Ground breaking set for new FUSE District stadium

Ground will be broken for construction of the new FUSE District stadium in downtown Gastonia on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Eighteen months later, if all goes according to plan, the stadium will be ready to begin hosting sports and entertainment events.

Those dates were revealed to more than 120 civic and business leaders by city staff at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

"Downtown Gastonia is growing," said Gastonia Economic Development Director Kristy Crisp. "Not maybe. Not one day. But right now."

The Costs:

• To date, the city has invested $6,353,777 in the economic development project, including funds for a feasibility study, land acquisition, and demolition of the old Sears building and the Budget Inn.

• The projected cost of the stadium construction is put by the city at $21.5 million, of which roughly $18 million will be needed to be borrowed on a 20-year loan at an estimated 3.75 percent interest rate.

• The debt service payment on the loan is estimated at just over $1.7 million annually, while the annual operating cost for the new facility is estimated at just over $200,000 per year.

The Numbers:

• The main concourse at the stadium will contain 1,808 seats.

• Cabana seating will be available for 120

• Banquet and lounge seating, both indoor and out, will number nearly 500.

• Two party decks will each seat 150 people.

• A double-deck beer garden will hold 325 seats.

• A left field deck and an outfield berm will seat 900 total.

• Totals: 3,923 fixed seats and total capacity of 5,000.

• Parking spaces: Nearly 5,000 spaces, both public and private, will be within a 10-minute walk.

The stadium, according to City Manager Michael Peoples, will have artificial turf and can be re-configured for soccer, football, rugby, and concerts.

"It's not just a baseball diamond," Peoples said. "It will be available for everything."

Surrounding Development

Crisp noted that from the beginning, the purpose of FUSE has not been just to build a stadium but rather to spur economic growth downtown and to link the Main Avenue area with Loray Mill.

Among the projects city leaders are hoping to see around the stadium are:

• The LGM Corp. is already committed to redeveloping the old Trenton Mill building into 84 apartment units at a cost of roughly $15 million.

• The corner of Main and Trenton is seen as the perfect site for a restaurant, which with an outdoor deck from which stadium events could be viewed.

• A 19,000 square foot area adjacent to the stadium would be, in Crisp's words, "the perfect spot for a hotel."

• A tract on the northwest side of the stadium could house an office building whose windows would look down on the ballpark.

• The old Coca-Cola building, just east of the stadium property, Crisp said, would be an excellent location for a brew pub or a restaurant.

Both Crisp and Peoples noted that the city will be working to make the entire corridor, from downtown, through the FUSE District, and onto Loray Mill, as inviting, walkable, and pedestrian-friendly as possible.

Bill Poteat, who looks forward to a meal, a beverage, and a downtown baseball game, may be reached at 704-869-1855.

Want to Know More?

Gastonia has a website devoted to all things FUSE, including artists' depictions of what the new stadium will look like, charts detailing expected expenditures, and a recounting of how the FUSE District concept was developed.

Check it out at www.fusegastonianc.com.