Hammons Field construction slowed by rain

A wet spring has muddied the construction schedule for the $20 million Hammons Field baseball stadium, but project director Jim Thomas of Hammons Hotels said crews are still targeting a March 2004 opening. The city of Springfield issued a building permit for the project April 30.

"It's been so rainy and so wet this spring ... we're actually behind where we'd like to be," Thomas said. "That doesn't mean we can't open the facility when we want to. We'll do our best to make up the time. There's always weather delays ... but this one hit us a little harder than what we consider normal."

Of concern, said Thomas, is the need to give the turf contractor free reign of the field by June 1. MJM, a subcontractor from Illinois that specializes in field turf, is scheduled to install irrigation systems and plant grass seed the first week of June.

Thomas said crews will have to scramble to meet that date. He's also hoping for cooperation from the weather.

"We're really crunching hard ... to allow (MJM) to get in June 1," Thomas said. "Right now, that's the most crucial thing that we're looking to get done."

Thomas said he would like to see as much of the stadium seating concrete poured as possible by that time. Crews from The Killian Group, Hammons Field's general contractor, poured the first section of seating last week. Other concrete work in progress is the pouring of foundations, retaining walls, field light stands and dugouts, Thomas said.

Unlike construction of the Exposition Center and Car Park in Jordan Valley Park, work on Hammons Field is going relatively unnoticed, Thomas said.

"The people driving by can't see a lot because it's all on the other side of the concourse, down on the field," he said.

Designs call for an entrance at the street level, with the playing field below. He said a baseball diamond is beginning to take shape. In the next month or two, steel and masonry will be coming out of the ground.

A profitable enterprise?

Revenue projections have not been released for the privately funded project.

City Director of Finance Mary Mannix said the city is not financially responsible for the ballpark. The city leases the ballpark land to Hammons for $1 annually, according to Tom Finnie, city manager.

"It's private and we don't have any debt on the facility," Mannix said. "We wouldn't have any revenue numbers."

However, Hammons has secured some financing through Springfield's Center City Development Corporation. The development corporation issued $5 million in bonds to fund the first phase of construction.

Mannix said she doesn't think the remainder of the financing has been issued.

"(Hammons) may be working on (financing), but it hasn't been anything involving the city," Mannix said.

Hammons could not be reached for comment.

Thomas said no feasibility analysis was performed on the stadium, "... because a lot of this project goes to passion, and it is Mr. Hammons' passion that he bring professional baseball to Springfield. In the hotel business, he likes his hotels to make money. Is (Hammons Field) going to make him money? Who knows, quite frankly. But he believes that Springfieldians are good baseball fans," as evidenced by the popularity of park board leagues.

"He's going to do everything he can to put his money where his mouth is and make that happen. It's a bit of a gamble," Thomas said.

As for a minor league team, Hammons has not told the city who will be playing.

"I don't think that he has one yet," Mannix said. In the meantime, Southwest Missouri State University baseball team will begin its 2004 season at the new facility in March.