El Paso’s multi-million dollar downtown ballpark has been open for more than a year, but no city-sponsored events have been hosted there.
The 9,500 seat stadium is owned by the City of El Paso and leased to the El Paso Chihuahuas baseball team. The deal includes free use and rental by the city for other events. Aside from baseball, it can be used for concerts, local events, and other sports. Ticket surcharges and other fees could help offset the ballpark’s $72 million price tag. However, the city of El Paso has not taken advantage of the deal, according to Mayor Oscar Lesser.
“That was part of why the city negotiated eight times that we’d have the ability to use that facility and maximize it for revenue,” he said in a recent meeting.
Destination El Paso is the organization responsible for all of the city’s owned venues. The company said there were no plans to use the ballpark for any other events, aside from baseball, so far this year. However, the company will begin to look at opportunities to use the stadium during the Chihuahuas’ off season.
What do you think the ballpark should be used for? Let us know in the comments.