park andPlanning Commission, which owns and manages parks facilities inPrince George's and Montgomery counties.

'Our kids are interested in track and field,' Wilson said lastweek, as he and seven other council members took a private tour ofthe facility. 'It seemed to train in Olympic-quality facilities, wehad to take them out of the state.'

The indoor field house, which will seat 3,000 spectators, has a200-meter, six-lane track. It will be able to accommodate indoorsoccer events, volleyball, basketball and a batting cage. A160-yard, three-lane jogging track overlooks the 200-meter track.

The gymnastics center seats 1,000 in bleachers overlooking a25,000-square-foot main floor with fixed mats, a vault runway and apit system. There is also a children's area and a warm-up and danceroom.

The aquatics facility has a 50-meter competitive pool with movablebulkheads and floor. The facility has seating for 1,500.

Bob Keil, chief executive of the complex, said tickets will besold to sporting events in these venues. He said prices forresidents to use the other parts of the facility have not yet beendetermined.

One of the areas designed for the community is a leisure pool witha slide. Another is an atrium that will serve as the entryway to thecomplex.

Keil said he envisions the entryway to be a 'Main Street' ofsorts, with traveling exhibits that the public may view for free.The lobby and glass-walled structure run the length of the buildingand overlook the field house, aquatics and gymnastic centers. Itwill have food service and retail areas and a rock-climbing wall.

Another track has been built on the grounds of the complex. The400-meter competitive track can accommodate in-field field events andis lighted. There is an irrigated football field in the center ofthe track and hillside seating for spectators.

The grounds of the complex also features a three-acre pond,pedestrian trails, a picnic area, a playground and a fossilinterpretation area.

PSC mulls training complex.(Sports) - Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines -The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) plans to build a training complex for national athletes with the help of the private sector.PSC chairman Richie Garcia said he is studying the possibility of building the complex similar to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, but would be exclusive only for members of the national pool.'Ang kaibahan lang nito sa Rizal Memorial, itong plan na sports complex, for training use only. The idea is to have a complete facility in one area,' Garcia said.Garcia said they are looking for a 10-hectare land that could be donated for this purpose.The PSC chief said the complex could be built through the help of different private companies and individuals.'Example, we will put price tags on, let's say, the track oval. One private sector can help build that oval, while another is focused on other facilities. Idi-divide lang into different sports,' Garcia said.Meanwhile, Garcia has already ordered the renovations of dormitories in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex which he described as 'very depressing.''We can't expect them to perform well kung hindi maganda ang tinitirahan nila,' Garcia said.The sports agency has started identifying which rooms will be renovated.The two towers at the Rizal Memorial will be decongested, according to Garcia.Pencak silat quarters will also be refurbished, since it is located near a creek, while large empty dormitories in ULTRA will have dividers for the ideal ratio of four athletes in one room.Garcia has already asked people in charge to estimate how much will be spent for the entire renovation.

Complex would lose money, study says; The proposed West St. Paul sports complex, which could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, still has strong support among city leaders.(NEWS) - Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

Byline: NICOLE NORFLEET; STAFF WRITER

The push for a new ice arena and sports complex in West St. Paul is maintaining its momentum, despite a new study showing that it could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, rather than pay for itself or make money as originally hoped.

The proposed ice arena and accompanying FieldTurf dome would lose as much as $445,000 in its first full year, depending on which options the city chooses, according to an April feasibility study. At that price tag, property taxes would rise by 4.9 percent, which is about $48 per year for the average homeowner.

City officials have already started whittling that number down and hope to continue to chip away at the gap in the coming months.

Still, any cost is a far cry from the developer's estimates, which showed that the city could make more than $100,000 in annual profits.

Despite the changing financial projections, council members didn't budge much from their positions last week when members of the City Council, acting as the Economic Development Authority, discussed the complex.

'Why aren't people moving here now? ... Maybe it's because they go and they do the comparison and they look at all of the other cities around and they say, 'Well, what's West St. Paul have to offer?'' said Council Member Tony Vitelli.

Despite the inevitable use of public money, Vitelli and several other members said the complex was a good investment in the city's future.

When Council Member Jim Englin started campaigning for the complex, he hoped it had the potential to pay for itself. But even with the better 'real world numbers' that the city has now, he said the complex has the potential to 'change the overall outside perception of West St. Paul.'

He also said that the gap between revenues and costs can continue to be closed. When a board subcommittee first reviewed the new report last month, the annual loss was pegged at $554,000, but after noticing that some of the costs were unnecessary, such as acquiring the nearby bowling alley for additional parking, they were able to be reduced.

However, the prospect of higher taxes still left a bad taste in the mouths of some council members.

'The way the financial situation and the economy is right now, I just don't think this is a good idea,' said Council Member Darlene Lewis.

In April, the city authorized financial advisor Ehlers and Associates to do a feasibility study and provide details about how to finance the complex. The recent report is a followup to study results presented earlier this year by developers looking at ways to replace the city's aging ice arena.

In earlier estimates presented by Oppidan Investment Co. and Conquest Development Services, the facility was projected to bring in about $1.6 million annually in revenues from ice rink and dome rental, retail leasing, concessions and advertising. That would mean about $102,000 in annual profits. But that study had the lease revenue bonds being paid off in 30 years instead of the 20 years that the new study examined.

Tweaks in the new plan could cut the annual loss projections; those include using a seasonal dome instead of a permanent one, saving about $1.6 million, which would close the gap to about $285,000. Changing the term of the bonds used from 20 years to 25 years could bring the gap down to $185,000.

The sports complex debate has been a divisive topic, with members drawing lines in the sand early out on how far they would be willing to go for the new city amenity.

But last week, council members voted 5-2 to continue the sports complex discussion. The council is expected to ask city staff to further review the numbers at Monday's city council meeting.

Kennewick, Wash., may scale back sports complex. - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

By Nathan Isaacs, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Oct. 11--Budget constraints may force Kennewick to consider a scaled down version of the proposed sports complex in the city's Southridge neighborhood.

The city wants to build a sports complex big enough to draw local, regional and even national sporting events to the city.

However, the price tag for the project's premium plan has risen to $16 million since an early summer estimate of $12 million.

Such a complex would include:

Four lighted, tournament quality softball fields.

Two tournament quality baseball fields.

One to two multipurpose pavilions for year-round soccer and winter baseball camps and clinics.

At least one adult-sized soccer field.

A multipurpose field for soccer practice or community events.

A group picnic area and amphitheater.

A children's play area.

A 10,000-square foot restaurant and concession area.

Plenty of parking, including spaces for recreational vehicles.

The sports complex would be built at a 60-acre site west of Highway 395 and south of West 27th Avenue. Southridge High School is to the southwest and Wal-Mart to the northeast. The city bought the site in 2002 for $800,000 from the state Department of Natural Resources.

After several public meetings with Kennewick and Mid-Columbia groups that would use the facility, the Kennewick Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to make a recommendation Thursday on the project so the city council can discuss it at an Oct. 19 meeting.

The parks board meets 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 210 W. Sixth Ave.

Another factor in deciding the project's scope is the annual costs for the project, estimated at $1.47 million for maintenance and operation and any debt service.

It's estimated the city could collect half that in revenue and possibly charge admission to earn the other half.

It's going to be a tough choice to go into debt for a ballfield while the city lays off several employees and leaves other positions vacant because the city has to make up a forecasted $4 million deficit in its next two-year operating budget.

One option is to break the project up into phases.

The city set aside $4 million last year for the project after it sold some council-approved bonds.

That money could pay for two unlighted softball fields and grade for one baseball field. The money also could be used to complete the massive amount of infrastructure work required at the site, including moving sewer and water lines and adding irrigation lines and sand to level the fields.

Council members, during a recent workshop on the issue, understood the need for a phased development, but also expressed their desire to see the premium complex built.

Not only would such a complex improve the city's quality of life, it also would be an economic engine for tourism dollars, they said.

Tourism officials from the Tri-Cities Visitors & Convention Bureau reported that 70 percent of hotel bookings in the Tri-Cities are associated with sporting events. And they've said the proposed sports complex has the potential for generating $2 million to $3 million annually in business.

The proposed complex, with its collection of softball, baseball and multi-use fields and other amenities, also would be expected to alleviate current demands for softball ballfields, expected to worsen if the city moved forward with a new building for its police and fire departments at the civic center ballfields.

To see more of the Tri-City Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tri-cityherald.com.

Freeholders award $7M sports complex contract - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

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Freeholders award $7M sports complex contract -- Put aside debate over rising cost By SHANNON D. HARRINGTON, STAFF WRITER Date: 09-09-2003, Tuesday Section: LOCAL Edtion: All Bergen Editions.=.Two Star B. One Star B

A contract to build a regional sports complex in Palisades Park has won the approval of the Bergen County freeholders despite complaints last month that the project's price tag grew by 50 percent without the Freeholder Board's blessing.

Edgewater-based Daibes Bros. Inc. was awarded the $7.1 million contract to build the sports complex, which ultimately is expected to cost $8.3 million.

The project - which calls for expanding an existing football and soccer field and building several recreational baseball and softball fields in Overpeck County Park - was one of two regional sports complexes that the county estimated would cost about $5.6 million each.

The freeholders approved an $11 million bond issue in 2001 to cover the cost of the Palisades Park project and a similar project that was to have been built next to Pascack Valley Regional High School.

County officials dropped the Pascack Valley project after Hillsdale residents complained. The officials then expanded the scope of the Palisades Park project - boosting the football field seating from 1,000 to 2,500 and adding parking and new storage buildings and concession stands among other things - that added about $2.7 million in new costs.

The new price tag drew complaints from freeholders last month who said they never signed off on the changes, which were made last year under the Republican administration of County Executive William "Pat" Schuber.

But the board voted 5-2 last week to approve the bigger of two contracts for the project. The second contract, which will include construction of the buildings, will be awarded at a later date.

Freeholder Chairwoman Valerie Huttle said she was satisfied by county Treasurer Al Dispoto's explanation that parks officials did not need freeholder approval to change the scope of the Palisades Park project. The $11 million bond ordinance that the freeholders approved in 2001 did not specify how much would be spent on each project, Dispoto said.

"It's a practice that they can do," said Huttle, one of the five Democrats on the board to vote for the contract.

The two Republicans on the board voted against the contract, saying that they wanted to know how the use of the county-owned fields will be doled out to the neighboring towns.

Palisades Park and Leonia high schools are expected to use the football/soccer field and track facilities. Palisades Park wants exclusive use of one of the Little League baseball fields to replace the borough's field, which the school district wants to sell to a developer so that it can help finance a new $4 million early childhood center.

"My main concern is putting $7 million into basically one community and not having anything in detail as to who else can use it," said Republican Freeholder Richard Mola.

Project engineers have said that Daibes Bros., the lowest of nine bidders, could begin construction of the fields as early as next month. The project is expected to take about a year to complete.

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E-mail: harrington@northjersey.com

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Keywords: PALISADES PARK, SPORT, PARK, CONTRACT

Hampden sports complex to reopen next month - Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME)

HAMPDEN - A recently auctioned sports facility on Coldbrook Roadis expected to open next month under the management of a formeremployee who last year successfully sued the facility.

The Maine Sports Complex, now renamed the Bouchard Sports Centerafter new owner and local businessman Harold Bouchard, is expected toreopen Nov. 1 under the management of Gary Walker of All Pro Soccerand Sports of Waterville.

Walker last year was awarded more than $50,000 in back pay,compensatory damages and attorneys' fees as a result of his lawsuitagainst the complex. He said he was not paid for six months of workhe performed under a contract with the facility.

As the new manager, Walker said he has moved past his previoustroubles with the facility and is eager to work for Bouchard to makethe center successful.

'We will proceed as a new facility,' Walker said Wednesday.

Bouchard, chief executive officer of H.O. Bouchard truckingcompany, purchased the financially troubled facility and its 9-acreproperty last week for $275,000.

He could not be reached Wednesday for comment, but Ken Beal, thecompany's controller, said Walker was chosen for his well-knowncoaching abilities and expertise with operating athletic facilities.

'It's certainly different from the trucking industry,' Beal said.'[We] had to bring in someone that understands the business betterthan we do.'

The complex and property, assessed at approximately $760,000, weresold to repay a Minnesota company and several local creditors,including H.O. Bouchard, who are owed thousands of dollars inmaterials and services.

Along with $35,000 in back property taxes, the $275,000 price tagincludes more than $12,000 owed to the trucking company for amortgage it holds on the property. Bouchard, whose company is locatedacross the road from the complex, previously owned the property onwhich the dome now sits.

The complex's estimated debts total more than $500,000, accordingto court documents.

Bouchard and Walker plan to keep the 33,000-square-foot facilityopen as a sports complex offering indoor soccer and field hockeyleagues and other recreational activities, Walker said.

Depending on the needs of the community, they also hope to addbaseball, softball and football programs, as well as a soccer programfor women over 30, Walker said.

'We definitely want more usage for those sports,' he said.

Bouchard and the management team now are looking to the communityfor support to make the facility a successful, long-term venue forrecreation, Walker said.

Presenting a challenge is the lack of records detailing whopreviously used the facility, Walker said.

'We desperately need the support of the community,' he said.

Hampden man buys sports complex Owner of H.O. Bouchard wins 'bubble' at auction for $275,000 - Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME)

HAMPDEN - A local businessman is the new owner of a Coldbrook Roadathletic complex after a court-ordered auction Wednesday of thefinancially troubled property.

Harold Bouchard, chief executive officer of H.O. Bouchard truckingcompany, offered the winning bid of $275,000 for the Maine SportsComplex and its 9-acre property, saying he plans to maintain it as avenue for sporting events.

Known by some as the dome or the bubble for its air-inflatedshape, the 33,000-square-foot complex is used for indoor soccer,field hockey, lacrosse and other sports and recreational activities.

'Right now we plan on keeping the dome and running it,' he saidWednesday after the auction, standing in the facility's parking lot.

The auction was delayed briefly after organizers learned thatcomplex operator Pete Madigan filed for bankruptcy Wednesday morning,just hours before the afternoon auction was scheduled to take place.The filing was dismissed, however, from U.S. Bankruptcy Court inBangor and the auction continued as planned.

The complex's estimated debts total more than $500,000, accordingto court documents.

Madigan declined to comment on the sale Wednesday, except to wishBouchard luck with the complex and to express gratitude to people whouse the facility.

The complex and property, assessed at approximately $760,000, weresold to repay a Minnesota company and several local creditors,including H.O. Bouchard, who are owed thousands of dollars inmaterials and services.

Along with $35,000 in back property taxes, the $275,000 price tagincludes more than $12,000 owed to the trucking company for amortgage it holds on the property. Bouchard, whose company is locatedacross the road from the complex, sold the property on which the domenow sits to Madigan in 2001.

Bouchard also owns the land surrounding the complex.

Another creditor owed money is Yeadon Fabric Domes Inc. of St.Paul, Minn., the company that supplied the domelike structure thatencases the complex. Yeadon is owed approximately $100,000 for thestructure and another $15,000 in interest, but after Wednesday'sauction the company is slated to be repaid less than a third of thatamount, Jon Haddow, the local attorney representing Yeadon, saidWednesday.

Yeadon has an appeal pending in Maine Supreme Judicial Courtchallenging a previous court judgment that puts Yeadon among the lastcreditors to be repaid, Haddow said.

'We'll have to decide what to do next,' he said.

Other creditors listed in the lawsuit are Bangor Savings Bank,development consulting firm Kiser and Kiser Inc. of Hampden,construction business Harriman Bros. Inc. of Hampden and Maine-basedoil dealer R.H. Foster Inc.

Also listed is Gary Walker, a former complex employee who lastyear was awarded more than $50,000 in back pay, compensatory damagesand attorneys' fees as a result of his lawsuit against the complex.Walker said he was not paid for six months of work he performed undera contract with the facility.

With the right people managing the complex, it should be able toremain open to the area's youth for sports and activities, Bouchardsaid.