Frequently Asked Questions
1. How will the City of San Jose and the South Bay benefit economically from having a ballpark?
People throughout San Jose will benefit from the estimated $2.9 billion in economic output from the Ballpark. Employees will benefit from thousands of new job opportunities created by the construction and operation of the Ballpark. Residents will benefit from City services supported by the additional $1.5 million a year in General Fund revenues from the Ballpark. Local business will benefit from the $130 million annual economic output driven by spending from new visitors to downtown, and the spending of the team itself for their business operations and service providers for the operation of the ballpark. The entire local economy will benefit from the stimulus of new spending and investment during a time of global economic downturn.
2. How many estimated new jobs will the project create?
It is estimated in the report that a total of 2,100 annual jobs (full, part-time and seasonal), of which, 980 jobs would be new jobs in San Jose. There will also be 350 new construction related jobs for each of the three years of the construction period.
3. Who is paying for the new ballpark? How much will the ballpark cost the public?
The Major League Baseball team would be responsible for the cost of constructing and operating the ballpark facility. It is premature to develop an estimate of the costs to the Redevelopment Agency associated with the potential ballpark. Once the total Agency investment is known, an additional economic analysis will be conducted. Also, following the established Negotiating Principles, prior to any financial or land contribution from the Redevelopment Agency, a vote by the citizens of San Jose will be required.
4. Is there a plan to deal with the increase in traffic
and noise?
The Mayor and City Council have directed the initiation of a community engagement process and the formation of a Good Neighbor Committee for the Diridon Station Area (the area around the ballpark site). The purpose of this committee is to provide a forum to work collaboratively in addressing the issues and opportunities that arise from proposed projects in the Diridon Area, including a Major League Baseball ballpark.
5. Why was the Diridon site chosen as a potential ballpark site? Why not another (existing) site?
The site was chosen because it is the only identified site in downtown San Jose that is large enough for a Major League Baseball facility that is readily accessible by freeways and major public transportation facilities, including Caltrain, VTA bus and light rail. Access to the project will be further enhanced with the planned BART and High Speed Rail connections at Diridon Station. With the addition of BART and High Speed Rail to Diridon Station, the site represents one of the best development sites in the entire Bay Area. 6. What is the timeline for the project? In order for a project like the baseball stadium to be constructed and opened, there are many milestones that need to be accomplished. The first step is for Major League Baseball to come to a conclusion on territorial rights. Pending a favorable conclusion, a vote by the citizens of San Jose will be necessary. It is anticipated that this will occur in 2010. If all goes well, the earliest a ballpark would open is Spring 2014.