June 08, 2007 08:37 PM UTC

Castle Rock Considering Minor League Baseball

• 2 Comments
• by: CastleMan

Here’s a news release from the Town of Castle Rock, discussing Town Council consideration of a proposal to locate an independent minor league baseball team in the town:

Council: Stadium deal hinges on baseball’s bottom line

An independent minor league baseball stadium that would double as a family entertainment destination slid into the financial feasibility phase following a presentation to the Castle Rock Town Council June 5.

Although cautioning that much more information about the Town’s return on investment is needed before a partnership with the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball is negotiated, Council members agreed a financial analysis was worth pursuing. Council also expressed support for a financial consultant partnership with the City of Brighton, which the independent league also is courting.

An entertainment venue would bring recreation and possibly jobs to the community, said Councilman Doug Lehnen. “We may not see it all directly through the deal with the ballpark and the team, but I think it’s a good idea. I’d like to see the figures.”

The financial feasibility study will address the AAIPB’s proposal to bring an independent minor league baseball team to Castle Rock by spring 2009. The team would play about 50 games a year in a 4,000 to 5,500-seat, Town-owned stadium. As proposed, the Town would invest up to about $15 million in the stadium and share in revenues from the baseball operation. The AAIPB would be responsible for stadium maintenance and the facility would be available for upwards of 100 other events every year. Non-baseball events could be concerts, festivals, fairs and school sporting events.

“I think minor league baseball would do a great deal for the quality of life here and could drive up property values,” said Councilman Hank Lacey. However, Lacey said he is skeptical of stadium projects paid for with public money. “For all those quality of life benefits, we can’t lose sight of the bottom line”

Councilman Ryan Reilly expressed strong skepticism as well as an “open mind. “If we are going to subsidize a private business, I need to be convinced that it’s in the public interest of the people of Castle Rock and will help stabilize the tax base to provide the other services this community needs. I support the next step, but I make no promises one way or the other,” Reilly said.

In their presentation to Council, representatives of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball shared their business philosophy – “fun is good” —  and touted the success of the two-year-old, 10-team league created when the independent Northern and Central Leagues merged in 2005.

League Founder Mike Veeck said the AA-caliber AAIPB approaches the business of baseball differently than the big leagues. “We’re marketing joy,” he said, outlining the community-focused tenets of each operation, including prioritizing customer service. “We constantly look for ideas and create things that make people laugh,” he said.

Art Corsie, Town of Castle Rock Development Services Director, said the feasibility study will recommend funding options and look at a potential recreation facility partnership at a future regional park site the Town owns west of Plum Creek Parkway and the Coachine extension. The City of Grand Prairie, Texas, is financing its AAIPB stadium with an 1/8 of a cent sales tax. 

Castle Rock Downtown Coordinator Fabby Hillyard, who operated events venues for the City of Denver, said the timing of the AAIPB proposal is right. “The market is so open and so strong, we could really make an enormous impact,” she said, adding, it’s not a matter of if minor league baseball will come to Douglas County but where and when.

Town Manager Mark Stevens said the financial analysis would take some months. “There’s a lot of work to do, but on the other hand an opportunity like this doesn’t come around very often,” he said.

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