Blount County eyed for multi-million dollar baseball, softball complex
By Matthew Stewartof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: September 16. 2009 8:15PM
Last modified: September 16. 2009 8:19PM
Blount County might be getting a multi-million dollar baseball and softball complex which officials believe could attract a steady stream of tourists and tax dollars.
Baseball, LLC, which is a group of East Tennessee investors that recently purchased Cherokee Athletic and Cherokee Baseball and Softball Academy, hired Ripken Design in August to conduct a feasibility study.
Ripken Design is retired Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third baseman Cal Ripken Jr.'s professional design and consulting firm, which specializes in the feasibility and design of amateur and professional sports facilities.
Officials are looking at three sites in Blount County, said Baseball, LLC spokesman Doug Bochtler. “We want to keep it in the area and work with the landowners and developers. We have a passion about baseball and want to make good sound investments at the local level,” Bochtler said.
Ripken Design representatives have twice visited Blount County, including once last week. The proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, McGhee Tyson Airport, hotels and major interstates make Blount County ideal for the project, Bochtler said.
Check back here for more developments or read Thursday's edition of The Daily Times.
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