June 24, 2007

Omaha considers building new stadium for CWS

By Andy Gardiner, USA TODAY

OMAHA — The debate about whether to build a new baseball stadium in burgeoning downtown Omaha or to make major renovations to Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium continues to simmer as the 2007 NCAA College World Series nears the end of its annual two-week run.

But the coaches who had their teams competing for this year's title speak with one voice when they say they want to remain at Rosenblatt.

"This piece of property is very, very special," says Cal State-Fullerton coach George Horton. "If things can be fixed and the city of Omaha can accomplish everything they want to here, then I say keep it right here. It's not broke. In fact, it's almost perfect."

Built in 1948, Rosenblatt has been the home of the CWS since 1950, a unique championship arrangement for the NCAA. With increased television exposure of the tournament over the last decade, the stadium has become a familiar backdrop to even casual viewers.

Rosenblatt is college baseball's Mecca, hallowed ground to be guarded and maintained.

"The stadium on the hill is college baseball," says Mississippi State coach Ron Polk, who has brought three schools to the CWS. "Let's see if we can fix it up."

CWS Inc., the organizing group that runs the tournament, has spent $35 million to upgrade Rosenblatt since 1993, adding seating, concession stands, a new scoreboard and improved sound system. But parking is still a problem, the concourses are too narrow and the locker rooms are outdated.

When a CWS Inc. study indicated another $25 million in improvements were needed to bring Rosenblatt up to par, the NCAA suggested the idea of an entirely new stadium. To consider that, CWS Inc. wants a 10-year commitment from the NCAA instead of the normal five-year agreement that currently runs through 2010. The organizing committee has given the NCAA plans for a $50 million stadium downtown or for the $25 million in improvements.

"It's encouraging that the city initiated this process, and we really do not have a preference at this point," says Dennis Poppe, the NCAA managing director of football and baseball who has overseen the CWS for the last 20 years. "I think we are more than willing to address a long-term, 10-year or more agreement, depending upon the commitment we arrive at.

"What's feasible, what's doable, whether it's a renovation or whether it's a new stadium; all those factors will play into how long the agreement might be.

"We want the best arena for the College World Series. Obviously the assets contained in Rosenblatt are its tradition and its lore; there are a lot of memories here. It is an imposing stadium that is the face of college baseball."

A new downtown stadium would serve Creighton University and the Kansas City Royals' Class AAA farm club in addition to the CWS. It would have roughly 9,000 seats for the first two tenants and expand to around 25,000 for the World Series.

•Oregon State 11, North Carolina 4: Freshman Jorge Reyes led Oregon State to within one win of its second consecutive College World Series title with another strong pitching performance as the Beavers beat North Carolina 11-4 in Game 1 Saturday night.

North Carolina, which won three consecutive elimination games to set up a rematch of last year's championship series, needs to win two more games.