HomeMy WebLinkAboutSports complex Public Comment from Karl Neumann 3-14From:Karl Neumann
To:Agenda; Jeff Graff
Subject:For Bozeman Sports Park
Date:Tuesday, March 04, 2014 11:15:08 AM
Dear Bozeman City commission and TOP committee,I'm writing this email to you in favor of creating a Sports Park in Bozeman. Both my kids have played soccer in Bozeman for 12 years now and will continue for another 4 years, until they leave for college.We have traveled to many cities to play soccer and a huge number of them have much nicer facilities than Bozeman.When we have traveled, we have spent nights in hotel rooms, eaten at restaurants, bought gas and spent money in their stores instead of keeping the money here in Bozeman. I'm tired of always having to go somewhere and spend money in another city. Bozeman's proximity to the center part of the state's population make it an easier and fairer place to host events. I forget the value of spending $1.00 in your local community, it has an impact of $7.00(something like this) because all the other people receiving your money spend locally also.Kalispell, Helena, Great Falls, Billings, Butte and Missoula are all able to host tournaments because they have the facilities. We're the only big community that can't.These tournaments could be soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee or whatever sport needs a nice flat grass field, both youth and adult participants.To think of how many people we can get to come stay in Bozeman for a 2-3 day weekend! I just look at when Bozeman or Belgrade host an event, High School volleyball, basketball, baseball, ..... at how many people are in town spending money on hotels, food and goods in our local stores. The Girls hockey team of Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association hosts a tournament in early December. The team from Glasgow comes down a day early, Thursday, so they can shop. This is just one example.The Chronicle has articles saying how great it is for Bozeman's economy to host these events, bringing in $??? of dollars. Spend the money now and how much will be realized down the road?? I look at the revenue side in the long term, not the expense side in the short term. I would also like to touch upon the field use for practice and league games. It is hard for Bozeman to host a game or practice late in the fall or early in the spring due to the lack of good fields that can drain properly. Having fields built with proper drainage will help the local youth have much better facilities to train and play on. With Bozeman growing, the number of kids participating in sports is only growing. If we don't have enough room for kids to play sports, what else are they going to do?? That potential answer scares me.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and your consideration of a Sports park. I love living here and want this place to be continually looked upon as really special, for adults as well as youth.
To invest in today's youth is the best investment for our future.
Thank you.
Karl Neumann
Karl Neumann Photography
P: 406.539.0030
F: 406.587.1755
karl@karlneumannphoto.com
http://www.karlneumannphoto.com
Member ASMP D-65
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