Events leading up to construction of Aces Ballpark.
2057
- Ballpark revenue bond senior notes mature.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "$32 million baseball bond gets OK" 11/21/07
2048
- Ballpark revenue bond subordinate notes mature.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "$32 million baseball bond gets OK" 11/21/07
2035
- Washoe County expects ballpark revenue bonds will be fully repaid.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "$32 million baseball bond gets OK" 11/21/07
2010
April 1
- Ballpark construction must be completed under agreement developers signed with City of Reno
2009
April
- Opening Day
March 1
- Ballpark construction scheduled to be completed
Source: Washoe County press release 05/15/07
2008
February 25
- Ballpark groundbreaking
Source: KTVN-TV 02/13/08
2007
December 18
- Proceeds from county ballpark revenue bonds expected to be available to developers.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "$32 million baseball bond gets OK" 11/21/07
December 4
- Washoe County anticipates issuing $28.2 million worth of ballpark bonds.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "$32 million baseball bond gets OK" 11/21/07
November 20
- On a unanimous vote, the Washoe County Commission approves issuing up to $32 million in revenue bonds backed by car rental taxes.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "$32 million baseball bond gets OK" 11/21/07
November 6
- Developers release first conceptual rendering of ballpark site. It shows a sunken field surrounded by stands with 6,500 fixed seats and a grassy berm accommodating 3,500 additional spectators. The rendering also shows the existing fire station building incorporated into the retail plan.
Source: Reno Gazette Journal, "Early ballpark plan showcases shops" 11/07/07
October 1
- Legislative deadline for stadium deal to be completed in order for SK Baseball to qualify for $27 million in car rental taxes over the next 20 years.
- Specific requirements to be met:
- an agreement with a minor league baseball team to play its home games at a baseball stadium within the county has been executed
- league approval for relocation of the team has been obtained
- the stadium site has been acquired or leased
- any approval required for the construction of the stadium has been obtained
- Specific requirements to be met:
Source: Washoe County staff report 08/15/07 (PDF)
September 27
- Washoe County Commission signs an agreement with the City of Reno to allow the proceeds of a countywide car-rental tax to be used for building a Triple-A baseball stadium downtown
- Deeds for a series of land transactions to assemble the 8-acre stadium site are recorded with the county
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, "Triple A baseball OK'd for Reno" 09/28/07
September 25
- Building permit for stadium shell approved
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, "Triple A baseball OK'd for Reno" 09/28/07
September 21
- Reno City Council approves on 5-0 votes 12 interlocking agreements with developers to build the downtown stadium at the Freight House site and initial plans for a nearby entertainment zone with shops and restaurants in a larger Ballpark District
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, "Reno says 'play ball' to project" 09/22/07
September 12
- The sale of the Tucson Sidewinders by Tucson Baseball, LLC to Manhattan Capital Sports, LLC and SK Baseball is approved by the Pacific Coast League and both Minor and Major League baseball
Source: Tucson Sidewinders 09/12/07
September 4
- Tucson Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker announces the team is in escrow with SK Baseball regarding its $15 million sale. SK Baseball would only pay $13.5 million if it does not move the team. The new owners would have to pay Pima County, Arizona, $30,000 per year until 2012 if the team leaves for Reno
Source: Arizona Daily Star 09/05/07
August 29
- Reno City Council votes unanimously to support a deal with SK Baseball to bring professional baseball to the downtown Freight House site
- Council orders full report on moving the downtown fire station from Second and Evans streets to make room for ballpark
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, "Council backs baseball accord" 08/30/07
August 25
- Construction of a $55 million Triple A baseball stadium in downtown Reno moved a step closer to reality when a citizens advisory panel unanimously backed the plan. The Reno Redevelopment Agency's advisory committee yesterday forwarded the deal involving SK Baseball and its Nevada Land partner to the Reno City Council, which is scheduled to consider it on Wednesday
Source: Associated Press 08/25/07
August 15
- Reno Planning Commission approves two potential sites for a ballpark: one on the 8-acre Freight House site downtown and another on the grounds of Grand Sierra Resort
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, "Two sites OK'd for baseball stadium" 08/16/07
July 11
- Reno Redevelopment Agency announces an 8-acre site near Evans Avenue and Second Street, known as the "Freight House" site, is where city officials want to place a Triple-A baseball stadium
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, "Reno officials want 8-acre site near Evans Avenue for baseball stadium" 07/12/07
June 27
- Reno City Council votes to open negotiations with SK Baseball in an attempt to bring the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders to Reno
Source: City of Reno 06/27/07
June 12
- Manhattan Capital Sports, through its affiliate SK Baseball, announces it has acquired the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League
Source: ESPN.com 06/13/07
June 11
- SK Baseball announces it has stopped negotiations with the city of Sparks regarding the development of a AAA baseball stadium near the Marina
Source: KOLO-TV 06/12/07
May 15
- Washoe County Commission approves a predevelopment agreement with SK Baseball, LLC and Nevada Land, LLC for the eventual design and construction of a minor league baseball stadium in Washoe County
- Prior to approving the new agreement, Commissioners rescind the 2004 agreement with Sierra Nevada Baseball, allowing the Board to approve the proposed agreement with SK Baseball
- Commissioners amend the existing rental car tax Ordinance No. 1224 to lift the 2007 effective expiration of the fee and allow continued collection of the tax
Source: Washoe County press release 05/15/07
2005
December 5
- Leaders of the Sierra Nevada Baseball group say they remain optimistic about the chances of landing a Triple-A baseball team in Sparks and the developer of a mall planned there say they'll proceed with or without baseball. Three years ago, Sierra Nevada Baseball counted on the project being funded by a bond issue. The bonds would have been retired with team and stadium revenues and a rental car tax. But two years ago, backers lost one bond insurer and discovered no other insurance company was willing to ensure the stadium bonds without a government guarantee. After that, Sierra Nevada Baseball either had to drop the project or look for private financing to build the stadium. The car rental tax would raise about $16 million, so that means the boosters need to find the rest in private financing.
Source: Associated Press 12/05/05
2004
May 4
- Residents getting their first peek Tuesday at plans for a baseball stadium near the Sparks Marina say the open design, family-friendly features and emphasis on scenic beauty would make it a great place to watch a game. Designed by HOK Architects of Kansas City, Mo., the plan uses stone, wood and glass that would emphasize influences from the nearby marina and Northern Nevadas landscape and history
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal 05/05/04
February 17
- Washoe County Commission approves issuance of revenue bonds to fund design of the proposed AAA baseball stadium in Washoe County being planned for the Sparks Marina area. The bonds are to be secured by the proceeds of a 2 percent short-term car rental fee. The car rental fee is expected to raise $1 million a year and the money could be used to acquire, improve, equip, operate and maintain the stadium
- Commissioners award an architectural design services contract to HOK Architects, Inc. for the baseball stadium. Initial design is expected to cost $1.2 million, which will be used to determine financial feasibility of the project. The Board of County Commissioners would then direct completion of the design process, which would not exceed $2.6 million. The initial design phase is expected to be complete and a finding of financial feasibility by August
- The target cost to build the stadium is set at $24.5 million, but the final cost estimate will not be available until the preliminary design work is completed. Costs over and above that collected from the car rental fee would be paid by Sierra Nevada Baseball. The project is a public/private partnership between Washoe County, the City of Sparks and Sierra Nevada Baseball, LLC
Source: Washoe County press release 02/17/04
January 13
- Washoe County Commission adopts Ordinance No. 1224 imposing the car rental fee authorized by the State Legislature in 2003. Executes a Cooperative Agreement for the car rental fee with the Nevada Department of Taxation. Approves the Predevelopment and Finance Agreement with all parties. Authorizes board chairman to execute an agreement with HOK Architects Inc. to design the ballpark
Source: Washoe County staff report 08/15/07 (PDF)
2003
December 8
- The next step in the process of the proposed baseball stadium in the Sparks area of Washoe County is the preliminary design of the facility using the newly created rental car fee, the baseball stadium committee reported to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners today in a workshop
Source: Washoe County press release 12/08/03
October 27
- Sierra Nevada Baseball announces the passing of its founder and managing partner, Clarence CJ Jones
- Sierra Nevada Baseball, working in conjunction with Washoe County and City of Sparks staff, agrees to a proposed development process for the construction of a new multi-purpose baseball stadium to be used to bring Triple-A Professional Baseball to Northern Nevada. The plan calls for the Stadium to be a county public works project, owned by Washoe County. The prime tenant will be Sierra Nevada Baseball, but the stadium will be a multi-purpose facility
Source: Sierra Nevada Baseball press release 10/27/03
July 25
- Sierra Nevada Baseball announces that it plans an April 2006 opening day for Triple-A baseball in Northern Nevada
Source: Sierra Nevada Baseball press release 07/25/03
June 1
- Ten days after being introduced in the Nevada State Legislature, a funding plan for a professional baseball stadium adjacent to Sparks Marina gains final legislative approval. Senate Bill 497, which would impose a 2 percent tax on most car rental fees in Washoe County, passes on a 19-2 vote. The bill also allows the county to create a stadium authority to operate the project and issue 30-year revenue bonds to pay off bonds from the rental car fee and other charges for use of the stadium, including parking, concessions and ticket sales
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal 06/02/03
May 23
- After investigating several potential sites, Sierra Nevada Baseball names its "preferred" site along Interstate 80 between Sparks Boulevard and the Sparks Marina
- SNB announces a development partnership with Southwest Sports Group, the parent company of the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars, to create a "dynamic mixed-use development" on the site.
Source: Sierra Nevada Baseball press release 05/23/03
2002
November 8
- Following meetings between officials of the Pacific Coast League and Sierra Nevada Baseball, LLC, PCL President Branch B. Rickey announces that an understanding has been reached to pursue efforts to bring Triple-A professional baseball to the Northern Nevada area. The PCLs endorsement of Sierra Nevada Baseball enables the local group to commence formal steps for the development of a franchise in the region
Source: Sierra Nevada Baseball press release 11/08/02
2001
September 19
- The City of Reno council votes to reject a proposal by the California League to relocate the Visalia Oaks Single-A baseball team. The council rejected the idea since the Cal League offered no funding proposals, leaving the cost to build a $21.2 million stadium up to Reno. The council says they are still interested in the possible move if other funding alternatives such as a property tax increase was approved by taxpayers. Reno has been considering a deal with either Single A or Triple A franchise. The staff report says the Triple A franchise ownership group has withdrawn from negotiations but that the Pacific Coast League wants to keep talks going.
Source: (Visalia) Valley Voice 09/19/01
June 16
- The Reno City Council tells staff to work with representatives from Triple-A and Single-A baseball leagues, and return with detailed proposals from each within 90 days for relocating a minor league team to Reno and constructing a new stadium. The proposals from each would address lease payments, naming rights, concession rights, utilities, responsibility for maintenance, options regarding the size of a possible stadium, and financial details. The City Council also directs staff to do further market analysis, particularly regarding the number of suites that could be sold at a new stadium.
- The Reno City Council considered six sites for the proposed stadium, and has ranked the Bergendahl site as the most desirable. This site is to the east of the National Automobile Museum, on the south bank of the Truckee River. This is within the Reno Redevelopment District, where the stadium could serve as an anchor for driving economic activity downtown
Source: City of Reno 06/16/01
February 20
- the Reno City Council votes to further explore bringing a new California Baseball League team to town to play in a new stadium, directing consultants to work on methods to fund a stadium, and to begin conceptual designs for the stadium at three proposed locations
- The vote comes after consultants Convention Sports and Leisure International (CSL) presented a market analysis showing an average attendance of 3,100 people per game. The study also showed that 25.4 percent of those surveyed were "very interested" in purchasing game tickets, while 15.2 percent were "somewhat interested."
- HOK Sports Facilities Architects presents an analysis of six possible sites for the proposed stadium. The City Council reviews the analysis and reduces the list to three possible locations; Park Lane Mall, the site of the former Mark Twain Motel on South Virginia Street, and the Bergendahl site to the east of the National Automobile Museum on the south bank of the Truckee River. HOK will begin preliminary designs for stadiums at these locations, and will bring them back to the Reno City Council after early April
Source: City of Reno 02/20/01