OMAHA An agreement between the city and the chairman of the board that oversees the Qwest Center marks another step toward the construction of a downtown baseball stadium that would be home to the College World Series.
Mayor Mike Fahey and chairman David Sokol of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority announced Tuesday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding that resolves issues that had stood between them.
The city plans to build a 24,000-seat stadium in two parking lots adjacent to the convention center and arena on the north side of downtown.
The agreement, which requires approval by the five-person MECA board on April 14, addresses concerns about stadium financing, parking, traffic congestion and future land use.
"What we're trying to do is take advantage of an opportunity to secure a long-term agreement with the NCAA to keep a wonderful event here in Omaha and, in doing so, not harming one of our jewels," Fahey said at a news conference.
The jewel to which Fahey referred is the Qwest Center. Sokol, though a supporter of a new stadium, initially had expressed concern about using Lots C and E as the stadium site because it would require the Qwest Center to sacrifice parking space.
Sokol last week demanded assurance that the city would not take steps, such as imposing eminent domain, to develop remaining Qwest Center parking lots.
The Nebraska Legislature gives Fahey authority to impose eminent domain, and Fahey is not allowed to waive that power. But language in Tuesday's agreement will require Fahey and future administrations to get MECA's approval before embarking on development of land controlled by MECA, which has a 99-year lease with the city.
"Lawyers managed to find a way to get through the eye of that needle," Sokol said.
The agreement also calls for MECA to manage the construction and operation of the stadium.
Fahey said negotiations continue with Creighton University and the minor-league Omaha Royals. The city's stadium financing plan projects revenue streams derived from Creighton's baseball team and the Kansas City Royals' top farm club.
The construction cost estimate is $140 million, including $59 million in public funding.
The College World Series has been held in Omaha every year since 1950 at Rosenblatt Stadium. Fahey wants the Division I baseball championship to move to the new stadium in 2011.
On the Net:
City of Omaha: http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/
Qwest Center: http://www.qwestcenteromaha.com
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