HomeMy WebLinkAboutSports complex Public Comment from Stacey Herries 3-6-14From:Stacey Herries
To:Jeff Graff; Agenda
Subject:Bozeman Sports Park
Date:Thursday, March 06, 2014 12:14:05 AM
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to share my enthusiasm and full support in building a greatly needed sports park
in Bozeman. Our community is long over due for a facility that can properly accommodate
the needs of Bozeman's already huge and ever-growing list of field sports players.
Everyone in my family plays soccer. In the adult league alone, there are twenty-five separate
teams. For kids ranging from kindergarten through high school, there are numerous club
teams, a state Olympic Development Program, traveling teams, and groups of kids who get
together to play pick-up games. When one pauses to consider how many teams there are
for each age group, it is clear that Bozeman doesn't have near the fields to accommodate all
of them. Furthermore, whenever there is a tournament - and there are many- the families
of all of those teams must travel elsewhere to compete.
We, in Bozeman, are very much behind the times AND losing out on numerous opportunities
for our community. Shouldn't the city that produces record-breaking state championship
high school soccer teams and four current Region IV Olympic National Team players at least
have a soccer complex?
MONEY
We are missing out on TONS of revenue. Bozeman is a centrally-located city and perfect to
host tournaments! When we travel out of town, each family pays for gas, hotels, individual
and team meals out, shopping, snacks and tournament gear from complex vendors, and
even entry and parking fees. Billings, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, and Kalispell, as well as
out-of-state hosts (Canada, Boise, Spokane, Coeur d'alene, etc.) benefit from Bozemanites
paying through the nose for soccer. Even Stevensville has the facilities to host tournaments.
None of them bring their money to us.
Revenue could come from more than just soccer. If we had proper facilities, we could host
LaCrosse, rugby, and intramural tournaments such as flag football or kickball.
PRIDE and PLANNING FOR GROWTH
Our soccer program has grown incrementally with each passing year. This is partly due to
Americans embracing a sport that has been popular internationally for years, the growing
trend of young people who are educated in international and MLS soccer since infancy, and
because of the significant success of our high school teams in recent years. The Hawk Soccer
program has done much to reach out to younger players, and those young players have
heroes in some of the high school players. This enthusiasm helps grow sustainable
programs. As soccer grows, so must our community. Bozeman is my home town, I think it's
the best town in Montana, we have proven that we have the best players, and I think it's
embarrassing that we don't have a complex like the other towns in the state.
SAFETY
The only fields that we can use to accommodate multiple teams at once are those behind
Roskie Hall on the MSU campus. Those fields are legal for recreational use, but aren't up to
code to be able to host tournaments. I, as well as many others, have sustained injuries from
the golf balls scattering those fields. Not only are those fields pitted and uneven, putting a
person at risk to turn an ankle, it hurts to sustain a bruised heel from stepping on a golf ball
while running full speed. We need playing areas designed and maintained for field sports.
I appreciate your time and thought in considering this proposal. I strongly believe a sports
park will greatly benefit our community now and in the future, attract folks with money, and
make locals very happy and proud to call it theirs.
Thank you,
Stacey Herries
600-7128
(mother of Olympic Development Program, Blitzz, Montana United, Bozeman Competitive
League, Bozeman Recreational League, and Hawk soccer players Eli and Clara Herman)