George Brett, Bob Gibson and Warren Buffett were among the dignitaries on hand for the groundbreaking on a new Omaha Royals ballpark in suburban Sarpy County.
With some controversy still surrounding a new Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark in suburban Sarpy County, the team brought in the big guns for the groundbreaking: former Cardinals great Bob Gibson, former Royals great George Brett and one of the richest men in America — and an O-Royals owner — Warren Buffett.
In fact, it was Buffett who gave the strongest endorsement to the $25 million ballpark project, saying it will provide a better baseball experience for O-Royals fans than they'd have in the downtown College World Series ballpark. That's a ringing endorsement, considering Buffett's support of the downtown facility; he even donated the money to eventually tear down Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium once the new facilities open.
True, the new ballpark is not totally a done deal: the county is still looking at 15 or so revenue sources to fund the development and will probably seek legislative approval next year for some of them. But for now it's all systems go.
RELATED STORIES: O-Royals sign Sarpy County ballpark deal; Sarpy County to go rural with O-Royals ballpark site recommendation today; Sarpy County officials hint at O-Royals ballpark funding plan; Sarpy County developers eager to host new O-Royals ballpark; DLR lands Sarpy County ballpark design deal; Sarpy County mayors express doubts about new O-Royals ballpark; Details of O-Royals/Sarpy County lease revealed; Agreement reached on new O-Royals ballpark; O-Royals, Sarpy County on verge of signing ballpark deal
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