Comments on: Ball Park Bad Idea, Bieter Still Pitches It

By: Betty

Betty — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:41:00 +0000

Hey Guardian, where’s your outrage at the convention center to nowhere? $9 million in the bank and the Auditorium District just keeps on keeping on, taking money, wasting it on studies and reports. Hy Kloc, Astorquia, Fitzgerald, Peavey-Derr – they’re all a waste of skin. The Auditorium District is a disaster and needs to go. What happened to that petition “Sully” and crew were circulating? When are we going to disband that bunch?

By: Goobs222

Goobs222 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:07:44 +0000

I still haven’t seen an assessment of the cost of renovating the current stadium in lieu of (in all likelihood) abandoning it. That has to be a lot less expensive than starting from scratch. Replacing the center section of the current stadium with a facility to house VIP suites and a decent press box would undoubtedly be cheaper than a whole new stadium — and it would block the sun that shines on the southern seats late in the evening. As for team facilities, move the food areas out from under the stands and renovate that area to meet those needs. After all, where is it written that the stadium has to be in Boise instead of on Ada County property?

By: Muck Raker

Muck Raker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:27:44 +0000

The antics of Mr. Bieter in this matter do not surprise me at all. The Cubs’ dispatching of Billy Buckner to “threaten” that the ballclub will leave town if it doesn’t get a new statium is also not surprising but notable for its hubris.

To the mayor, I say: “Let those who stand to gain come up with the money.” To Mr. Buckner and the Cubs, I would say: “Bye.”

By: JamesBond

JamesBond — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:02:31 +0000

Baseball holds no appeal for me. Based on my occasional viewing of highlights from various games, it appears that thousands of seats are empty everywhere, except perhaps New York and Boston. It is largely a game funded by television contracts and taxpayers. There is a new location being constructed for high school football games by Boise State, a facility which has long been needed in Boise. Why not help out with this, to make it a really nice facility?

By: Grumpy ole guy

Grumpy ole guy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:36:03 +0000

Field, seats, etc. yes, that is what is needed. I watch Little League, baseball and softball, I watch the other “amateur” teams. What’s this about Boise “deserving” a team? What causes this “deserving” status, size? income level? desire?
Guess you are just way too posh for my plebeian tastes. Hope I didn’t cause you to get anything nasty on your shoes.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:33:37 +0000

California shut this kind of taxpayer abuse down via killing off redevelopment agencies (aka urban renewal).

Here’s a link to the actions taken and upheld in the Ca. Supreme Court http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/29/local/la-me-redevelopment-20111230

By: Pittman

Pittman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:25:46 +0000

While I agree that any new stadium for the Hawks should be primarily financed through private money, there is no disputing that Memorial Stadium is a dump. The notion that the current ballpark is acceptable because “it has parking, it has seating, it has a field” is ridiculous. Any local high school would suffice for that low standard. A metro area the size of Boise should have a triple A team, but you can’t even get a regular season A team in here with the below standard Memorial Stadium. The Hawks average 2800 fans per game which is over 80 percent of capacity. Again, this is for a short season A team – the lowest of the minor leagues outside of rookie ball.

I understand people (myself included) don’t appreciate the threat made by the Cubs and begging the public for money isn’t the way to go about funding a new stadium. However, I also believe that a larger stadium closer to downtown that could attract a double A or triple A team would be great for the community.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:26:50 +0000

I know time has a way of going by quickly but the current Hawks stadium isn’t all that old. Additionally, in photos in the paper pushing this idea, the stands are virtually vacant.

Let the Cub’s pay for a new stadium or will this be another “magic of urban renewal” project, where property owners get stuck paying for something they never got to approve by any voter oversight.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:51:01 +0000

A train to nowhere now a ball park to nowhere…..when does it stop?

By: Ducky1

Ducky1 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:49:11 +0000

I have seen to many articles where cities, of all sizes, that pay to have a ball park constructed and the team leaves. I for one don’t feel we need another anything paid for with property or any taxes….Let the damn ball club pay for it.