City Council hears from supporters, opponents of $16 million plan to buy Hammons Field

Springfield City Council heard Monday from residents both for and against a recently announced plan to purchase downtown Hammons Field.

The city of Springfield announced during a Feb. 1 news conference a preliminary deal to buy and upgrade the baseball stadium, home to the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. The city's $12 million purchase agreement, which also includes several nearby parking sites, is pending approval from council, which will vote Feb. 14.

More:City of Springfield strikes $16M deal to buy Hammons Field, keep Double-A Cardinals

If approved, the taxpayer-funded purchase would be paid for with unrestricted money in the city's general fund and money earmarked for “Economic Vitality” from the Level Property Tax Fund. The city's plan includes another $4 million in spending on stadium improvements, part of an effort to keep the Cardinals in Springfield through 2038.

City Attorney Rhonda Lewsader gave a brief history of Hammons Field before answering questions from council, noting the purchase price for the stadium itself would be $6.5 million, plus $5.5 million for the nearby parking area. The entire purchase agreement would have to include both the stadium and parking area or the city will not get either of them, Lewsader explained.

Springfield Cardinals GM says if city doesn't purchase stadium, city may lose team

Overall, many speakers were in ardent support, including Springfield Cardinals General Manager Dan Reiter. Reiter, who joined the Minor League Baseball team in 2005, said a dark cloud has hung over the program since he became GM in 2017 due to bankruptcy, parking issues and more. The fate of the 8,000-seat facility has been in question since the Revocable Trust of John Q. Hammons filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2016.

"The city of Springfield, Missouri, had a very real risk of Hammons Field being unsuitable for professional baseball," Reiter told council members during the public comment period. "I want the community to realize that if the city does not purchase Hammons Field, I truly believe the Springfield Cardinals will be forced by MLB to leave an empty stadium at the gateway of our downtown."

Reiter answered questions from council members, including about parking fees.

In Feb. 2020, the Springfield Cardinals LLC filed a lawsuit in Greene County claiming the John Q. Hammons Trust breached its contract with the baseball club by instituting parking prices gouged their fans, among other complaints. In 2021, the Springfield Cardinals released a statement that they were "extremely disappointed" the parking lot owners, Atrium Hospitality and JD Holdings, raised parking prices from $15 to $20.

More:Springfield Cardinals 'extremely disappointed' as parking prices remain high around Hammons Field

Reiter couldn't confirm how much fees would be reduced, but said they immediately would be dropped 33-50%.

Reiter said the stadium has 29 full-time staff with 350 on a part-time basis. If purchased by the city, Reiter said there will be a chance for additional job opportunities. The plan would be to have something going on at the park 365 days a year with concerts, festivals and more beyond baseball season, he said.

Some speakers focused on their love of baseball, others asked why funds couldn't be used elsewhere

Bob Roberts was "born before television" and reminisced about a childhood of listening to baseball games over the radio and seeing the St. Louis Cardinals play against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Baseball is still America's game," Roberts said.

If the city goes through with the purchase, Roberts said future generations will have their love of baseball solidified in Springfield.

Among many comments about the benefits that could come from the city buying the stadium, a couple of folks argued the money could be helping everyone, not just sports' lovers.

"I'm speaking tonight because the people of Springfield have a lot bigger and more fundamental issues than baseball," said Alice Barber, a member of Springfield Tenants Unite.

Barber reminded council members of a previous meeting where respondents said they wanted more affordable housing and incentives for landlords to accept tenants with evictions, criminal records and low credit scores that kept them from housing.

Making an impact costs money, and Barber said Monday night's hearing shows her that the city has $16 million.

"So, how we choose to spend the money that we have reflects our priorities," she said. "You need to put this money where it will do good for the people who live here, not just here it will look good."

Another member of Springfield Tenants Unite also spoke against the $16 million deal. Darlene Steele said Springfield has a 25% poverty rate — 21.1% according to the U.S. Census Bureau — and a multitude of homeless individuals and families.

"And we have found money in our general budget to spend on that ballpark," Steele told council members. "When we have somebody crying tears of joy when there are no more homeless people Springfield, that will be a day to remember."

Councilman Craig Hosmer chimed in that he agreed with some of what Steele said and disagreed with other points.

"You understand that the city of Springfield operates through a sales tax?" Hosmer asked Steele. "We are heavily dependent on sales tax, and I understand that spending money for things that people don't necessarily think would impact their lives, I agree with you. But, you also have to look at what it generates for hotels, motels (and) restaurants."

Purchasing the stadium makes "good fiscal sense," Hosmer said.

"It's embarrassing to live in a city that has 14,000 vacant houses," Hosmer went on to say. "It's embarrassing to live in a city that has 60% of people living in rental property. It's embarrassing we live in a city that doesn't take care of its property."

However, some good could come from the added revenue, he said.

"Sports tourism is a good thing for Springfield because you bring in people from all over the state (and) the country to come to Springfield," Hosmer said. "Obviously, that's my opinion."

Steele said that may be his opinion, but her opinion is: "All of this money could have been spent in other ways that would have boosted the entire city" and not just this one area.

More:City offering $5 million to develop a hotel-style homeless shelter in Springfield

As Steele left the podium, Mayor Ken McClure chimed in to say the city has "put more than $12 million in funding for homeless services and facilities this year." The city of Springfield announced at the end of January it has a little more than $5 million in federal funds available for a developer to create one or more non-congregate homeless shelters in the city.

Along with purchase of the ballpark, the city is pursuing a new lease agreement with the Springfield Cardinals that would extend their stay through at least 2038. As part of that agreement, the city would be committed to provide an additional $4 million in funds to improve stadium conditions to enhance player safety and fan experience to meet a Major League Baseball facility mandate. That agreement, along with the purchase, is pending City Council approval.

The Missouri State baseball program, which played the first game at Hammons Field in 2004, will also continue to play at the stadium.

Sara Karnes is the Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: City Council hears comments on planned purchase of Hammons Field