The Journal’s cover story on yesterday’s groundbreaking for Winston-Salem’s taxpayer-funded downtown stadium contained an interesting bit of information:
In his speech yesterday, Warthogs’ co-owner Billy Prim thanked WFU for buying Ernie Shore Field for $5.5 million. That injected money into the downtown project to make it happen, he said.
Renderings of the ballpark were on display yesterday, but the logistics of developing the ballpark are still under way. Prim still has not submitted formal plans for the stadium to the city.
Planning official said yesterday that they have not received the “elevation drawings,” or the detailed architectural snapshot of the stadium.
OK, which is not to say that Prim won’t soon present formal plans to the city. But it’s fair to ask if this is a good way to do business when taxpayers are forking out for a good bit of the cost.