With the local school district walking away from operating Sal Maglie Stadium, the city is looking for a private firm to manage the home of the Niagara Power (summer collegiate; NYCBL).
The ballpark, once home to minor-league baseball (including a short stint hosting the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons), is also home to Niagara University’s baseball program. But the local school district, which had been maintaining the ballpark, has moved baseball and football games to a new athletic complex near Niagara Falls High School.
And the city, which is now operating the ballpark after the withdrawal of the school district, is seeking a private operator to run the facility. An RFP has been issued, with only one response. The city, meanwhile, will work on a management contract and basically mothball the ballpark until the beginning of 2015, when the new manager comes online:
The city has already sent out a request for qualifications, seeking interest from potential operators. [Mayor Paul] Dyster said the city received just one response. He said the city’s legal team will next send a request for proposals to the operator who could eventually negotiate a formal operations agreement.
“After the Power season is over, we plan to shut the facility down until a new operator is selected, hopefully by the first of the year,” Dyster said.
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