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September 27, 2005
Rapids break ground on new stadium complex tomorrow
The Denver Business Journal reports that Kroenke Sports Enterprises will break ground tomorrow on its Prairie Gateway sports complex in Commerce City, a suburb of Denver. The centerpiece of the $130 million complex, which will include 24 soccer and lacrosse practice fields, will be a 26,000-seat stadium for the Colorado Rapids, Denver's team in MLS. The stadium was designed by HOK Sport, best known locally for their work on SBC Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
The Business Journal notes that "outside interest in the sports complex has prompted the possibility of a neighboring hotel, as well as 600,000 square feet of retail space. Adams County is interested in building high schools nearby, which could use the sports facility." The complex is due to open in April 2007.
Long-time fans of MLS will recall the hoopla that surrounded the 1998 groundbreaking of Columbus Crew Stadium, the league's first facility. It garnered national attention as soccer writers from around the country hailed the new stadium as a landmark for American soccer. Now, groundbreakings are coming along so frequently that they're only covered in the regional press—another sign of the league's recent growth and continued strength.
Posted by Jay at September 27, 2005 07:10 PM
Comments
When one looks at the scale of this development one can begin to grasp the amount of coordination and negotiation as well as research that must be going on behind the scenes HERE in the San Jose area for our beloved Earthquakes.
Obviously the Houston and San Antonio alternatives have at the very least been postponed and as 20,000 fan crowds become the norm down the stretch at Spartan it seems we are growing ever closer to another EXTENSION....as if we didn't know that already.
The good thing about the silence is that there must be work afoot to attempt to finalize the future of the team in the Bay Area- not all the details BUT at least allow new ownership an opportunity to negotiate not only a new stadium but also a better contract with Spartan Shops in the interim.
For all the frustration associated with our limbo status it has been an amazing year watching this team play! I notice that everyone associated with the team- not just players and coaches, but ticket people, public relations and front office personnel all seem to have a sense of pride and purpose....and what of Ajax America? They must be more intrigued by San Jose as we draw closer to all of our goals....once again the team's performance forces the issue: SAN JOSE and THEIR EARTHQUAKES DESERVE EACH OTHER!!!!!!! AZUL!!!!!
Posted by: Matthew Martin at September 28, 2005 07:35 AM
Congrats to the Rapids organization, supporters and fans on breaking ground!
Here's to this scene being repeated somewhere in the South Bay (or elsewhere in the Bay Area if necessary) sometime in the next year or two.
Posted by: Sonoma at September 28, 2005 02:38 PM