Published by Steve Brennan on 12 Mar 2008 at 04:37 pm
Statement of Support
We believe building a new downtown stadium as proposed by the CWS Oversight Committee is the best option for the City of Omaha to keep the CWS in Omaha for the long-term. As such, the following people support that recommendation.
To signal your support electronically, simply include your name and city in the comment box below. You are also encouraged to include any additional comments with your reply. We reserve the right to eliminate posts that are vulgar or include profanity.
You can also download the printed version here to circulate in your own neighborhood>
This page has the following sub pages.
1,940 Responses to “Statement of Support”
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Pages: « 1 … 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 [36] 37 38 39 » Show All
March 25th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Progress is building a new stadium and not allowing the CWS to leave.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:19 am
build new stadium 140 million.
keep and fix rosenblatt 50 million.
humm.
can you figure which is a smarter decision, guess not.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:16 am
I completely support building a new stadium downtown. It will be such a wonderful addition to Omaha and will make our city more attractive to young people. Thank you Mr. Mayor for standing up and doing the right thing for Omaha even when a small group of people seem bent on making your job as hard as possible. I do wish that people would actually read up on the facts before they start saying things against this project. I’m really sick of people who just make up things and act as is it is fact. To you william moore, you should pobably read up about what you speak. The costs to the public looks the same to me for a Rosenblatt redo and a new stadium, and while I’m so tight my kids say I squeak, even I get that it’s a better use of the same money to build something that won’t need to be fixed again in a few years. Plus I think it will be great for the zoo to be able to expand. So thank you for putting this internet effort together so we could show our support.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Build it !
March 26th, 2008 at 6:13 am
To william- Did you not do any research for rosenblatt yes thats right , but after all the private investors pouring money into the new stadium. The two projects will be very similar in price. So why keep paying 50 million every 5 years to renovate. We just pay for a new stadium and not have to renovate it for 20 years atleast. I’m all for a new stadium, out with the old in with the new. I’m tired of replacing the bandade’s on rosenblatt. Lets cut our loses , and start fresh with a new stadium downtown to beautify the downtown area. Who knows maybe we can start having concerts in the stadium. That would be awsome kenny chesney in the new stadium I can see it now!
March 26th, 2008 at 6:16 am
I am very much for a new downtown stadium if it will keep the CWS in Omaha for the next several years. People need to realize how much the CWS means to this city. For every college baseball player in division one it is “The Road to Omaha” and not the road to Rosenblatt. I understand there are centimental reasons people want to keep the CWS at Rosenblatt, but the money that is generated during those 10 days in June has a huge economic impact on our city every year. So I vote for a new stadium.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:18 am
To william- This is like a bad hand at the poker table. You can only toss so much money in and bluff so long before they call you bluff or you cut your loses and fold.
Build the new stadium then we have a great hand . A WINNING HAND
March 26th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I think this would be great for the city of Omaha!!!
March 26th, 2008 at 8:15 am
To William- Think a little before you speak. For one thing this is a statement of support. Each comment on here adds to the total and shows support for the project. They don’t look through and take out negative comments from the total. So thank you for helping to support the new stadium downtown. Secondly get your facts right before you decide to post some BS comment. Yes the pricetag on the new stadium is around $140 million but about $43 million is coming from private donors, which has no effect on you, and $38 million will come from the stadium itself, ie premium seating, naming rights, parking revenue and a seat tax. So the total cost that would come from “taxing the people of omaha” is around $60 million, and this amount is only coming from a 1% increase in hotel tax and a $2 increase on rental car tax. So the CWS would bring even more money into the Omaha economy than it already does. Renovating the South O Blatt would cost around $73 million but we still have $12 million in debt on it. So William
“build new stadium ($60) million.
keep and fix rosenblatt ($85) million.
humm.
can you figure which is a smarter decision, guess not.”
March 26th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Go Nathan!
March 26th, 2008 at 9:04 am
The new is a great investment in Omaha’s Future.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Jodie McGill Omaha
March 26th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Remember the tiff everyone had when we built the Quest? Look how Council Bluffs has grown by investing in the future. Wake up Omaha.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:39 am
We need to CWS to stay here in Omaha, no if ands or buts!
March 26th, 2008 at 11:27 am
This is what Omaha needs to stand out above the rest. If we want to grow not only in population but also businesses. This will bring more businesses to our area which in return brings more people and more money to our economy. Lets not sit back and hope that the CWS doesn’t leave lets keep this great thing going in Omaha.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
It’s time to get together behind this!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Thank you, Mayor Fahey, for all that you are doing and have done to continue to grow Omaha. We can’t let a few people who are afraid of change dictate what happens in our city. If we want to keep the CWS here, then moving it to a more updated facility is what is necessary. As it’s been said, the CWS is the Road to Omaha – not the Road to Rosenblatt. We must do whatever it takes to keep the CWS here long term.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I support for a new stadium. In fact I have gone to the CWS my whole life and would boycot if it were not moved to an inproved stadium in a much more desirable area. A much better impression and convience with the terrific Old Market. Let the business come Omaha.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
We need to continue to support Omaha as a growing community, and this stadium and keeping the CWS in town is an excellent step in a positive direction.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
The downtown ballpark will be a great step forward for the college world series and the zoo.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
If you Build it they will come.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Everyone is scared of progress in this part of the country. Think of Omaha without the Qwest Center… This could have just as big, if not bigger, impact on the city.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
If the turn out for the NCAA basketball tournament is any indication, I think a lot more businesses will benefit from a new baseball stadium. Think about how much money it will bring to Omaha in the future and of how much money will be lost if the CWS is moved to another city. A new stadium just makes sense.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I think the Mayor is doing a TERRIFIC job. The CWS MUST stay in Omaha!
March 26th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I strongly agree with the idea for a new downtown baseball stadium I love Rosenblatt but lets look to the future and lets keep the CWS here.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
For the past thirty years of my life I have been going to Rosenblatt for baseball games and I love it each time I’m there but if we the people of this city want Omaha to progress we need to build the new stadium and do it right for the city and for the NCAA.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I strongly support ALL that Mayor Fahey is doing to keep the CWS in Omaha. I really can’t understand how there can be any opposition, this is absolutely a win-win situation for Omaha!!
March 26th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
This is a long-term decision that needs to be made. Omaha can only grow if on a structured plan for growth. As a 30 year old father of four who lives and works in Omaha, I am in full support of the downtown stadium.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I am 100% behind a new downtown stadium. Omaha needs to look to the future.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
This city on this issue and every other progessive issue has to be dragged into the 21st century. The old ballpark is outdated the restrooms smell as it does at the civic. No amount of new plumbing will rectify this situation. The old pipes are just that, old pipes. I am in the maintenance field for over 20 years and I know they would have to dig up more than just the concourse to rid rosenblatt of the smell emulating from the restrooms. Now for the other other issue SHAME on Hal Daub trying to turn this into a political issue. If this was Mr. Daub’s original idea instead of Mayor Fahey’s he would be all for it and he would do whatever he could to persuade the MECA board to go with the new ballpark. Instead he is using MECA to sabotage Mayor Fahey’s plan. He will then turn around and run for Mayor using the platform of look what I did saving Rosenblatt and saving the taxpayers all this money while the NCAA will say to bad so sad see you later. Mr. Daub you are a career politician and yes you had a great vision but it took Mayor Fahey’s bussiness scence to come through with the Qwest center. Yes the city has alot to pay off the Qwest center but look what kind of entertainment it has brought to this once boring town. I bet if the stadium had to be named Daub Field this arrogant man would be all for it. ( I think I just came up with a great idea—-only a joke). Thank you for setting up this web site so the silent majority can finally have a voice on this issue. It’s close proximity to Creighton would be a great recruiting tool. And the Omaha Royals need to put out a better brand of ball as do the KC Royals and YES they will come. Thank you for your time and see you at the NEW ballpark
March 26th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
MECA, specifically Hal Daub and David Sokol should be ashamed. This is all just a stupid power play. For heavens sake, MECA was formed by the City as managers and caretakers, not a free nation that gets to operate by its own made-up set of rules. How can they possibly think the city should give up the rights to its own property. That’s insane. Shame, shame, shame. I heard Daub on KFAB today. Someone needs to muzzle him. He was a loose cannon as mayor and still a loose cannon who steps in it at every opportunity. While I may not completely agree with the methods and the way he went about it, I completely support Mayor Fahey and respect his vision and guts to drive this City forward, despite the hurdles. I support the stadium on the Qwest lots 100%. It’s right on some many fronts. Omaha is a better place now than in 2000 and still improving despite some small minds in some corners of the city. If we stop moving forward, we decay. Thankfully there are a handful of visionaries who truly lead rather than cow-tow to those squeaky wheels who will pick, and pick and pick and complain and complain no matter what. Thanks for creating this page so us supporters can voice our opinions.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
To William Moore and others who are opposed to the new stadium but have expressed their dissapproval by signing our statement of support,
First, I would like to thank you for your support. Obviously you haven’t done your homework or you wouldn’t have spouted your opinion here. This is not a forum set up for debating the stadium proposal but is, in fact, a “Statement of Support”. Every entry here is counted as just that, regardless of what the body of the statement says. Although, I’m sure you would like to debate that also. But if you scroll to the top of the page and read, you will discover that it clearly states this.
While we are on the subject of reading, if you would just read beyond the headlines in the newspaper and stop screaming at the tv long enough to hear the entire story on the news broadcasts, then perhaps you would realize that the “Save Rosenblatt” arguements against the new stadium don’t hold water.
Let’s start with the parking (or the lack thereof). Have you ever attended a CWS game at Rosenblatt. I doubt very seriously that you were parked at the door. You probably weren’t parked anywhere in the parking lot either. Most people who attend the games park on the streets in the surrounding neighborhoods or pay outragious fees to park on someones lawn so they don’t have to walk a mile or so to get to the game.
Fact: Although the new stadium proposal calls for the stadium to be built on Qwest Center lots C and E, it also includes plans for additional parking to be constructed nearby to address the loss. These will most likely be parking garages so as to accomodate a maximum amount of vehicles in a minimum amount of space and probably won’t cost $15 – $20 per vehicle as it does to park on someones lawn in South ‘O’.
But what if the Qwest Center has an event at the same time as a CWS game? The parking/traffic will be overwhelming.
Fact: Rosenblatt and the zoo are right next to each other. The CWS is held in the summer which is also prime zoo season. These two venues compete for the same parking and use the same streets to gain access and exit the area. There is actually more streets coming and going in the area around the Qwest Center than around Rosenblatt. With the NoDo area still being under construction, modifications can be made to handle the additional traffic. This is not an option in South ‘O’.
Why not just put the money into Rosenblatt to give the NCAA what they want?
Fact: Rosenblatt is 60 years old and it’s infrastructure will not allow for all the requested modifications without literally razing the existing structure and starting from scratch. Although building a new structure in it’s place could be done you still have not alleviated the parking and traffic problems. Also the NCAA has requested more access to local hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Look around the Rosenblatt area and tell me where you are going to put this. Obviously, the City of Omaha could use “Imminent Domain” to aquire land in and around the area neighborhoods but, not only would that be impactical, it would greatly add to the cost of the project and would displace a lot of families. All these amenities are available within walking distance of the proposed stadium site downtown. Besides the zoo could use the land that Rosenblatt now occupies to expand and become an even greater attraction than it already is.
Rosenblatt has been home to the CWS since 1950 and has a lot of nostalgia in the hearts and minds of many.
Fact: This is, without a doubt, the best arguement for Rosenblatt, but here again, at 60 years old, how many good years do you think Rosenblatt has before it’s infratructure is deemed unsafe? Sure, we could use it for a while longer but in that time the cost of constucting a new stadium is going to continue to increase with inflation. $140 million today or $200+ million a few years down the road.
$50 million for Rosenblatt or $140 million for a new stadium, hmmm?
Fact: I’m not going to waste space here doing the math, but if you go to http://www.omahastadium.com/site/how-will-omaha-pay-for-this.html there is a chart comparing the cost of the two and the funding to pay for them. In the end it is virtually the same to the taxpayers of our great city. And for the same money we will have a brand new stadium that will satisfy all of the NCAA’s requests, will accomodate more people, with an open 360 degree concourse, provide roomier more comfortable seating, will most likely be used for other events beyond the Royals and Creighton – such as outdoor concerts and perhaps even a pro team exposition game or two, etc.
The NCAA has never said if we don’t build a new stadium they will move the CWS.
Fact: They probably wouldn’t come right out and say it but undoubtedly it has been implied in some way. Think of their options. Do you not think with all this controversy going on here in Omaha that other cities aren’t trying to woo the NCAA away from us with new or nearly new stadiums that already meet the needs of the CWS?
Would you rather lose Rosenblatt…or the CWS? A new Stadium will benefit the entire city of Omaha as a whole not just the downtown area. I feel this is the least we can do to show our appreciation to the NCAA and all it’s fans as well as the teams that come to compete for the CWS title. The event is growing yearly and with that the amount of money spent here continues to rise, adding to the tax base and allowing us to continue to grow and provide better entertainment for everyone. So, let’s stop the yelling and name calling, put this whole debate behind us, build the new stadium and reap the benefits…hopefully for another 60 years.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Alan, very well said! So, ditto. And let’s get on with it already. It’s going to be awesome.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I am not a fan of Fahey, but I am a huge fan of the CWS. I’ll support whatever it takes to keep it a Road to Omaha.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I’ve emailed my city councilman supporting the stadium
March 26th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
New stadium, economic growth and development, hand in hand. Progress. Let’s help make our city more attractive to business, entertainment and city life for all of us who choose to live here. The Omaha Zoo is chomping at the bit to acquire the real estate that Rosenblatt currently occupies. That may be only one of a variety of options for what remains. A new stadium adds another newsworthy feature to our city’s very short list of attractions. We choose to live here. Let’s choose to improve our town.
Also, well said by Alan B. I am sure if anybody got through all 179 pages of these responses, the refrain would be very consistent. Push forward Omahans.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
i support the Mayor’s initiative to build a baseball stadium in downtown Omaha. I believe that a new baseball venue will enable the City to secure a long-term committment from the NCAA to hold the College World Series in Omaha and it will be an economic driver for further development downtown and at the current Rosenblatt site.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I support building the new stadium in downtown Omaha.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Build it and they will come!
March 26th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Meca needs to drop their egos and let this stadium go forward. Everyone I’ve talked to wants this stadium to be done downtown. If they lose the CWS because they wont let the city build there, they are going to have to take accountability. This really scares me that so many people in this city can be so narrow minded. Come on people lets get this done.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
We support the new stadium 100%
March 26th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
We need a new stadium!
March 27th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I understand the nostalgia related to Rosenblatt, but I believe keeping the CWS is more important to keep the Rosenblatt stadium. If we fight too long and lose the CWS it would be the biggest mistake the citizens of Omaha could ever make.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I am in favor of the new stadium, I think it will be another draw to the city. Let the zoo have the Rosenblatt property to do what they do well.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
We have two world class items in this town that are currently setting in second rate facilities. One is the College World Series the other is the Zoo. I think that gets lost on everybody… A world class Zoo with a some kind of destination hotel next to it would be a sure money maker all year round. Imagine being the leader in panda breading in the world, since we already have one of, if not the best breading programs in the world this would draw millions of dollars alone. Then throw in a college world series in a state of the art ball park that could host outdoor concerts also, there is no limit to the revenue that can be generated. Heck we might even be able to get the women’s softball world series also. The sky is the limit, that is if we build it.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Lets keep the CWS here in Omaha. Do what ever it takes because we will lose out in the long run, and will be remembered not for all the years here but the city that lost the CWS because some people are selfish, Yeah i talking about Save Rosenblatt people. You need to let go of the past and step into the future with the rest of us. This is a major step in the right direction. Lets build this stadium
March 27th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Ithink the new stadium is a godd fiscal chaoice. My taxes are going up just as much to rennovate Rosenblatt.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
TEAR IT DOWN! That place is a dump. People cry about the tradition and the meaning of Rosenblatt. That will all be soon forgotten when they are not handing their keys over to some guy with no teeth that just charged them $20 dollars to park in his back yard. This new stadium is going to pay for itself. The atmosphere of being downtown and not having to worry about how your going to get downtown after the game is wonderful. A quick walk and there you are. You would think that in 50 years the people of South Omaha would of proposed some type of arrangement to have that place cleaned up a bit. Maybe some hotels. They have just been sitting back and collecting their $20 a car. This city is growing and in order to help that growth we must build. I am a huge baseball fan and I know that tradition is very important to the sport, but I’m sorry, it’s time to start a new one.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Everytime I park down by Rosenblatt I fear that my car may be stolen or broken into. Every single time, on top of that paying outrageous fees to park in an area that may or may not be even safe to keep it there. And to be able to walk to restaurants/bars/hotels from a stadium would be amazing. There is absouletly nothing in South O. that I would want to go to or able to go to. This stadium needs to be built downtown
March 27th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Must keep CWS in Omaha….I used to live in Bellevue and really enjoyed attending the games. The CWS was one of the most visible (and important for baseball fans) things that set Omaha apart for other midwestern towns. Build it and they will continue to come!