Dave
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
1:33 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
ReplyI don't agree Keith that this hinges on whether or not the study is correct that this facility will have 500,000-600,000 visitors per year. This is not a movie theater, if a person walks in to watch their child play a sport they do not pay a fee at the door to get into the facility. Mayor Reaves never said that they need 500,000-600,000 people to pay to use this facility to break even.
My sense is the majority of the revenue generated will come from field rental user fees with other revenue coming from concessions, marketing, etc. So a league wants to have a lacrosse tournament there and they pay a fee to have it at the facility. Some teams who play in the tournament may bring 100+ players and fans to the facility, others more, others less. The facility gets the same amount of revenue for the use of the fields, it is not dependent on how many people come to play or watch the games. I assume revenue projections are based on how many tournaments, games or practices this facility will likely host, as well as concessions and marketing.
In turn some of those families will spend money downtown. If the numbers are off and it is 450,000 visitors to the facility that would still provide benefit to downtown businesses.
This undeveloped land currently brings 0 people to the Village which therefore means no additional revenue moving forward.
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
12:28 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
RLuds, no I won't because my taxes as well as the taxes for all Village officials will go up just like yours. Additionally no one has picked up any of my taxes that are used to pay for public facilities that I don't currently use in Lemont which are most of them. I don't complain about it though because they do benefit others in the Village.
Benton, good to hear that it sounds like you are coming around to making this decision based on facts rather than the nonsense that some people are posting here. If you have lived here long enough you know of the group of people in Lemont that will do anything, say anything and lie about anything, facts be dammed. Seemingly most of that group seems to live to post on this board.
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
12:16 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
My kids were signed up for a soccer camp last summer that was cancelled due to the beautiful summer weather of 90+ temps with 90% humidity. Indoor climate controlled fields would have been a perfect alternative then as I am sure it would be for all those not so perfect extreme heat with extreme humidity summer days we will see in the future. If the summer weather is truly beautiful on any given day then I assume that is when the OUTDOOR component of this project comes into play.
Not aware of any soccer / lacrosse field in Lemont with permanent lighting, this facility would open up brand new opportunities for night games and practices for youths and adults alike. Most if not all adult leagues play in the evenings.
Finally I have heard that certain sports or tournaments require games be played on turf fields. These would be the first indoor turf fields in Lemont, again opening up opportunities that don't exist currently.
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
10:16 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Not moot Benton, you don't understand my points.
Point 1, "FY 2011-12 Sportsplex fund revenues were $2,701,919, operating expenses were $1,950,598 resulting in an operating income of $751,321" as you confirmed is true, if this was a false statement then yes it would be moot. It is a true statement so the opposite of moot.
Point 2, I stated that a facility with an operating revenue of 2.7 Million and operating income $700,000 does not support a statement that it is a facility that is "woefully under-used". Again a true statement, not moot.
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
10:04 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Hmmm, If your faulty logic was true then the Crains business article entitled "suburban ICE RINK finances slipping away" article wouldn't have anything to do with this conversation.
If you have been to Darien Sportsplex you would know what the facility has, indoor turf and ice rinks. Proposed Lemont facility will have indoor turf and an ice rink in the winter. Lemont facility should be less expensive to operate and maintain with no indoor rinks. Additionally soccer, the country's most popular youth sport, and lacrosse, the fastest growing sport, sounds like will be the focus points for the Lemont facility.
If you don't want to go to an indoor sports facility with an indoor ice rink feel free to check out Players or the Westmont Yard - these facilties are packed all the time as well.
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
10:31 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Having met the Mayor and all of the Village Trustees, I have supreme confidence putting my trust in them rather than in certain Lemont residents like a Benton Bullwinkel. In fact as long as the Village does the opposite of what someone who calls himself or herself Benton Bullwinkel thinks we should do, Lemont will be fine.
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On the article Village Releases Q & A Statement on Proposed Lemont Sports Complex
Dave
9:47 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
If you do visit the Darien Sportsplex drive through the parking lot of the Culvers which is right next door to the facility. One of the busiest Culvers I have ever been to, it is usually mobbed after the games are over. Kids are hungry after their games and want something to eat ASAP, they do not want to wait until they get home. What a terrible thing to help drive business to Nick's, Front Street, the Vault or any other restaurant downtown if this facility were to open. Good for the restaurants and good for the community with additional tax revenue.
Or lets just leave the land undeveloped for the next 10, 20, pick a number, years.
Dave
4:19 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Kerry read the article, "Studies have estimated that the project will conservatively bring between 500,000 and 600,000 people annually to the facility."
I bring my child to the Darien Sportsplex for a game and I stay and watch the game, we are both using the facility, 1 participant and 1 spectator. I do not pay anything at the door for either my child or me. I could bring a busload or relatives to watch and the facility would not make any more or less per se. Usage fees are paid up front by the teams or leagues for the use of the field, it doesn't matter if that team has 8 players on it or 28 players. The cost to rent the field is the same.