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Caywood's take on the time frame (5 years) seems bit long but may be realistic. Topeka, as a location, will remain attractive to indy ball for a long (long) time until it actually has a facility. The question will it take that long to overcome the inertia, public or private, to actually build one. If it's really that long (or longer) the timeline for the ballpark designs seems ridiculously short --so I agree with EZ's point.

As for where you saw it... did you really see in BPD or here first?

ULB realities

The "ULB approach" (AKA private financing) is the most likely to get started but maybe not from the ULB itself. Like other new, centrally-owned, startup leagues, they have grand delusions of expansion. Like them they're all struggling and have yet to really prove their true longevity.

The bottom line with the ULB in Topeka is "How many ballparks can they actually afford to build?" They're building one in Brownsville and that'll soak up a lot of their spare cash and profits (if they have much). Maybe if they sell of some franchises they might generate the money needed to build more parks. If Topeka continues to "go slow" they may commit money to other cities --and if they're smart, ones closer to home than Topeka.

And, for all the time you mention (early 2007) about building it themselves, why is there any delay? Buy the land and build it --right? It isn't happening because they're probably trying to negotiate tax or other concessions that the city seems unwilling to grant. Or is there problems preparing a desirable location and getting the necessary city-base improvements (water, sewer, roads, etc.).

Methinks the resistance in the city will have to be turned around by public interest --perhaps the kind that can be generated by the proposals if there are some nice pictures of what it might look like to get people's imaginations fired up.

Part of the Redevelopment Package

So you've talked with Miles about Topeka? Very interesting.

As for Miles' comment. I think you have to look at a growing trend in ballparks: mingling with larger development plans. La Grave was privately built but it's really just one piece of a larger redevelopment project in Ft. Worth. Pensacola is an even more likely model with the Pelicans' new park part of a major bayfront development plan. Ballparks in Joliet and Gary, though singly-built are really part of the same concept --downtown revitalization. If Topeka has any such plans ballpark proponents, private or public, may find room to build.

As you point out, the AA is a great fit for the league. More than the failed "KCK Gaga" factor in Wichita, it'd be a much easier sell to the city and prospective fans than a league primarily on the Rio Grande.

Topeka is definitely a great prospect for indy ball expansion. But it's on a 2010 or later time frame unless something breaks loose. Perhaps this competition will help, but after last year's retractable roof proposal we'll all need to see something more concrete.