BLAINE, Minn. – Proposals for a bonding bill started to emerge this week at the state legislature. Included in the proposal release by the Minnesota House democrats was an appropriation to help further development at the National Sports Center.
“The House Democratic bonding bill includes $3 million to help develop more fields at the National Sports Center,” mentioned Barclay Kruse, Chief Communications Officer for the NSC.
The National Sports Center has spent a considerable amount of time studying what to do on the last piece of developable land they own which has led them to this funding request.
“We have 80 acres on our property, we own the land,” explained Kruse, “And after a feasibility study, we found out there would be more return economically to build multi-use fields.”
The fields would be located between 105th and 109th Avenues in Blaine, east of the existing fields. The National Sports Center has received state bonding money in the past for development projects but Barclay was quick to point out that their annual operation receives no state subsidy.
“We are an asset to all the citizens of the State of Minnesota,” said Kruse.
If the NSC had more fields last year they would have been able to add 100 teams to the Schwan’s USA Cup. Barclay cites the obvious economic impact of this project as one reason he is cautiously hopeful it will gain approval from the legislature.
“If you spend $3 million with us, in the first year we will produce a return on that investment,” commented Kruse.
The National Sports Center is not the only local project to be included in a bonding proposal. The Lino Lakes Correctional Facility has also been included in a proposal that would grant the facility funding to restore current buildings and purchase new buildings.
