How Many Ballfields Can $20 Million Really Buy??

Charlotte Suburb Embarks on 25 Field Complex

Do you remember last year when the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau wanted to spend $18 Million on 8 little league baseball fields? There was actually broad support for the idea of having a classy ball park complex but the construction price came under fire for being excessive. It was eventually defeated.

Charlotte, North Carolina suburb Mooresville is now embarking upon their own $20 Million little league ballfields project so our curiosity has migrated to just what can you get in Charlotte for $20 Million? Here is what they are getting:

* 25 lighted baseball fields

* 60 cabins

* Laundry

* Dining Hall

* Concession Stands

The 25 fields and the team cabins are expected to draw 80,000 visitors per year and are being developed by private investors. The total public incentives committed to attract the investment was only $1 Million paid out over a 10 year period. The project is expected to create 20 full time and up to 500 part time jobs.

If the proposed ballfields project in Evansville would have involved a private investment of $20 Million and a public incentive of $1 Million there would have likely been substantial support. The cost of a ballfield also seems to be more in line with reality in Charlotte than it was here. Well, in a land of $239,916 apartments what can we expect?

You may read the entire contents at the link below.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/12/2216922/work-starts-on-170-acre-youth.html