Salt Lake City's new baseball stadium is taking shape, even though Mayor Deedee Cor-ra-dini still is about $2 million short of what's needed to build it.
A team of architects from Kansas City and Salt Lake City displayed a model and drawings Friday of the $18.4 million, 12,000-seat, double-decker stadium that will replace aging Derks Field.The new stadium's most distinctive feature will be four pointed towers, which designers hope will make the facility an easy-to-find landmark. For baseball enthusiasts, the right-field wall will attach to the stadium at an abrupt angle, making a brief 315-foot temptation for home-run hitters.
"This is a mini Camden Yards," said Brian Hatch, deputy mayor, referring to the heralded stadium that opened in Baltimore last year.
Indeed, the Kansas City firm of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, hired to design the Salt Lake stadium along with Valentiner Architects, also designed the Baltimore facility. But Craig Elliott, one of the firm's representatives, said the comparison isn't completely accurate.
"It's really apples and oranges," he said, noting the Salt Lake stadium will be much smaller. "But this one will be like Camden in that it has an urban flavor and light coming through the upper deck. We're capturing the charm of an old-time park without the problems of an old-time park."
Plans include a year-round restaurant in the corner of left field, as well as large grassy berms in the outfield - large enough for up to 3,000 additional people to sit, putting the stadium's capacity at 15,000.
The City Council voted to approve the basic design Thursday night. The city plans to tear down Derks Field, as well as seven nearby houses, in early spring and begin construction. (See related story on A1.)
The city has to finish the new stadium by April 1994 to fulfill its obligation to the Portland Beavers. A team with the highest designation next to the major leagues, the Beavers have agreed to move to Salt Lake City in 1994 if the stadium is ready.
Meanwhile, Corradini returned from meetings in Washington, D.C., Friday to renew her search for a private donor. She has offered to name the stadium after anyone willing to contribute a large sum. Various businesses already have contributed a combined $1 million, but Corradini wants $2 million more. So far, the city, Salt Lake County and the state have agreed to contribute about $16 million combined.
"I'm confident," Corradini said Friday. "I'd like to think we're going to at least come close."
She said the city could cut back on some items to save money if the private donations don't materialize.
"It's going to happen," she said of the stadium.