The proposed Sports Complex plans for Junction City are rolling ahead full steam, as they were discussed at the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce Board meeting Wednesday morning.
Mick McCallister, Mayor of Junction City, says that the complex will help the community.
“If we can do more of those types of sports endeavors, it’s going to hlep our community EDC (Economic Development Commission) wise, CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) wise and it’s going to help the community; the more sales tax we can get from the folks coming up and down I-70,” said McCallister referring to the Babe Ruth State Baseball Tournament that was held in Junction City and finished Tuesday evening at Rathert Field.
McCallister added that our central location in the state and being just off of Interstate 70 makes Junction City a great place to bring a sports complex – but will that be enough to attract patrons?
“Based on all of the activities that go on in surrounding communitities around us, we’re missing the boat on this…just this past weekend, we had the 15 and under tournament, and there was a great economic boost to our community,” said McCallister.
The proposed sports complex is still in the very developmental stages, with the hiring of a Project Manager expected in the near future.
“We’ve got about 4 candidates that fit the criteria that we’re looking for, and we’re going to start doing interviews this week and next week; and we hope to have within 2 weeks somebody that we’ll appoint as that position,” said Dennis Beson, CEO of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Beson said the project manager will work full time at “pulling all
the loose ends together.” This includes looking at feasability studies and searching for grants to make this possible.
This project manager, as an independent contractor position, will report to Beson and the CVB (Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) Director and work directly out of the Chamber offices on 6th Street in Junction City.
The proposed sports complex has the potential to draw larger tournaments, lead to sales tax revenues and income for lodging, facilities, service stations, and restaurants.
Tell us: What do you think of a sports complex in Junction City? Anneberg Park has been a very successful venture in Manhattan – could something similar to that work in Geary County? Did you attend the Babe Ruth State Baseball Tournament; would you attend similar events?
Respond in the comments.