The effort to save historic civic stadium in Eugene continues. Yesterday (Wednesday) supporters were given an extension to raise money to renovate the dilapidated ball park.
The Eugene City Council voted 5 to 4 to extend the fundraising deadline from September 5th to December 1st. Earlier in the year, the city of Eugene won a bid to purchase the site for 4.5 million dollars. That selection was contingent upon the success of groups like “friends of civic stadium” to raise $3 million dollars *and find an entity to operate the facility. So far they’ve raised about $200,000.
City Councilor George brown moved to extend the deadline closer to February 16 when the council must decide whether to buy the 10-acre property.
Brown: “The Council chose for no good reason, for no sound business reason to prejudice the efforts of Friends of Civic to raise that $3 million dollars. It doesn’t make any difference at all to the operator whether the date is December 1st or February 15th.”
Brown says right now, firms interested in operating Civic Stadium are expected to make a business plan without knowing if the city is going to buy it. He says that takes a big leap of faith.
Wednesday’s council vote to extend the deadline until the first of December was split with mayor Kitty Piercy breaking the tie.