46 replies to this topic

[camay2327]

Did you notice from the last Folsom City Council Meeting that they are considering inviting
Big League Dreams to come to Folsom. City loaning $450,000 from the redevelopment agency.

I guess if this comes to Folsom it will have to be south of 50 as I don't think there is room
for it North of 50.

From the last city council meeting agenda....

c. New Business:

i. Resolution No. 8756 - A Resolution of the City of Folsom and the Folsom Redevelopment Agency
Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Licensing Agreement with Big League Dreams USA, LLC
and Authorization to Loan $450,000 from the Redevelopment Fund for the Licensing Fee


-----

Below is the link to Big League Dreams.... Check it out... I guess after it is here and up and
running the city will make money from it???


http://www.bigleaguedreams.com/

[ducky]

I'd like to know more about this project. Haven't heard boo about it. I didn't know they could loan redevelopment funds to be used in another part of town.

West Covina did something like this there is a photo at the bottom showing the replica ballparks. Their Web site also looks like they are very proud of using eminent domain to increase their tax base. I guess the idea is you get people coming and staying overnight at hotels and eating in town.

http://www.westcovin...nt_/default.asp

[Sandman]

I am all for local sports but the whole "stadium replica" theme seems a bit corny

[ducky]

Here is a blog by the Manteca city manager where they have a BLD field. It looks like they only have one field?

http://www.ci.mantec...g-stronger.html

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

The one in Palm Springs (Cathedral City) was very,very popular. It had I think 3 replica ballparks and maybe 6 fields, also indoor soccer and a sports bar as well as a children's play area. It was a good place for a family to go together.

[Sandman]

Folsom already has indoor soccer at the sports complex and a very well established youth soccer and baseball programs that make use of existing fields in and around Folsom. I am sure in some towns where sports facilities were already lacking that a place like this has done well. Not so sure Folsom with its already strong sports programs would see as much benefit.

[Robert Giacometti]

Didn't we just have a city Council election about 5 weeks ago and did anyone on council advocate doing something like this prior to the election? This arrangement just didn't happen in the last 4 weeks and its NO coincidence that this is now showing up AFTER the election!

Folsom has MORE debt than any other Agency in the 6 county region. Why in the world do we need to borrow $450,000 to buy a licensing fee now for?

It seems our P & R Staff have done a darn good job of designing and building Parks, why would we need something like this now?

The skeptic in me has some concerns about what is the real agenda with this? My intial instincts are that this is somehow related to making sure Park Impact fees are as low as possible so that development for S50 pencils out so it can proceed through the annexation process.

[Bill Z]

We don't need to be forking out half a million bucks for this kinda crap IMO.

Now if Miklos, Starsky, et al want to take the money out of their own pockets to fund this, then I'm perfectly OK with them profitting from their investment.

[camay2327]

Well the reason I put this up here is because I saw it on the last City Council meeting.

I think that the city manager and the council has sprung one on the city of Folsom.

If we are against it I think that right NOW is the time to express your opinions to

the city manager and the city council members (mayor) etc...

Don't wait.

I think that there should have been meetings for the people of the city and the
people in the know so it could be discussed.

[camay2327]

I sent an email to the mayor, vice mayor, city council members and the city manager.

Everyone should do the same.

[nomad]

At the baseball coaches meeting last year they said they really wanted to "up level the baseball program here in Folsom." So I guess if you build a fake Wrigley Field you can at least give people the illusion that their kids can play in the majors?

Seems like football is covered with the recent success of the Bulldogs so now it's time to put Folsom baseball on the map?

The city can't even cut the grass at Sundall for T-ball (parents have to get out there before the season and tend the field, pull weeds and cut the lawn) but they want to build some dramatic replica of a famous ball park? Seems really odd.

[camay2327]

At the baseball coaches meeting last year they said they really wanted to "up level the baseball program here in Folsom." So I guess if you build a fake Wrigley Field you can at least give people the illusion that their kids can play in the majors?

Seems like football is covered with the recent success of the Bulldogs so now it's time to put Folsom baseball on the map?

The city can't even cut the grass at Sundall for T-ball (parents have to get out there before the season and tend the field, pull weeds and cut the lawn) but they want to build some dramatic replica of a famous ball park? Seems really odd.

At the city council meeting, the city manager said "Build it and they will come".

[nomad]

At the city council meeting, the city manager said "Build it and they will come".

Haha, so it's just one cliche' after another I guess. Maybe with the success of the Sports Complex, which the city didn't even build, they are sure they can create a winner with this idea.

The whole thing just seems so Texas-like to me.

[M.E.G.]

While it may appear that we have lots of fields for sports, I can tell you that is not the case from my perspective. I am on the board of Folsom Lacrosse. Lacrosse is turning into a very popular sport here in the Sacramento region and our club is growing quickly. The problem is we have more teams, than fields available. Trust me when I say there is a ranking of which sports get fields easily and which don't. Not only are there different clubs/teams vying for the fields, Folsom takes fields out of service to "rehab" them, leaving less fields than it looks.

I would be interested in hearing more about the project, and how it might benefit the shortage of fields.

M.E.G.

[john]

I'm still a little on the fence as to whether or not this is really needed, but it would give the Folsom Pioneers a more permanent location to play; though I am not sure if the dimensions would be correct for their needs. I wonder where this would go? I think the best spot I can think of is that nasty soccer field behind Red Robin.