By Chris Raines, Laredo Midday Times
Calzones Begin Push for New Stadium
After just two seasons in Elysian Field, the San Antonio Calzones de Laredo have begun pursuit of a new stadium. Citing poor location, poor design, and constant flooding during late season rains, the Calzones are asking city and state officials to consider a proposal that would let them build a new stadium on dryer ground on the north side of town, on a vacant parcel adjacent to the airport.
While no public officials were willing to speak on the record, one local politician did state that the proposed plan would include a land swap, at city expense. He also noted that the city and state are considering investigating the architect firm and builder of the original stadium, Wesuk Inc, a division of large multinational corporation KBR. He noted that the Calzones are considering suing to break their lease, citing the ballpark as nearly unmanagable in it's current state of disrepair. Late season flooding of the Rio Grande caused considerable damage to the playing field, as well as the clubhouses, and lower concourse concession areas.
The rumored proposal would be for a 55,000 seat open air outdoor stadium, to be built just west of the airport on Loop 20. Financing for the proposal remains sketchy, but early indications are the proposed state of the art facilty would cost taxpayers approx 400 million dollars, with the Calzones contributing 75 million to the cost.
