Internet Connection New for Springdale Ballpark

STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Mark Lee with National Greens of Little Rock checks the level of rock for a base Wednesday for a artificial turf Wiffle ball field at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The new field is one of the attractions offered to families at the ballpark during games. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals open their home season today.
STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Mark Lee with National Greens of Little Rock checks the level of rock for a base Wednesday for a artificial turf Wiffle ball field at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. The new field is one of the attractions offered to families at the ballpark during games. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals open their home season today.

— Northwest Arkansas Naturals team officials said they want Arvest Ballpark to look as good or better on its seventh opening day as it did on the first.

"We'd like it to look brand-new every time someone walked in," said Justin Cole, general manager for the team. "We want the park to be amazing."

By The Numbers

Naturals Attendance

Attendance for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals minor league baseball team since moving from Wichita, Kan., in 2008.

• 2013: 318,592

• 2012: 321,254

• 2011: 310,613

• 2010: 320,523

• 2009: 318,056

• 2008: 358,792

Source: The Texas League

The long-term goal is to keep the park up-to-date with improvements built into newer parks. This year, wireless Internet access has been added, he said.

"People like to stay connected all the time," Cole said. "The new Wi-Fi will allow them to do that."

Philip Taldo, who has attended many games since the ballpark opened, said he would use the Wi-Fi when he visits.

"I listen to the games on the radio while I'm watching," Taldo said. "I might stream it from the Naturals' website if it comes in clearer than the radio."

The Springdale Public Facilities Board agreed to pay for the installation of Wi-Fi from the ballpark maintenance fund, said Rex Bailey, secretary of the board. The board was appointed by the City Council to oversee the park for Springdale.

The rent paid by the Naturals goes into the maintenance fund, said Wyman Morgan, city director of administration and financial services.

The fund has about $1.4 million with another rent payment of about $350,000 due this summer, Morgan said. The rent is adjusted by the consumer price index each year, he said.

Arvest Ballpark was built by the city using bonds, backed by an extension of a 1 percent sales tax. Voters approved the bonds, by a 13 vote margin. The facility, including street improvements in the area, cost $50 million.

The park opened in April 2008 setting a franchise record attendance that year. The Naturals have drawn more than 1.9 million to games, according to Texas League records. That's higher than the 300,000 per year attendance team officials said they hoped to attract when the rental contract was signed in 2006.

Team ownership and city officials tour the park twice a year to check on needed repairs or if any new amenities are needed, Cole said. A schedule of possible maintenance costs, drawn up by the ballpark architects, is used as a guide.

The needed repairs haven't come as quickly as the schedule calls for, Bailey said.

"We were supposed to replace all the turf last year," Bailey said. "All that was needed was the infield. That was much less expensive."

Team ownership is trying to be thrifty when it asks the board to spend money, Cole said. A new waterfall feature by the main entrance, a new synthetic surface on the kids Wiffle Ball court and a new kids inflatable were built or bought by the team, he said.

"If it is something we can do ourselves or its relatively inexpensive, we don't even ask the board for help," Cole said.

The team has stretched the maintenance money over the years, Bailey said.

"They have been great to work with," Bailey said. "They want the same thing we do, to have a great-looking park."

The improvements are appreciated, Taldo said.

"They have improved the food and made premium products available if you want them," Taldo said. "They have opened kiosks for specialty items. It's much easier if you don't have to worry about supper before you go to the game."

Taldo said he would like to see improved landscaping in the parking lot but the ballpark is functioning well.

"They have learned how to handle the parking better than the first year," Taldo said. "The ushers do a good job and the police monitor things well."

Team officials try to respond to complaints quickly, Cole said.

"We want to be nimble and on top of it," Cole said.

The quickly changing weather such as when storms blow through has created some problems, Cole said. Lightening knocked out power to the ballpark several times, he said, although the light towers have never been hit during a game.

"We've isolated the circuits," Cole said. "If something goes down, we won't have power out to the entire park."

Damage from the lightening strikes and from a storm that soaked an upstairs private box were covered by insurance, Morgan said.

After this season, the supports for the fabric roof will be repainted, said Jeff Windle, Naturals' director of ballpark operations. The repainting will cost about $43,000, well under the estimated cost, Morgan said.

The city and team will continue to look for ways to improve so fans have a good visit at the park, Windle said.

"When people walk in, we want it to look new to them each year," Windle said. "New and fresh."

NW News on 04/10/2014

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