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It’s official: Laredo, Ventura Sports announce ballpark deal

Here's the official press release announcing the deal between the city of Laredo and Ventura Sports to bring a new ballpark to the community, to be designed by HKS.

Here's the official press release announcing the deal between the city of Laredo and Ventura Sports to bring a new ballpark to the community:

Ventura Sports Group is proud to announce that following the results of a formal competitive RFP process, they have been selected by the Laredo City Council to be the operator for the new minor league stadium scheduled to open for the 2012 season. The selection was made Monday night at a regularly scheduled city council meeting. The Decision was the culmination of a series of public efforts. In the November 4, 2008, general election, voters by a 61-39 percent margin approved construction of a new baseball stadium to be built adjacent to the Laredo Entertainment Center. Subsequently, the City hired HKS as the architect and undertook a formal competitive RFP process to select an operator. “The net winner in this partnership will be the citizens of Laredo as we deliver affordable family entertainment that touches the entire community”, stated Mark Schuster, Managing Partner of Ventura Sports Group.

Ventura will work closely with sports architect HKS Sports and the City in their efforts to design a state of the art stadium that reflects the heritage and character of the community. The stadium is anticipated to have approximately 4,000 permanent seats with additional 1,500 berm seating. The stadium will be a multi-purpose facility, able to host a wide variety of entertainment events which compliment the offerings at the Laredo Entertainment Center. Roger W. Christoph, Managing Partner of Ventura Sports Group noted, “Ventura Sports Group was excited to participate in the RFP process and is honored to be selected to work with the City to create a destination activity center and provide quality professional minor league baseball in another great Texas community. As a community oriented organization we are committed to being actively involved in Laredo. We look forward to demonstrating this commitment through our efforts to attract quality talent in our organization, our delivery of first class baseball and entertainment as well as our community involvement and outreach efforts. We are confident that by our efforts we will earn the loyalty of existing baseball fans, create new fans and entertain people of all ages and interests for the benefit of the entire community.”

Ventura Sports Group: is a privately-owned, full-service sports & entertainment company that develops and operates minor league baseball stadiums as well as owning teams. Our mission is to provide quality affordable family entertainment that touches the entire community. We accomplish this by offering a wide range of year round product offerings, primarily focused on sports activities and family entertainment options. Currently, Ventura owns and operates two independent league teams, the Grand Prairie AirHogs at QuikTrip Park and the El Paso Diablos at Cohen Stadium and announced an agreement with East Montgomery County Management District to operate a minor league team there in 2012.

RELATED STORIES: Ventura Sports nabs Laredo ballpark deal

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