PROVO — Like many meetings in Utah County, this one began with a hymn.
But this wasn't a church meeting, and the hymns — "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "Coach Put Me In"— were hardly spiritual. It was a meeting to unveil the proposed design of Provo's $4.3 million minor league baseball stadium.
The Thursday morning meeting also gave city officials a chance to make their first pitch to business leaders to help fund the stadium. More than 50 local business leaders attended the meeting at the Provo Marriott.
Last fall, USX donated $2 million to build the stadium; the city hopes to raise an additional $2 million before construction begins this fall.
City officials expect to raise as much as $1.5 million by selling the naming rights for the 3,600 seat stadium. Negotiations for those rights are under way, said Provo Economic Development Director Leland Gamette.
Mayor Lewis Billings said without help from local businesses the stadium will not be built.
Billings hopes the stadium will spur development in the Ironton area, where it will be located.
The stadium was designed by Niels Valentiner, who also drafted the plans for the Franklin Covey Field and Larry H. Miller Field.
The stadium, which will face Slate Canyon, will include a grand staircase that goes up to the concourse level.
From the concourse level, Valentiner said the entire field will be in view. Spectators can watch the game from the line to the concession stand, he said.
There will also be a lower level featuring locker rooms and administrative offices and an upper level for luxury boxes and press seating.
"The whole feel of the stadium definitely will have a major league feel to it," Valentiner said. "With this whole design, I hope we have captured the excitement of baseball."
In addition to the stadium seating, about 1,500 spectators can sit on blankets on the outfield berm.
Billings said the stadium will be used for community events such as concerts or a fireworks show. The stadium will also be available for sports such as soccer and rugby, Billings said.
Construction of the stadium should be finished by the spring of 2002. The Angels will open their first season June 16 at Larry H. Miller Field, which is under construction at Brigham Young University.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 377-BALL. For information on donations for the construction of the stadium, call 852-6161.
E-mail: jhyde@desnews.com