ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It’s almost time to play ball at the new Capital Credit Union Park in Ashwaubenon.
On Friday, May 31st, the Green Bay Voyageurs FC, a development league soccer team, will play its first game in its new home. The next day, the Green Bay Booyah will play its first game at the new stadium.
The projected final cost of the stadium project has increased. Adding in land acquisition, the total price now appears to be about $14 million, up from the $10 million that was projected when the stadium project was announced in February 2018.
Big Top Baseball, the ownership group for the Booyah and Voyageurs, will be paying more for its lease, but they say, it’s worth it.
Brian Kuklinski, Green Bay Booyah advertising manager, tells FOX 11 he doesn’t blame anyone for wondering whether Capital Credit Union Park would be finished in time for the upcoming season.
“If you were driving on Holmgren Way in the last couple of weeks, I can understand the questions. You’re seeing a big mud pit out there, but the concrete is there, the landscaping is coming around the stadium.”
Working overtime and some weekends, Kuklinski says the 2,100 fixed concourse level seats are almost in and the 350 person capacity second-level suite area is about ready to host fans.
“We designed this place so you have about seven different ways, unique ways, to really take in and experience here. Through the different seating areas, the upstairs level, the general admission, so there’s a lot of different ways to enjoy it.”
The Booyah will play 36 games at the stadium. The Voyageurs will play 10.
Big Top Baseball is also working on concerts for 7,000 to 8,000 people and other private events.
“I know there is a lot of businesses that have expressed interest in bringing their employees out for a kickball game,” said John Fanta, the Booyah’s vice president. “Rugby teams in the area have wanted to utilize it for practice.”
There is still more work to do. For example, Fanta tells FOX 11 the shipping containers that make up the right-field wall need to be painted blue and a manual scoreboard is going to be put in.
“Most everything is buttoned up or will be offsite, the heavy equipment tomorrow. Then we’ll have a week to kind of put the interior fixtures and the movable parts in the facility, but overall, all of the big things are out of the way.”
As for the updated cost of the project, Ashwaubenon Village Administrator Allison Swanson tells FOX 11 the financial’s are still being worked out.
She says the stadium will end up being paid for through tax revenue from new development in the area and a 20-year lease agreement with Big Top Baseball.
