Tom its called due diligence. We are now entering the research and development phase. The city isn't prepared to development a true market analysis, the city can't estimate the most effective location, the city has no engineers in stadium design. The city has no professional sports marketing experience. The city must contract a rep. that will protect the cities interest and work in a knowledgeable fashion with not only the city but with Mandalay and The Braves. Ripken will provide experienced, professional recommendations that will move the due diligence process forward.
To do this right you must pay to play!!! Your let's just go get a couple of tractors and scrape off a cotton field, put up few bleachers mentality doesn't apply in this situation. I fear the magnitude and scope of this project along with the potential for economic development is far beyond many in the community.