Almost Ready For Some Baseball

There are a couple of articles in the local papers today about Big League Dreams getting ready to open. The AZ Republic article chooses to highlight the negative, with a headline of "Controversial Sports Complex Sets Opening Date." The opening paragraphs don't start with that tone, however:

The Big League Dreams sports complex in Gilbert will have its grand opening Jan. 12.
Details still need to be worked out between the town and Big League Dreams, said Jeff Odekirk, chief operating officer of the Chino Hills, Calif.-based company.

"We're really excited," Odekirk said.

Construction on the complex near Recker and Elliot roads is almost complete.

Gilbert Town Council members are receiving private tours of the facility this week. Members of the media were not permitted to attend.

When it opens, Big League Dreams will feature eight replicas of past and present Major League Baseball stadiums, including Chase Field,for use by adult and youth baseball leagues and tournaments.

The article then goes on to discuss the cost increases and whether the park caters enough to local participants.

The East Valley Tribune article, from which the above picture comes, begins this way:

Gilbert’s Big League Dreams sports complex will celebrate its grand opening Jan. 12 — and eager residents are already signing up to swing their bats in the park’s eight realistic replica baseball fields.

“Everybody basically wants to live that big league dream, and that’s basically what they’re offering kids at a young age,” said James Vieth, regional director of the National Youth Sports organization. “The idea about going to play in a replica stadium, and having gated security at the park, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

More than 6,000 youngsters in T-ball, softball, baseball and other sports leagues will play in the new parks, he said.

The long-anticipated complex officially opens Jan. 19, featuring United States Specialty Sports Association youth league play for its first tournament.

The controversial tag stems from the cost overruns; the park was built during a time of some pretty massive increases in construction costs, and because it is a partnership between the park and the Town of Gilbert, that has been difficult. The Mister, who is an eternal optimist, is being cautiously optimistic about the park. Let's see how it plays out; hopefully, it will be a boon for the town and for Highland Groves residents as well.