Copyright 2017 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.
Dayton Daily News (Ohio)
TIPP CITY - Supporters of a new stadium in Tipp City are struggling to secure community donations for the project, which likely will be done in stages.
The Tipp City Exempted Village Schools Board of Education was told during a Nov. 20 work session that the effort to raise $5.6 million privately has brought in around $1.5 million so far.
Scott George of the nonprofit Tipp Pride Association, formed to pursue the construction of stadium facilities, said backers likely will be embarking on a door to door campaign following a meeting with the local athletic boosters.
Success has been seen in obtaining support or commitments of support from the business community, the school district and the city, but the response from the overall community has been the challenge, George said.
"We do have to get more people involved if we want this to happen," he said. "We are not sure exactly what people are waiting for."
The board received an updated report listing confirmed commitments of $1.486 million.
Among categories included in that number are $350,000 of in-kind services committed by the city, $750,000 in dedicated funds from the school district from its Premier Health sports agreement, $100,000 from Unity Bank as a scoreboard sponsor, $96,700 from the T300 Club, $20,708 from events and $49,800 in donations.
In addition, George said, 60 businesses have been contacted with proposed pledges of $1.6 million. Some businesses considering in-kind services donations are waiting to see final plans before making a commitment, he said. Tipp Pride this week received the last of quotes on a site plan and buildings for the stadium project, which is proposed for the site of the existing 1940s stadium at the City Park.
A project start date has not been determined, nor has a phasing plan. The contractor will help with phasing logistics.
"We have to look at what is possible financially, and what are the timelines to do each scope of work," George said.
The goal remains breaking ground for work "sometime in the offseason" and after the first of 2018.
Tipp Pride continues to offer funding opportunities such as the $1.5 million stadium naming rights, $500,000 press box naming rights and scoreboard sponsorships from $50,000 to $100,000 (durations of five or 10 years).
The goal is to have a general contractor for the project selected by mid-December.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.
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