Community Event Marks Start of Huntington Park Construction

Date: 8-2-2007
Contacts:
Ray Hancart, Columbus Clippers,
(614) 825-1741
Hanna Greer, Commissioners,
(614) 462-5848
Tiana Rollinson, Commissioners,
(614) 462-6630
Jeri Grier-Ball, Huntington Bancshares, (614) 480-5413

COLUMBUS, Ohio – August 2, 2007 – It’s always better to celebrate together which is why several hundred central Ohio community members joined government officials and business leaders today to break ground on Huntington Park – the home of the Columbus Clippers Triple-A professional baseball team starting in 2009.

“The groundbreaking event signals another positive step toward the opening of Huntington Park,” said Ken Schnacke, president and general manager of the Columbus Clippers. “We are thrilled not only by the support of our government and business leaders, but by all the people who took time out of their busy schedules to help us celebrate this historic event.”

The community event included continued pledges of support from the Franklin County Commissioners - Mary Jo Kilroy, Paula Brooks and Marilyn Brown - along with Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus City Council President Michael C. Mentel, Thomas E. Hoaglin, chairman, and chief executive officer of Huntington Bancshares Inc., State Senator Ray Miller, State Senator Steve Stivers, and Brian Ellis, president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Realty Investors.

“Huntington Park represents a new day for Franklin County with all of the partnerships that were formed in order to bring this project into fruition,” said Mary Jo Kilroy, President of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. "We are revitalizing Downtown Columbus while breaking ground for a sustainable, affordable, and accessible ballpark for all of Franklin County to enjoy.”

Commissioner Marilyn Brown stated, “The downtown Columbus skyline will get a new look in the Arena District! Huntington Park will be a wonderful community gem and give our families an affordable and exciting new opportunity to watch America’s favorite pastime – baseball.”

“Last year, corporate leaders, the county, and the city struck a historic deal to bring this stadium forward into reality,” said Commissioner Paula Brooks. The team work continues this year and into the 2009 season when our wonderful Clippers will open that season in the stadium that teamwork built, the Huntington Park.”

Huntington purchased the naming rights for the new downtown Columbus baseball stadium in 2006. The $12 million contract with Huntington is one of the largest donations for a minor league ballpark in the history of baseball.

Hoaglin commented, “Public/private partnerships such as this contribute greatly to the vibrant and diverse community we have today. Visiting Huntington Park is sure to be the source of countless memorable experiences for years to come.”

Mayor Coleman added, “The City is a proud partner and we are already investing $9.4 million in this area to make Huntington Park’s entire neighborhood a success. This is one of the best examples of public-private partnerships in all of sports.”

Huntington Park is scheduled to be fully operational for Opening Day 2009 at the northwest corner of Nationwide Boulevard and Neil Avenue. Large-scale excavation is scheduled to begin this fall with structural steel erection slated for spring 2008, masonry work in summer 2008, field development in fall 2008 and seat installation in winter 2008.

"It’s going to take a real team effort to transform this site and make the vision of Huntington Park a reality,” said Ellis, lead owner’s representative on the project.

Cooper Stadium, the current home of the Columbus Clippers, is owned by Franklin County, which leases the stadium to Franklin County Stadium Inc., a non-profit entity managed by the Parks and Recreation Board. Plans to move the Clippers to a new downtown stadium were announced by the Franklin County Commissioners in 2005.