Yakima Bears' ballpark estimate: New or revamped stadium may be needed

The Yakima Bears are losing money and may need a new stadium if they're going to survive in Yakima, team officials said Thursday.

The team, a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has lost money for eight straight years including a six-figure loss last year, General Manager K.L. Wombacher said.

"To be absolutely clear, we have no intention to leave Yakima," Wombacher told a Yakima County economic development board. "But we obviously can't continue to lose money, and there are markets out there that would absolutely love to have minor league baseball."

So the team approached the Yakima County Supporting Investments in Economic Diversification board, which on Thursday approved a $40,000 grant to study stadium needs.

The SIED board funds local economic development projects through a share of the state sales tax it's allowed to retain. Its decisions, including financing the stadium study, are subject to final approval from the county commissioners, something Commissioner Rand Elliott said is generally a formality.

The $50,000 feasibility study -- the team will pick up the other $10,000 -- should get under way in May and be completed within 90 days of that, Wombacher said. It will consider renovation as well as a new stadium and will include plans to secure funding for whatever project is recommended.

New stadiums in similar minor league markets generally cost between $15 million and $30 million, Wombacher said.

The team has drawn well the past two years, relative to the previous seven. Last year's attendance, 72,207 spread over 38 home games, was the highest since 1999, according to the Northwest League of Professional Baseball. The stadium seats about 3,000.

But people aren't spending money once they're inside the stadium, Wombacher said. Per-capita spending on concessions at Yakima County Stadium is about $4.30 per game, compared to $7 or $8 per game for similar minor league clubs, he said.

The current facility, Yakima County Stadium, was built in 1993 at 1301 Fair Ave. at State Fair Park. It's owned by the county and leased by the team through the fair board.

The $4 million park was funded primarily with state money left over from construction of the Yakima Valley SunDome. About $1 million of the $4 million came from bond proceeds, the debt for which will be fully paid at the end of 2009. About $400,000 also came from hotel-motel tax collection.

"It's a nice little ballpark," Northwest League President Bob Richmond said. "But I think a new ballpark with the things that go with it, would probably help."

It's likely funding would have to come from grants or the state capital budget as well as private investors, Elliott said. The county won't foot the bill, but the commissioners do recognize the team's importance to the community, he said.

"I'd hate to see it moved," Elliott said. "If the study were to determine the park is inadequate, we would support their efforts to make the improvements or to build a new stadium at State Fair Park."

Though he wouldn't comment on specifics of the team's revenue picture, Bears majority owner and President Mike McMurray said the team is sustainable in the short term. But to keep it that way, revenue will have to increase or expenses will have to be cut, he said.

"What we want to avoid is a situation where the team is worth more out of town than it is (in Yakima)," McMurray said.

Wombacher blames the low concession sales on the stadium's layout, which requires the thirsty or hungry to essentially leave the ballfield area to visit concession stands.

"The stadium layout makes it pretty difficult to spend money there without giving up a baseball game," McMurray said.

Changing that could change the bottom line dramatically, Wombacher said.

"We wouldn't even have to draw more fans to increase our revenue if it was built right," he said.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

* Yakima Bears attendance

2008: 72,207

2007: 70,117

2006: 63,400

2005: 60,150

2004: 51,544

2003: 60,037

2002: 56,404

2001: 59,000

2000: 68,905

1999: 74,977

1998: 76,049

1997: 80,003

Source: Northwest League of Professional Baseball

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Bob Richmond's last name.