Construction has officially begun on StarTex Power Field, the new home of the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League), as Peter Kirk and crew were in town to dig up some dirt with the likes of Bob Watson (former Astros GM) and Joe Klein (former Rangers GM, now with the Atlantic League).
The new ballpark is expected to open for the 2012 season. It will cost $27.9 million and will be funded via Sugar Land economic-development funds. Opening Day Partners will run the ballpark and own the Skeeters; Barton Malow and Linbeck have the design/build contract.
Kirk tells us the Sugar Land team will be the first in a planned four-team Atlantic League Texas division, and that news about other teams under the Atlantic League umbrella should be coming through soon, as discussions have been happening with other communities.
We’re not going to list everyone at the ceremony, though we will say it’s Peter Kirk and Sugar Land Mayor James Thompon at home plate; bonus points if you can pick Jon Danos, Matt O’Brien, Chris Hill and Frank Boulton out of the lineup.
Image courtesy of Sugar Land.
RELATED STORIES: Sugar Land green-lights Skeeters ballpark; Barton Malow, Linbeck land design/build contract for new Sugar Land ballpark; New for 2012: StarTex Power Field; New for 2012: Sugar Land Skeeters; First look: New Sugar Land ballpark; Three finalists named in Sugar Land name-the-team contest; New Sugar Land franchise launches name-the-team competition; Atlantic League to expand to Sugar Land; Will Astros relent on affiliated team in Sugar Land?; It’s official: Montgomery County, Ventura Sports release details on new ballpark/retail complex; Ventura Sports, Montgomery County sign MOU for new ballpark; Sugar Land approves MOU with Opening Day Partners; Sugar Land, Opening Day Partners negotiating new-ballpark deal; Sugar Land seeks proposals for ballpark; The latest from Omaha: Stein to rethink Sarpy move; Wolff loves a 24,000-seat ballpark; Today’s big ballot issue: new ballpark in Sugar Land
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