Create Ballpark Design for Topeka! Win $5.5K!

Author	Comment
MJHankel		#21	[-]
Posts: 129 (12-Oct-07 06:43:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well I would say that the key problem has always been beer sales. I would say though that just because a college team uses the stadium isn't the issue. Times and dates would be more of an issue. When a college team uses a stadium operated by a franchise they are subject to the dates available to them. With a pro team being subjected to the scheduling of a college controled stadium this becomes more of an issue. When the college owns the stadium they can say when a team can and can not use the stadium. Anyway, I do agree though, college teams do tend to mesh pretty well with indy baseball, generally colleges are willing to work with the team. And to add to your list, IUN and other Northwest Indiana colleges play part of their season at the U.S. Steel Yard.
Ez Street		#22	[-]
Posts: 111 (12-Oct-07 21:52:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Well, I was told by the man in charge of this contest/charratte, that no league is currently involved. He could be keeping it a secret, but I doubt it. So, BPD is purely speculating on the AA angle. I imagine the league is monitoring the progress on this and is ready to step in when the time presents itself.
nlfan		#23	[-]
Posts: 5274 (12-Oct-07 23:00:23) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	BPD speculating isn't much of a surprise. Their accuracy about most rumors tends to decline the farther you get from the Twin Cities (though they're not 100% correct about local stuff here either). Then again it's not much of a jump to "connect the dots" of who Topeka would/should select. Or maybe they just picked the AA logo since they didn't have any other appropriate graphic for Topeka.
Ez Street		#24	[-]
Posts: 112 ( 7-Nov-07 21:28:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	http://blogs.cjonline.com/index.php?entry=5366 Ballpark design to be a public affair The City of Topeka announced Tuesday, that they have chosen DLR Architects of Omaha, NE and Stewart Sports Group of Omaha, NE; to conduct research and host two public design forums in January. The goal is to find out what the community would like to see in a multi-purpose, minor league baseball stadium in Topeka. The findings will help facilitate any further discussions with developers or minor leagues interested in Topeka. "If a multi-purpose, baseball facility were to be developed in Topeka, what should it look like?" said Deputy City Manager Randy Speaker. "What would fit Topeka? We want to be prepared with a wish list should the opportunity for this type of baseball venue and multi-use stadium become reality." The two firms will be paid up to $13,000 from private contributions from the business community through GO Topeka, the economic development arm of the Greater Topeka Chamber. DLR Group has been involved with successful ballparks in Lincoln, Nebraska and Greenville, North Carolina. Stewart Sports Group is headed by former Omaha Royals General Manager Doug Stewart. Their job will is to find a developer or league that has an interest in making this ballpark a reality. It's the heart of "franchise season", when the minor leagues are involved with scoping out new potential spots to place teams. You might say, the timing for this is just right. Speculation is the American Association is very interested in Topeka and could possibly be involved at some point. For now, the public will be called upon to voice their opinions for what they would like to see in a multi-purpose facility. 49 News reports: Plans have been approved to build a minor league baseball field within city limits. The exact location hasn't been decided yet. The stadium will hold about 3,700 people and cost $7 million to build. http://www.49abcnews.com/news/2007/nov/06/if_we_build_it_will_they_come/
nlfan		#25	[-]
Posts: 5402 ( 7-Nov-07 23:20:08) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The question is, with private money sponsoring this initiative, with which league are their affiliated? Short of tax breaks or other incentives this should be easy for city hall and the public to accept (unlike the failure in Brighton yesterday). Is this part of the "quiet" negotiations Griffith suggests he has? The AA would most definitely be interested, especially with Wichita now in the fold.
MJHankel		#26	[-]
Posts: 149 ( 8-Nov-07 03:08:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I find it kinda interesting that the address and phone number on that design is the address/phone number of the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary. Was that like one of the initial designs for the Steel Yard? Edit: Well after further digging, I guess I learned something I did not know. They develop and manage the Steel Yard and the RailCats. (I had no idea) It says this on their website here. Also one of their addresses is the Stadium in Gary see. I feel really stupid now. Last Edited By: MJHankel 8-Nov-07 03:18:22. Edited 1 times.
Ez Street		#27	[-]
Posts: 113 ( 8-Nov-07 03:47:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Nothing is done yet. This is all to attract a developer. AA is likely to be the most interested. Stewart Sports Group will be looking for a developer most likely. Those pictures from 49 news site, look like T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, MO
MJHankel		#28	[-]
Posts: 150 ( 8-Nov-07 06:25:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ez Street wrote: Those pictures from 49 news site, look like T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, MO Yeah they do. I was thinking that too.
Eddie CCPBA		#29	[-]
Posts: 113 (13-Nov-07 02:52:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	This was a concept I was looking at a while back. A template which can be done on the go. One city says I want 10 suites and 5000 seats and another says they want a ballpark with no suites and the one basic template would work for both. I should have entered the contest, I had a design very similar that I drew like 4 years ago. One thing they need to consider is some type of shade for the fans. That is one thing that can keep people away. No one wants to sit in 100 degree heat and stick to the seats. ______________________________ "Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we would all run around in a darkened room munching pills and listening to repetitive music." - Kristian Wilson, Nintendo
indyfan101	Or rain!!	#30	[-]
Posts: 32 (13-Nov-07 05:31:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Ballparks with no over hang (st paul) keep fans away... People like to stay dry (or cool eddie as u pointed out) Well at least the NL has a shot at another franchise.... possibly
nlfan		#31	[-]
Posts: 5412 (13-Nov-07 23:20:34) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I agree that a ballpark without shade can be a negative especially as you move south where the heat is greater. Midway is miserable for day games precisely because there is no shade. On the other hand most clubs in hotter areas simply don't have day games. Of course the mediocre qualities of Midway have done little to keep fans away and shade is the least of its problems.
Ray Sipsa	Shade	#32	[-]
Posts: 308 (14-Nov-07 07:39:58) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	In designing ballparks, it seems to me that there is a choice: "shade + posts" or "no shade + unobstructed view." Since almost all games are played at night, most folks prefer the unobstructed view. This seems to be true in most newer major league parks as well as minor league parks.
Eddie CCPBA		#33	[-]
Posts: 114 (14-Nov-07 22:54:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There are way to do parks without posts that obstruct views. Using an example from the CanAm. Lynn...they had a monstrous overhang and had to cut it back but there aren't posts. You can put posts on the concourse if they are needed. Midland, great looking ballpark with unobstructed views. http://www.ballparkreviews.com/midland/midland.htm# An overhang from the suite level. Some type of wind resistant vinyl cover thingie (yeah I know that was very scientific) Posts can be put behind the concourse, etc. It's more of an engineering issue than a sightline issue. Some parks like Midway keep fans coming anyway but that isn't going on everywhere. Some cities can get away with it but after a while it might keep people away. Sometimes it's cost but there are cost effective ways to do it. ______________________________ "Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we would all run around in a darkened room munching pills and listening to repetitive music." - Kristian Wilson, Nintendo Last Edited By: Eddie CCPBA 14-Nov-07 22:58:25. Edited 2 times.
Ez Street		#34	[-]
Posts: 120 ( 9-Jan-08 12:26:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	A new survey in the on-going Ballpark study for Topeka.... Press Release January 7, 2008 Here is your chance to tell the City of Topeka what you think about a proposed multi-use family oriented baseball stadium development in Topeka that could be the home of a minor-league baseball team. Those living in and around Topeka are asked to go online at http://www.topeka.org/ballparkideas.shtml and fill out the survey. We encourage media outlets to put this link on their Web sites. The survey will be open until February 1. Results will be tallied by DLR Architects of Omaha, NE and Stewart Sports Group of Omaha, NE and made known to the public. Also, the public is invited to two baseball design forums at 5:30 p.m., January 23 and 8:45 a.m., January 24 at the City of Topeka's Holliday Building, 620 SE Madison, first floor conference room. That is the latest for now...
JohnU11		#35	[-]
Posts: 91 ( 9-Jan-08 12:45:23) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Since I don't live there, my input to Topeka would be of minor importance but I will say that the complete walk-around at the Steel Yard in Gary is a very interesting touch. For fans to get views from all angles, it's nice. The Steel Yard was a pretty expensive ballpark, though. I don't think the walkaround added much the overall cost, however. Silver Cross in Joliet has a grassy picnic area on either foul line that appears to be appealing but I don't like that much.
Ez Street		#36	[-]
Posts: 121 ( 9-Jan-08 21:51:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I agree, that would be nice. I'm excitied to see where this will go. I think something has to be brewing out there for the City to all of a sudden give this a big push. I've been trying to get them to do this for 4 years. Now all of a suddent they are doing all the right things. Makes me think someone is interested, seriously, not just "Yeah Topeka would be great". BPD seems to keep pointing to the AA, which is plausable, I just have no evidence that they are a behind any of this push. To say there are interested is like a saying the NoL is interested. DUH, why wouldn't either of them be interested? It makes me wonder why BPD is insisting on listing the AA when they talk about the Topeka ballpark.
nlfan		#37	[-]
Posts: 5458 ( 9-Jan-08 23:21:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As nice as the Steel Yard is they can get much the same effect by walking around CommunityAmerica with a much (much) shorter drive to KCK. If they want to see what it's like to put a ballpark "downtown" they could go to Haymarket Park in Lincoln; it too is an excellent facility where you can walk around the entire ballpark.
Ez Street		#38	[-]
Posts: 122 (10-Jan-08 00:23:24) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Good news is Haymarket Park was designed by DLR, the group working on the Topeka project.
nlfan	City schedules ballpark talks -- 2009?	#39	[-]
Posts: 5462 (15-Jan-08 04:47:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	BPD referenced this story (complete with AA logo): City schedules ballpark talks There's a reference to an online poll for people to take at topeka.org (though I couldn't find it) as well as public forums for people to discuss this further scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 and 8:45 a.m. Jan. 24 at first floor conference room of the Holliday Building, 620 S.E. Madison. The really interesting quote is the time frame: Deputy city manager Randy Speaker said the proposal will be used to lure a private investment or ownership group. Once an owner steps forward, he said, a time frame can be established for building the facility. "Naturally, we hope it will be for the 2009 season," Speaker said. He said the city likely won't be involved in much of the financing. ... It's possible for the ballpark to be a part of a riverfront development, but Speaker said timing might kill any chances of that happening. "We are at least four to six years away from actual development potential along the riverfront," Speaker said. "Baseball fans may not want to wait that long to see an independent league team." Certainly no one will want the city to foot the bill. A 2009 time frame suggests a spring/summer groundbreaking and that someone is --or should be-- talking to the city to follow through on this. Of course that assumes there's some real action behind this. BPD's take is that it's not terribly serious: We're not quite sure what the outcome is expected to be: given there's no site, no announced league and no funding plan, there's really nothing to determine in the public response -- unless there's widespread opposition to the very idea of baseball in Topeka. We're guessing there's not. Given that, this is like asking local citizens what they think about having a free chocolate-malt dispenser on every corner: it's good PR, but not very useful in terms of generating useful public opinion. And there's some real truth to that opinion. Having people come in, look at some drawings and ask questions about a possible ballpark design for an unknown location, league --and financing makes any sort of 2009 time frame seem sort of pointless. It makes one wonder how much isn't being publicly discussed. BPD isn't making any suggestions that they know of anything going down (even though they put up an AA logo and no Topeka Jayhawks / Kaws / Savages / Kaw-nees / Senators of the old Western League) EZ hasn't blogged about this yet, though he did have a new post today but I'm sure he will soon.
JohnU11		#40	[-]
Posts: 119 (15-Jan-08 08:50:38) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I don't know a great deal about how ballparks are financed or who ought to do it, but I can't see how anybody can say a city won't have a major amount of input. There is an infrastructure involved and that is a city's liability. Not to mention what it replaces, unless they just happen to have an empty beanfield in downtown Topeka. I can see how the city might not be involved in raising the bond for the park and maybe not having much interest beyond that in who plays there. We were sort of "lucky" in Gary to have the sugar daddy sitting out on the lake ... the casino boats. But they did have to tear down a lot of old houses where people were living. Am I off base with this comment? Public, private ... is it just about a bonding issue?

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