Johnson County Commissioner John Toplikar has reviewed the CSL Feasibility Study on the soccer field proposal and come to the conclusion that the $24 million in revenues attributed to the soccer fields is dependent on the entire complex of soccer fields, stadium, and commercial being built. There is no separate figure attributable to the soccer fields alone.

Commissioner Toplikar held a forum on the economic aspects of the soccer complex proposal on Thursday evening, November 2. Two soccer field proponents, three opponents, and a moderator conducted the forum, with questions from the audience.

One of the questions brought up was whether the $24 million in revenues attributed to building the soccer fields could be attributed entirely to soccer fields or whether that revenue also depended on building the Wizards stadium and the commercial complex.

Commissioner Toplikar did not feel the question was fully addressed in the forum, so he followed up on the question. Below is his email stating that the $24 million depends on the entire complex, not just on the soccer fields.

From Commissioner Toplikar:

"A question came up last night at our meeting that I think never got answered. Several references were made of the CSL study and whether or not the projected $24.3 million can be applied to the JOCO economy from the soccer park as a "stand alone" project (without a stadium or adjacent retail). My analysis, when comparing the original CSL study to the "updated" numbers CSL provided with the reduced number of fields (original study had 30 fields, now down to 24), is that it is NOT a number that reflects dollars generated from building just the soccer park.

The original total economic development number was $25.2 million for the 30 field plan--but the entire study was based on everything being built--with the stadium and retail around it. All the so-called "updated" numbers account for is the six field reduction. The study was not re-figured for the soccer park only, without a stadium or retail. The $24.3 million generated from the soccer park is projected with the assumption that the stadium and surrounding retail happen too.

To verify this compare page 128 of the CSL study which reflects the entire "package" of stadium, retail, and soccer park. Then look at the "updated" numbers from the CSL letter of September 25 from Jay Lenhardt. It is just a reciting of the amount that would be generated by the entire package but now calculated on the smaller number of fields.

I have not seen anything that shows what the "stand alone" soccer park could generate into the JOCO economy."

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