Player housing could be constructed at the Peoria Sports Complex, as city officials are seeking proposals for the development concept.
The concept of player housing has been seen at other spring training facilities over the years, whether it is Pirate City in Bradenton or the Minnnesota Twins’ player development academy at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers. Peoria is seeking to join that trend with a concept that could be put to use by the complex’s co-tenants–the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners–along with participants from other events held at the facility.
Billed as Stadium View, the proposal calls for housing to be developed on a nine-acre site adjacent to the ballpark and would be included in the P83 entertainment complex. Developers have been given a deadline of April 28 to submit their bids. While nothing has been finalized to this point, both representatives from the city and the teams are hopeful that development around the ballpark can take shape. More from Yourwestvalley.com:
“The 2016 Peoria Investment Forum was extremely successful and with over 90 developers and investors in attendance at the 2017 Forum, we were pleased to showcase player housing as a potential development,” said Mayor Cathy Carlat. “Although we don’t have any proposals yet for this concept, we are weighing other development opportunities and I’m excited to see what is to come.”
The Mariners and Padres have lease extensions keeping them at the Peoria Sports Complex through 2032.
Padres Chief Operating Officer Erik Greupner said the organization is supportive of Peoria’s ongoing efforts to develop P83.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the city on projects surrounding the Peoria Sports Complex,” he stated in an email.
Mariner team officials did not respond for interview requests by press time. But Scott Whyte, Peoria Economic Development Services Department director, said both teams have such a need to support their operations and are interested in the player housing concept.
The Peoria Sports Complex has received numerous upgrades over the last several years, with a new kids area and scoreboard being among the improvements that were completed for spring training 2017.
Rendering courtesy City of Peoria.