MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — The MLB requires Toyota Field to construct a new clubhouse for the visiting team in left field.
The basis is that the visiting and home teams must have clubhouses of the same standard. Further, the MLB asks for designated areas for women umpires or women affiliated with any of the teams. This allows the current visitors’ clubhouse to become an area for women.
There’s a lot of bucks in baseball. These renovations would cost $12.5 million.
“We want to comply with what Major League Baseball needs us to do,” Mayor Paul Finley of Madison said. “So there’s no question we will do the one story to meet what they are asking for.”
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Some city leaders want to simply meet MLB requirements, but others are making the case for even more upgrades beyond that. Those city leaders along with the Ball Corporation are looking to add 3 stories on top of the new clubhouse. These stories would include entertaining spaces, suites and a rooftop. It would bring renovation costs from $12.5 million up to $30 million.
With city leaders saying they aren’t comfortable making such a large investment, $12.5 million, on a project that doesn’t have a guaranteed revenue stream. They say the space and suites in this addition would help them acquire a return on investment faster.
“Adding the three more stories and working with the ball team to generate more revenue allows us over a 25 year period to get that money back and continue to make more,” Mayor Finley said.
Karen Denzie, a Madison City Council member, doesn’t know if this addition is the best use of taxpayer dollars.
“Where could we really be spending this money in a better way?” Denzie said. “You know, we’ve got road issues. We’ve got, you know, we’ve got the schools. We have to always support them. There’s so many needs within our city.”
Mayor Finley said the addition to the renovation project does not affect their ability to address many resident’s primary concern: the roads.
“The Ball Corp’s team is willing to take the burden of the additional cost on the front end,” Mayor Finley said. “That helps us accomplish what we need to. So, no, it doesn’t take away from anything. And that’s the beauty of what we’re looking at.”
It’s a decision that divides many.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people all across the city, and they are not supporting this extra $30 million on this,” Denzie said.
Since the clubhouse is a requirement of the MLB, the city has to spend $12.5 million. Council members will vote for or against the addition to the project on December 4.
