Andy Borgman, who grew up in Fort Wayne and now lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, has posted his feelings about Parkview Field on his blog.
In fact, Andy shared some photos and feelings about Gwinnett Stadium in an earlier AFW Blog post.
He compares it to Gwinnett Stadium in Georgia:
[…] Gwinnett spent $60 million to build their new stadium. Fort Wayne spent $30 million.
Gwinnett stadium is basically a glorified Single-A ballpark with some nice suites and a open entrance. The park has no character. It has no theme.
[…] Parkview Field is designed to Double-A standards and everything, and I mean everything is done thematically. Playing off the Johnny Appleseed team name, everything is related. Sections are called “The Tree Tops” and “The Orchard.” Seats are green. It sits beautifully placed within the city skyline in the background. And it is bringing people downtown.
Thanks for sharing your comments – againPar , Andy!
Related Images:
“It sits beautifully placed within the city skyline in the background.”
The slogan “And it is bringing people downtown.” A slogan does not pay for itself alone. $30 million and it brings people down town. How much sales has to be generated to pay $30 million back? The local sales tax is 75 of which the city gets very little back. It goes to the state and it decided who gets what. The county has a local income tax of 1% and it is split between county and city along the lines of 60/40 in favor of the city. Then we have the trickle down theory that a dollar kept in the city gets recycled or reused producing more economic activity. This is true, but one again we are at the finite question, how much does it take in sales to pay for a $30 million ball park? The best we can assume if we got 100% of the sale tax back is 7%. It requires more than $35 million in additional new sales to pay for it. This does not mean that the attendance shifted from the old stadium can be used to pay for the new stadium, it means you need new revenue, not shifted revenue. Now 7% is a lot and it most likely closer to a 1/2% which means you need over $500 million in sales, no can do. Now lets look at the local income tax. The city gets 60% of a 1% local tax. So let us use 1% (they get it all). Total city income must grow by $251 million. Again it is a no brainer that the ball park attracts $251 million in new revenue.
Now we have a $30 million beautiful white elephant for up to 9,000 to visit some 90 times a year. The city needs to get its priorities straight. To attract new companies, you need a low tax rate. To attract workers, you need a low cost of living. High property taxes, unfunded pensions, unfunded storm sewer projects and more are negatives for people moving to Fort Wayne. On top of this the FWCS is not in the best of shape. Due to underfunding maintenance of schools, they have a huge problem. This all indicates to any new business or family looking to move to Fort Wayne to think twice.
William, thank you for your comments. The bonds for the ballpark will be paid off not with sales tax revenues as you purport, but rather property taxes through a TIF district.
Stephen – The TIF diverted property taxes are only one of the sources of funds being used to pay the debt service on the Harrison Square project. The downtown CRED revenue, part of the Allen County CEDIT revenue, revenue to be paid by the Grand Wayne Center ( 65% financed by sales and employment tax revenue), the Indiana State Tax credits to the builders also are revenues diverted from non-property taxes.
Plus, William’s use of present expenditures instead of what will be required to service this hugh debt, makes it look better than it really will bge. You cannot, in the present economic conditions, assume that inflation will enable repayment with less valuable dollars! This is probably the main reason why it has been so hard to get financing for this whole project (excepting, of course, the public money – which always flows freely thanks to our foolhardy elected governmental persons).
Thank you, John! I almost emailed you, but knew you’d jump in if I bungled it! He’s also off a bit on his attendance figures, both per game attendance and number of games, but I don’t have the exact numbers.
I would agree with this. However, what you are missing is that Fort Wayne already has one of the lowest cost of living in the entire country. Trust me. As someone who grew up in Fort Wayne, moved to LA and then to Atlanta. I WISH I had Fort Wayne’s cost of living, taxes, and schools.
The irony in your statement is that out of all the reasons I hear of people either a.) not wanting to move to Fort Wayne, or b.) wanting to get out of Fort Wayne, none of them are related to cost of living, taxes, or schools. In fact, those are the reasons WHY people want to move / stay in Fort Wayne.
You know what the number one reason I hear why people don’t want to move / stay in Fort Wayne? Because there is NOTHING TO DO? Of course, I do argue with that statement as well, but that is the perception.
Live in cultured cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, hell…even Indianapolis. It’s about the restaurants/bars, and the theatre, and the sporting events, and the concerts, etc…etc… It’s about the environment and atmosphere of the city. Frankly, I think the addition of the ballpark adds to the attractiveness of someone moving to Fort Wayne.
And $30 million ain’t that much to be honest, plus it supported jobs locally.