TIMELINE FOR FOUR BASEBALL PARKS
Pensacola, Springdale, Ark., Grand Prairie, Tex. and Billings, Mont.
July 11, 2006 – Springdale, Ark.
Springdale, Ark. approves a referendum to build a minor baseball park by only 17 votes.
Sept. 6, 2006 – Pensacola
Pensacola voters pass Community Maritime Park referendum 9,842 to 7,701.
Sept. 28, 2006 – Pensacola
Quint Studer and UWF President John Cavanaugh resign from the Community Maritime Park Associates (CMPA) board. Prior to their resignation, they elect Dick Baker, Rodney Jackson, Hugh King, Collier Merrill, Susan Story and Eddie Todd Jr. Judge Lacey Collier and Mayor John Fogg remain on the board.
Oct. 5, 2006 – Pensacola
CMPA board votes to add Katie White to the board to replace Quint Studer.
Oct. 23, 2006 – Pensacola
Pensacola City Council appoints Dr. Jimmy Jones, John Merting and Juanita Scott to the CMPA board.
Oct. 27, 2006 – Pensacola
New CMPA board has its first meeting.
Nov. 8, 2006 – Billings, Mont.
Billings voters approve a $12.5 million bond issue by 2,447 votes, 21,710 to 19,263.
Dec. 1, 2006 – Pensacola
CMPA board discusses developer models, request for proposals for a master developer, job description for an executive director, the Contractor Academy and by-laws for the board.
Jan. 3, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
The Planning Commission approves rezoning and a large-scale development for a new ballpark for the Wichita Wranglers.
Jan. 18, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
Springdale City Council approves the design of a new ballpark for the relocated Wichita Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League) while meeting as the finance committee Wednesday night.
Jan. 26, 2007 – Pensacola
CMPA board approves the salary range for the executive director and votes to seek three bids from qualified executive search firms. Board approves a pre-development budget.
Feb. 1, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
Sprindale City Council, in a special meeting Wednesday, approves a construction budget for the baseball stadium that leaves $2.8 million in reserve. The budget calls for construction expenses of $48.09 million and available funds of $50.935 million.
Feb. 9, 2007 – Pensacola
CMPA board approves the RFQ for design criteria. John Merting and Mary Ann Stalcup are appointed to meet with three executive search firms and bring back a recommendation to the board.
Feb. 28, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
Springdale officials hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the new 6,500-seat park.
Mar. 6, 2007 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
Local officials and reps from the independent American Association were on hand in Grand Prairie to unveils plans for a new ballpark, slated to open in 2008.
Mar. 14, 2007 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
Rich Baseball Operations announces the Northwest Arkansas Naturals as the name of the future Class AA Texas League franchise in Springdale, Ark.
Mar. 22, 2007 – Billings, Mont.
Billings officials break ground on the new $12.5 million downtown ballpark that will replace Cobb Field.
Mar. 30, 2007 – Pensacola
Downtown Improvement Board makes an offer to providing administrative services for the CMPA. The CMPA board doesn’t vote on the proposal.
Apr. 13, 2007 – Pensacola
Caldwell and Associates is selected to produce the design criteria for the park.
Apr. 26, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
Bids for two projects at the new Springdale ballpark for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Class AA; Texas League) baseball park come in under the engineer’s estimate — $1 million under, to be exact.
May 11, 2007 – Pensacola
Slavin Management Consultants gives overview executive search process. Board invites top four master developer finalists to make presentations: Land Capital, Hammes Company, Carter Real Estate and Trinity Capital.
May 12, 2007 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
Voters approved a proposition late Saturday which would allow the city to levy a one-eighth-cent sales tax to pay for a ballpark for an independent American Association team that could cost $16 million. With all precincts reporting, 54 percent of the voters vote for Proposition 2.
May 30, 2007 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
Grand Prairie city officials and Grand Prairie Professional Baseball owners kick off construction of the city’s new minor league baseball stadium.
June 8, 2007 – Pensacola
CMPA board approves contract with Caldwell and Associates.
June 12, 2007 – Billings, Mont.
The Billings City Council approves two bond issues that will finance the new $12.5-million ballpark.
June 20, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
Springdale City Council confirms baseball construction contract.
July 5, 2007 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
The Grand Prairie team is named the “AirHogs†and construction on the $18 million, 5,445-seat facility begins.
July 13, 2007 – Pensacola
Land Capital, Carter Real Estate and Trinity Capital make presentations to the CMPA board. A committee is established to review 20 applicants for executive director.
July 24, 2007 – Billings, Mont.
The Billings City Council awards baseball construction contract to Billings-based Langlas & Associates.
Sept. 5, 2007 – Springdale, Ark.
Arvest Bank Group buys the naming rights to the Springdale baseball park.
Sept. 6, 2007 – Pensacola
Florida Supreme Court rules Escambia County is without authority to issue bonds tied to property taxes without first obtaining approval by referendum. This ruling casts doubt into whether the City of Pensacola can issue bonds for the park without a county-wide referendum.
Nov. 9, 2007 – Pensacola
Owen Beitsch is hired to help the board with the RFP process for the master developer.
Nov. 27, 2007 – Pensacola
CMPA board approves the design criteria.
Dec. 14, 2007 – Pensacola
CMPA board endorses Friends of the Maritime Park. Group says it hopes to begin cleanup and site preparation on the park site by late February or early March of 2008.
Feb. 8, 2008 – Pensacola
CMPA board votes Hugh King off the board after he pleas no contest to a cocaine-possession charge. Board approves the RFP for the master developer.
Feb. 14, 2008 – Pensacola
Hammes Company and Carter Real Estate drop out of the competition for master developer.
April 10, 2008 – Springdale, Ark.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals have 7,820 fans enjoy their first game in the new Arvest Park.
April 11, 2008 – Pensacola
CMPA board selects Bentina Terry to fill Hugh King’s term.
April 15, 2008 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
The Grand Prairie AirHogs minor league team inks a 10-year deal with QuikTrip Corp. to name the baseball stadium.
May 1, 2008 – Pensacola
Susan Story resigns from the Board.
May 9, 2008 – Pensacola
Grace Resendez McCaffery is elected to replace Story.
May 16, 2008 – Grand Prairie, Tex.
Grand Prairie Airhogs host their first home game in their new stadium.
June 13, 2008 – Pensacola
Land Capital Group and Trinity Capital Advisors present their master developer proposals to the CMPA board. Beitsch is directed to review them and make recommendation in July.
July 1, 2008 – Billings, Mont.
Fireworks inaugurate the first appearance of the Billings Mustangs in Dehler Park on before 3,749 fans.
July 24, 2008 – Pensacola
Pensacola City Council approves an alternative funding for the park that would allow issuance of the bonds without a county-wide referendum.
August 8, 2008 – Pensacola
CMPA board delays a vote on the master developer after Beitsch recommends the board considering the public section itself.
