Letter from Leo
Received a letter from Leo Trich late Thursday. He asked that it be placed on the blog. So, here it is:
THANK YOU WILD THINGS FANS...and the players too!
It worked! Ten years later – Falconi Field, now called Consol Energy Park, is a proven success and is now on the tax rolls. Wild Things owners have purchased the ballpark at fair market value – which virtually equaled the bank mortgage owed by BSI, the volunteer group that developed and built the ballpark facility.
The ballpark was first built for just under $3 million in 2002, plus nearly one million in land and infrastructure expenses. Additional improvements were also made just after the second season, including purchasing more land for more parking and paving it, additional seating, a new scoreboard and a new highly visible sign facing Interstate 70. In all more than $2 million was spent for these and other add-on improvements.
Minor League pro baseball is going strong, with more than one million fans attending Wild Things games so far. When you add up all events, concerts, high school and college games, PONY Baseball games, numerous community events and a monthly antique show – and the ballpark facility attracts almost 400,000 visitors each year. To put that in perspective, that was the average number of people visiting the Mellon (Civic) Area in Pittsburgh annually.
New development near the ballpark – which served as an anchor for growth on the 60 acres originally owned by United Washington Associates, totals nearly $100 million. It is estimated that over 800 jobs have been created and nearly a half million in new tax revenue is being generated. So, the project suggested by the non-profit group – Ballpark Scholarships Inc., DID WORK. The concept of building a ballpark and bringing in minor-league baseball has enhanced the local economy and the quality of life in the Washington area.
It is not widely known, but over the years, BSI, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, has made annual donations to North Franklin Township in lieu of taxes, totaling nearly $400,000. BSI also donated almost 20 acres of land along the perimeter of the parking lot area to the North Franklin Recreation and Business Authority for the development of public walking trails and a pavilion – just recently completed.
It should also be noted that under the sales agreement, BSI holds onto the gas and oil rights, so that any future monies generated from that asset will be used for scholarships. Since 2002, about $40,000 has been donated to area young people by BSI in the form of college scholarships. Additionally, all existing agreements with California University of PA and PONY Baseball will be honored by the new owners. It was also agreed to that the ballpark would continue to be used as a baseball facility for at least the next 10 years.
A few common questions about the ballpark:
Did BSI make a profit from this sale? NO – the payment was at fair market value (as required by the IRS, the State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington County Courts when non-profit assets are sold) and that amount equaled what was owed on the ballpark with improvements.
What percentage of taxpayer dollars was used to build the ballpark? Less than 20 percent. The vast majority of the construction money came from private sources. Only 18 cents per dollar spent came from state economic development funds.
The ballpark will now be taxable – but has any taxes been paid over the first 10 years? Each year, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, donations in lieu of taxes have been made to the township. Those contributions have totaled nearly $400,000. In addition, the Trinity High School baseball teams have been allowed to use the ballpark at no cost to the school district or taxpayers.
Was anyone with BSI paid over the years: NO, all those who served on the Board (Leo Trich, Anthony Nicolella, Abe Key, Michael Smith, Phil Hamilton) did so as “volunteers." And like every other fan who attended Wild Things games – they pay for their tickets and have done so from day one. Accounting and legal services were done by Randy Guthrie and Colin Fitch – and although some fees were paid – much of what they did was done at a reduced rate or “free of charge” – to help make this project work.
Does BSI own part of the Wild Things? NO. At no point has BSI nor its board members owned or been part of the Wild Things ownership group.
THANK YOU WILD THINGS FANS...and the players too!
It worked! Ten years later – Falconi Field, now called Consol Energy Park, is a proven success and is now on the tax rolls. Wild Things owners have purchased the ballpark at fair market value – which virtually equaled the bank mortgage owed by BSI, the volunteer group that developed and built the ballpark facility.
The ballpark was first built for just under $3 million in 2002, plus nearly one million in land and infrastructure expenses. Additional improvements were also made just after the second season, including purchasing more land for more parking and paving it, additional seating, a new scoreboard and a new highly visible sign facing Interstate 70. In all more than $2 million was spent for these and other add-on improvements.
Minor League pro baseball is going strong, with more than one million fans attending Wild Things games so far. When you add up all events, concerts, high school and college games, PONY Baseball games, numerous community events and a monthly antique show – and the ballpark facility attracts almost 400,000 visitors each year. To put that in perspective, that was the average number of people visiting the Mellon (Civic) Area in Pittsburgh annually.
New development near the ballpark – which served as an anchor for growth on the 60 acres originally owned by United Washington Associates, totals nearly $100 million. It is estimated that over 800 jobs have been created and nearly a half million in new tax revenue is being generated. So, the project suggested by the non-profit group – Ballpark Scholarships Inc., DID WORK. The concept of building a ballpark and bringing in minor-league baseball has enhanced the local economy and the quality of life in the Washington area.
It is not widely known, but over the years, BSI, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, has made annual donations to North Franklin Township in lieu of taxes, totaling nearly $400,000. BSI also donated almost 20 acres of land along the perimeter of the parking lot area to the North Franklin Recreation and Business Authority for the development of public walking trails and a pavilion – just recently completed.
It should also be noted that under the sales agreement, BSI holds onto the gas and oil rights, so that any future monies generated from that asset will be used for scholarships. Since 2002, about $40,000 has been donated to area young people by BSI in the form of college scholarships. Additionally, all existing agreements with California University of PA and PONY Baseball will be honored by the new owners. It was also agreed to that the ballpark would continue to be used as a baseball facility for at least the next 10 years.
A few common questions about the ballpark:
Did BSI make a profit from this sale? NO – the payment was at fair market value (as required by the IRS, the State Attorney General’s Office and the Washington County Courts when non-profit assets are sold) and that amount equaled what was owed on the ballpark with improvements.
What percentage of taxpayer dollars was used to build the ballpark? Less than 20 percent. The vast majority of the construction money came from private sources. Only 18 cents per dollar spent came from state economic development funds.
The ballpark will now be taxable – but has any taxes been paid over the first 10 years? Each year, in co-operation with the Wild Things owners, donations in lieu of taxes have been made to the township. Those contributions have totaled nearly $400,000. In addition, the Trinity High School baseball teams have been allowed to use the ballpark at no cost to the school district or taxpayers.
Was anyone with BSI paid over the years: NO, all those who served on the Board (Leo Trich, Anthony Nicolella, Abe Key, Michael Smith, Phil Hamilton) did so as “volunteers." And like every other fan who attended Wild Things games – they pay for their tickets and have done so from day one. Accounting and legal services were done by Randy Guthrie and Colin Fitch – and although some fees were paid – much of what they did was done at a reduced rate or “free of charge” – to help make this project work.
Does BSI own part of the Wild Things? NO. At no point has BSI nor its board members owned or been part of the Wild Things ownership group.
Labels: Leo Trich
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2:05 PM
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