Mallards stadium deal 'is close'
The good news for Mallards fans: A deal with the city of Madison on a new stadium appears to be all but hammered out.
The bad news: Barring a "perfect constellation" of events, as one north side alderman put it, supporters of the popular summer collegiate baseball league won't get to set foot in the new facility until Opening Day 2010, a year later than the team's target date.
"We're very, very close" to a deal," Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said Tuesday afternoon at the Hilton Monona Terrace during a press conference heralding this summer's Northwoods League All-Star Game in Madison on July 14.
"The hope is we can get a stadium built by 2010. It's really down to the details."
Cieslewicz would prefer that the project be expedited and remain on schedule for the 2009 opening, spokesman George Twigg said today, but understands the timing may be difficult.
Even Mallards general manager and part owner Vern Stenman, who has remained optimistic throughout more than two years of conversations and negotiations with local government on the issue, concedes the window of opportunity for a groundbreaking this fall on the estimated $5.6 million project is rapidly closing.
"We're still hoping on our side that it's 2009," said Stenman, who later added, "but if the worst-case scenario is we're breaking ground a year from now instead of in the fall -- it's not what we'd hope for, but it'd be great to come out there in '09 and see real things happening on the new stadium. For fans, that would be exciting."
No fast track
The cause of the delay is twofold. Even after the Mallards and city officials agree on the plan currently in the works, it must be approved by five public agencies and the full City Council, then opened for bids. And because the new stadium will be located on the same site as the current facility at Warner Park, full-scale construction can't begin until after the team's season ends in mid-August.
So, 2010 is "a more realistic date," said Ald. Michael Schumacher, whose district borders the stadium.
Schumacher, who was skeptical of the terms of early discussions between the Mallards and the city, said the deal on the table addresses both of his concerns. It contains a financial package that he is "very confident" will avoid putting taxpayers at risk, and limits the impact on the community in terms of traffic, parking, and noise.
"Warner Park is a gem," Schumacher said. "I don't want it to become what I call 'Warner World.'"
The general terms are as follows:
- The city will contribute $800,000 to the project as part of a capital expenditure that Cieslewicz inserted into the capital budget in 2005 for maintenance of the existing bleachers, and will authorize a $1.2 million loan to the Mallards backed by an irrevocable letter of credit from owner Steve Schmitt. Also, the team's annual base lease payment will increase to $50,000 from $15,000.
- The Mallards must secure any additional funds for the project -- expected to be approximately $3.6 million -- from private sources. They will be allowed to sell naming rights, with any revenue going first to pay back the city loan. When those terms are fulfilled, the city will be entitled to all future naming rights revenues. The Mallards will be allowed to host up to 39 baseball-related events, with first choice on dates. To compensate for the escalation in the lease, the franchise can host 12 other events of varying magnitude at the stadium, but only with prior approval by the city.
"At the end of the day, we're getting a good package," Schumacher said.
Stenman said he had yet to see the current proposal. But of the overall scope of the plan, he said, "We were hoping to get more control of the stadium, and (the city) wanted to increase our lease payment. I think we found middle ground."
