“Ballpark Village” becomes reality for the Indians

The
Cleveland Indians took a major step forward in its move to new Spring Training
facilities in

Arizona’s
Cactus League yesterday. The City of

Goodyear
approved seven key agreements that will pave the way for the Indians’ opening
day in Spring 2009 and for the development of a “ballpark village”
surrounding the planned Spring Training complex on the 242-acre site.

A private
consortium that includes Goodyear-based developer Rose Properties Southwest,
LLC; the Wood family, fourth-generation owners of the underlying property; and
San Diego-based JMI Sports LLC; received the green light to advance the design
and construction of the Spring Training complex and surrounding private
development. The City also authorized the issuance of up to $10 million in
bonds for ballpark development and approved a special use agreement with the
Indians for 14 games to be played each season through 2029.

“Last
night we rounded second base as we head for our new Spring Training home in

Goodyear,

Arizona.
More than that, the private development around the ballpark can proceed,
creating a destination that Indians fans will be able to enjoy
year-round,” said Paul Dolan, president of the Cleveland Indians.

Rose
Properties Southwest’s

Ballpark

Village will be a first
of its kind mixed-use development anchored by the 10,000-seat ballpark and
practice facilities for the Cleveland Indians and, potentially, a second Major
League Baseball team. The first phase of the project will be the construction
of the Spring Training ballpark and practice facilities. Subsequent phases will
be private, mixed-use development including residential, retail, hotel and
conference facilities, and Class A office serving

Phoenix area residents and visitors.

“Tonight’s
Council action allows us to move ahead in planning the private development that
will be integrated into and around the Indians’ ballpark and practice
fields,” said John Ruggieri, president of Rose Properties Southwest.
“We are proud to partner with the Wood family, City of

Goodyear, the Cleveland Indians and JMI
Sports to make it a reality,” added Ruggieri.

During the
City Council meeting, Rose Properties outlined the positive fiscal impact from
the development. Over the next 20 years, the project is projected to produce
$172 million in economic benefit to the City of

Goodyear in the form of increased sales and
privilege tax revenues; development impact and fees; property, hotel, and
rental taxes; and an increased bonding capacity. The development could also
generate an estimated 5000 jobs. According to Ruggieri, these revenues are in
addition to those that will be generated by baseball games and other
revenue-producing events held in the ballpark.

In
addition to the projected revenues, Goodyear Mayor Jim Cavanaugh said the city
will welcome the vitality the project will create near its planned

City

Center
complex.

“This
is a historic public/private partnership for the City of

Goodyear that will result in the development
of more than a ballpark.

Ballpark

Village will be a premier
sports, entertainment and lifestyle destination in the Southwest,” said
Goodyear Mayor Jim Cavanaugh.

The
innovative project will honor the agricultural history of the Wood family, who
have farmed on the property for generations. Fifty-seven acres in the north of
the development is planned for mixed-use development (office, restaurant,
retail, hotel, conference center, residential) and a 10,000-seat major league
ballpark for the Cleveland Indians. The south site, consisting of 185 acres is
planned for a variety of uses including Spring Training practice fields and
clubhouses, office/flex-use/business campus, and community-serving retail.

The
development team for

Ballpark

Village is a venture
between the Wood family and Rose Properties Southwest, with Rose as the
development manager. Rose brought on board San Diego-based JMI Sports LLC to
assist in securing Major League Baseball interests and to provide development
management for the ballpark and Spring Training facilities, which are solely
owned by the City of

Goodyear.

The
mixed-use

Ballpark

Village concept was created by Ruggieri of Rose
Properties Southwest and Erik Judson, principal of JMI Sports, a company that
grew out of the successful development of

PETCO

Park in

San Diego,

California.
According to Judson, the project will be unique among Spring Training complexes
nationally.

“This
will be a Spring Training complex like no other in the country in the way that
it integrates the private development with the baseball facilities,” said
Judson, adding, “We’re building on successful models like PETCO Park and
other new Major League ballpark developments, blending baseball with housing,
offices, restaurants, shops and hotels. It’s a very exciting project.”

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