In support of the conclusions of the Stinson baseball stadium committee, the Chamber board of directors approved the following statement today.
The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce supports the effort to keep the NCAA men's College World Series in Omaha for the long-term.
Our interest in this stems from the fact that each year, the CWS generates nearly $40 million in economic activity throughout the entire Omaha community. The importance of signing an unprecedented 20-year contract represents close to a $1 billion economic impact.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Omaha - no other city has been given this type of opportunity. Throughout the process, we have supported the work of the Stinson committee to determine location, funding and design of a community ballpark.
We support the committee's recommendations presented to the NCAA and will assist in generating community consensus to move forward.
Dan Neary, chairman of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce board of directors said, "This is about more than the baseball stadium. This is about two exciting economic development opportunities: one on the north side of the city and the other on the south side."
The selection of North Downtown invites other investors to join the existing development energy underway in the area. Plus, this location is a natural gateway into the North Omaha Development Project area.
"Redevelopment of the Rosenblatt site is a great opportunity for the community," said David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Chamber. "As we begin our focus on South Omaha community development we can imagine this opening up opportunities for others interested in business development in the area."