May 15, 2010
Huntington Council Chair Cautiously Optimistic
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – A baseball stadium for MU, research and develop facility, maritime law enforcement training, arena football returning…. Those are some of the announced and/or “proposed” developments and attractions for Huntington.
Having been privy to private discussions on the River Place, LLC project, Council chairman Jim Insco told HNN Thursday that he was both excited and “cautiously optimistic,” concerning the future visions, which if successful, would bring an influx of economic development to the region.
First up to the plate will be the new Arena Football League team at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Although two previous indoor football teams have failed to make the cut, Insco, an avid sports fan and youth league supporter, believes this one has a good shot courtesy of the involvement of BSSA general manager, A.J.. Boleski.
“Arena football is fun and exciting to watch. I don’t know what the UIFL business philosophy is, but it has a low cost membership [franchise fee] and A.J. and SMG at the arena will do a good job promoting. Hopefully, they will hang around,” Insco said.
Explaining that indoor football has a “niche” of fans, he believes keeping expenses down will be the key to success. The UIFL follows that business model , according to a press release issued early last week. Regional competition will create natural competition and there will be salary caps on the 18-team rosters. Boleski stated in a release that “the UIFL is a great opportunity for us to offer fun, family entertainment at an affordable price to the entire Tri-State area." (For further info visit, http://www.theuifl.com.)
River Place, L.L.C. provides another opportunity for city and county economic development. “This could show an example of the city, county and Marshall working together,” Insco said, adding that when a developer comes “you get excited” but “you have to be cautiously optimistic until details and financing roll out, then we will know if it is viable or not.”
The proposal includes a 2,500 seat baseball stadium, retail, hotel and conference center, extended stay housing, and a law enforcement maritime training facility would initially “bring in construction jobs” and turn a “large , flat empty space and turn it into a prosperous piece of property. Baseball makes it doubly exciting. Marshall would have a stadium to call home and hopefully it would be a place for tournaments , as well as some type of minor league [or wood bat[ league where you see stars of the future.”
A wood bat league is a step below minor league baseball in which college age athletes play in a summer league. “It’s fun to watch and good baseball,” Insco said.
Turning to the vision for the now virtually unused A.C.F. property, “you’re talking about inland port projects, research and development facilities to coincide with Marshall, It’s something they desperately need; they’re running out of space.”
However, the project’s scope would “open up all that river bank” for utilization. “What an opportunity,” Insco beamed.
“So far, I don’t see any negatives [and this ] city needs to do whatever they can to foster economic development,” the councilman said, noting that the private developer had not asked the city for financial assistance. “They have presented preliminary plans to the mayor. I’m ready, willing and able to work with our County Commission to ensure this happens.”
If the plans, proposals and finances fall into place, “ It’s a win/win for everybody,” Insco said.
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Huntington Council Chair Cautiously Optimistic
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – A baseball stadium for MU, research and develop facility, maritime law enforcement training, arena football returning…. Those are some of the announced and/or “proposed” developments and attractions for Huntington.
Having been privy to private discussions on the River Place, LLC project, Council chairman Jim Insco told HNN Thursday that he was both excited and “cautiously optimistic,” concerning the future visions, which if successful, would bring an influx of economic development to the region.
First up to the plate will be the new Arena Football League team at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. Although two previous indoor football teams have failed to make the cut, Insco, an avid sports fan and youth league supporter, believes this one has a good shot courtesy of the involvement of BSSA general manager, A.J.. Boleski.
“Arena football is fun and exciting to watch. I don’t know what the UIFL business philosophy is, but it has a low cost membership [franchise fee] and A.J. and SMG at the arena will do a good job promoting. Hopefully, they will hang around,” Insco said.
Explaining that indoor football has a “niche” of fans, he believes keeping expenses down will be the key to success. The UIFL follows that business model , according to a press release issued early last week. Regional competition will create natural competition and there will be salary caps on the 18-team rosters. Boleski stated in a release that “the UIFL is a great opportunity for us to offer fun, family entertainment at an affordable price to the entire Tri-State area." (For further info visit, http://www.theuifl.com.)
River Place, L.L.C. provides another opportunity for city and county economic development. “This could show an example of the city, county and Marshall working together,” Insco said, adding that when a developer comes “you get excited” but “you have to be cautiously optimistic until details and financing roll out, then we will know if it is viable or not.”
The proposal includes a 2,500 seat baseball stadium, retail, hotel and conference center, extended stay housing, and a law enforcement maritime training facility would initially “bring in construction jobs” and turn a “large , flat empty space and turn it into a prosperous piece of property. Baseball makes it doubly exciting. Marshall would have a stadium to call home and hopefully it would be a place for tournaments , as well as some type of minor league [or wood bat[ league where you see stars of the future.”
A wood bat league is a step below minor league baseball in which college age athletes play in a summer league. “It’s fun to watch and good baseball,” Insco said.
Turning to the vision for the now virtually unused A.C.F. property, “you’re talking about inland port projects, research and development facilities to coincide with Marshall, It’s something they desperately need; they’re running out of space.”
However, the project’s scope would “open up all that river bank” for utilization. “What an opportunity,” Insco beamed.
“So far, I don’t see any negatives [and this ] city needs to do whatever they can to foster economic development,” the councilman said, noting that the private developer had not asked the city for financial assistance. “They have presented preliminary plans to the mayor. I’m ready, willing and able to work with our County Commission to ensure this happens.”
If the plans, proposals and finances fall into place, “ It’s a win/win for everybody,” Insco said.
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