Jackrabbits Owners Purchase Plot of Land for New Ballpark

[Chuck V]

Today, the Leonard family, owners of the Edmonton Jackrabbits announced that they have purchased a 97 acre parcel of land where the old Northland Race Track still stands and have declared that it will be the site of a new state-of-the-art baseball stadium. Highlights of the new ballpark will feature an adjacent connection to the Edmonton Expo Centre.

The land still contains the shuttered buildings of the old Northland horse racing circuit, which closed in 2019 and has stood empty for 40 years. The land is close to the Wayne Gretzky freeway and is also close to the MLS Soccer and CFL football stadium. Jim Leonard, owner of the Edmonton Jackrabbits, expressed optimism at the possibility for a new ballpark. "AGLS Field has become almost untenable. It lacks the major league amenities that teams are used to and also lacks the high end amenities that corporations are used to having for their sports experience. This new facility will not only bring life to a part of town that has been shuttered for decades, it will provide a summer destination for Albertans during the baseball season.

Edmonton Mayor Harris Chestermere expressed optimism that a new financing deal could be worked out. We have had a long 30 year history with the Edmonton Jackrabbits and we look forward to exploring new funding opportunities with the provincial government so that we can keep BBA baseball right here in Edmonton.

The new baseball architects, HOK out of Kansas City, has developed some preliminary plans to connect the rightfield stands and entrance with the Edmonton Expo Centre, which would, according to Jim Leonard, "create a synergy and partnership with the Expo Centre that will rival any team/city partnership in the league.

The new ballpark will contain more facilities for player development and medical rehab, along with more ballpark amenities with more loge seating and corporate skyboxes.

Details of the financing and debt service on a new ballpark have yet to be finalized but both sides seem confident and this move, which cost Leonard $22,000,000 dollars for the land, is a good indication of their commitment to a new ballpark right here in the city.

[Jwalk100]

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