Over $2 million worth of renovations are underway at Werner Park, as the Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) home prepares to host a new professional soccer club in 2020.
Home to the Storm Chasers since its 2011 opening, Werner Park will see its events schedule expanded next year with the addition of USL League One’s Union Omaha Soccer Club. To prepare for the expansion club’s debut in the spring, Werner Park is undergoing $2.4 million in renovations this offseason.
That investment is primarily targeted at making the ballpark more conducive to professional soccer, with a retractable pitcher’s mound, new locker room, and a new building that will house various facilities among the additions. The work at the ballpark is well underway, and should ultimately allow for a smoother experience in accommodating baseball and soccer teams. More from FOX 42:
In June the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to allocate $2.2 million towards the renovation at Werner Park. [Union Omaha Chief Operating Officer Matt] Homonoff said construction began in October and is expected to be complete by early March.
“They’ve already installed a retractable mound which will be on hydraulics so we can sink that below field level.Cover it in and then cover the entire dirt area both the infield dirt as well as portions of the warning track in the outfield, and foul territory with the same Kentucky Bluegrass sod that the rest of the field is covered by,” Homonoff said.
The renovations will include a hydraulic pitcher’s mound, a new locker room, modifications of the right field foul pole, creation of a new building beyond the left field wall that will house the administrative office and provide storage for field materials.
Union Omaha is backed by Alliance Omaha Soccer Holdings, an entity led by CEO and Managing Partner Gary Green, an owner of the Storm Chasers.