This year has revealed more interaction and discussion among citizens regarding the downtown baseball stadium than has occurred in many recent years. This is becoming increasingly important. Here's why...
As we reported last week, Claudette Smith, an Amarillo resident, has stated that she plans to seek an injunction to stop construction on the downtown baseball stadium until a vote can be held on the land swap that took place using Amarillo Economic Development Corporation resources in 2013. Smith says that she believes that many of the milestones on the stadium's construction lifespan have been accomplished illegally. Primarily, Smith feels that a vote was required to be held legally regarding the land swap in which the City of Amarillo was able to obtain the former home of Coca-Cola in downtown Amarillo for the stadium.
While some want to blow off Smith's efforts, it should be noted that Smith has raised a serious concern. If recent voices have told us anything, it seems that many Amarillo residents have become frustrated with the way that the stadium deal went down. Price tag estimates are also all over the park, with some estimating the park in the range of $45 million and others estimating it well over $65 million. Regardless of what the facts are on the stadium's cost, it is clear that many resident have voiced a displeasure with the increase of the stadium's price tag, after voters approved a $32 million package in a non-binding referendum in 2015. And, while it is understandable that league accommodations, which were not discussed during the 2015 vote, have become a central issue to the price tag increase, there are still many people who feel that the City of Amarillo signed the contracts for the stadium in a way that was disingenuous. This article is not commenting on that sentiment, but it should be noted that that sentiment exists, regardless of whether any person wants to admit it or not.
The stadium's price tag has also been viewed as excessive by some. Many have pointed to the planned West Texas A&M University football stadium and its price tag of $38 million as an example. Other price tags on planned stadiums like Oklahoma State University's planned stadium, which was hailed by sports commenators that it will be "the nicest college stadium in America," come close to Amarillo's stadium with its $60 million price tag. Huntsville, Alabama also has a stadium price tag of $48 million.
However, the real issue here is the economic development resources that were used in the land swap. If documents are any indication, it appears that the land for the stadium was obtained under the pretext that it would be used for the stadium. This would qualify as a project that would require a vote. I am not saying that it was black and white on paper that a vote was required, but the documentation available does make a strong case for a possibly required election.
Only time will tell if Claudette Smith is successful in her quest to have an injunction issued on the stadium project, requiring a vote to be held. However, voters should at least acquaint themselves with the facts in this case. While an injunction may never be issued, there is a possibility that voters will have to make the call on the stadium again in the near future.
-Thomas Warren III, Editor-In-Chief
