Edmonton City Council and the Jackrabbits Look to the Province to Help Fund New Stadium

[Chuck V]

Edmonton, Alberta -

City planners and Jackrabbits Team ownership are planning to meet with the Alberta Provincial government to come up with an agreement that will allow the city and the team to divert funds from a Provincial Revitalization Levy to help pay for a new ballpark in downtown Edmonton. The team has agreed to kick in $61 million cash for the project and pay another $240 million in user fees and other revenue sources such as naming rights, while the city would levy a .5% city luxury tax for out of town visitors, rental cars, hotels and casinos that will raise $300 million and the Provincial Revitalization Levy would kick in the remaining $300 million to complete the $900 million dollar ballpark. The Jackrabbits have already pledged the money and the revenue streams and the city should have its final vote on the city luxury tax in mid November. The only part that remains uncertain is the PRL, but officials from the Alberta government have expressed confidence that the access to the fund will be granted.

The new ballpark designs resemble a cross between Orioles Park at Camden Yards and a reverse Fenway Park. The park will feature seating for 55,000 and will adjoin the Edmonton Expo Centre. The ballpark is expected to have a very shallow 310 foot left field corner that quickly angles out to a very deep left and left center field. The right field wall from right-center to the foul pole will be roughly 315 feet down the line, but will feature a 32 foot high wall, much like the Green Monster. Modern accommodations such as VIP skyboxes and a plaza in right field that is bordered by the Expo Centre should make this a ballpark that Edmonton can be proud of and should bring in more fans and more corporate dollars via marketing and skybox revenue.

While the ballpark has not yet been named or, for that matter, officially approved, talks appear to be ongoing with Park Power, though no word if the new facility would be called Park Power Park. Look for an announcement for a final agreement shortly after the playoffs. Whenever the ballpark is constructed, season ticket holders have been assured that they will get first crack at season tickets in a comparable location to their current seats.

[Jwalk100]

Park Power Park can be a tongue twister if you're drunk.

[Chuck V]

It’s Canada. Yes. They will be drunk.