re: Rosenblatt

I think we should have called the NCAA's bluff. I don't think they'd have moved the CWS. There was another option to renovate Rosenblatt (I think the big deals are more restrooms, real bullpens, more room in the concourse...), and it would have been much cheaper.

There is an over-riding political agenda here to revive the riverfront, to not let it degrade further. The politicians USED the threat of losing the CWS to do this. The meetings were all done behind closed doors. The people who don't go to baseball games were all brainwashed into believing that we'd lose the CWS if we didn't do this, and we can't keep pooring money into Rosenblatt. Those who have actually been to Rosenblatt know the difference.

Now, we'll be footing the bill for a brand new stadium used for 2 weeks out of the year. The Omaha Royals are having their own, smaller stadium built SW of the Omaha Metro. No one can afford the rates that the city wants for using the new place, not the Royals, not Creighton University... So it's gonna sit empty outside of the CWS. It will be a big, concrete tomb for baseball.

Then there's the fact that the Olympic swim trials are going to overlap, I believe the very first year. The trials will be at the Qwest, drew enormous crowds last time. God save you guys trying to drive to the stadium. I work in the downtown area, and I'm dreading it!

The parking at the Qwest and new stadium - you have to pay the parking fee even just to go in and buy tickets. It's all about money there.

I WISH THE TEAMS INVOLVED WOULD PETITION THE NCAA TO NOT MOVE IT! They can still fill in the hole in the ground, nothing has been built so far!