Norrell, Brenda
Indian Country Today (Lakota Times)
01-24-2001
Yavapai vie with valley interests for Cardinal sports arena: Spring
training an option
By Brenda Norrell
TODAY STAFF
FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION, Ariz. - With the audacious and unconquerable
spirit that led Yavapai to victory over a dam proposal that would have
flooded their lands, halt federal agents attempting to seize their slot
machines, Fort McDowell is again demonstrating vision and courage.
President Clinton Pattea said the tribe is prepared to provide the
infrastructure and land for a $20 million Cardinals stadium, vying with
four other Phoenix Valley sites.
'It would enhance our economic development, bring people to patronize our
businesses and it would bring jobs,' Pattea said.
The nine-member board of the Tourism and Sports Authority said it would
decide in February which of five Phoenix Valley proposals will be awarded
the National Football League stadium site.
Already the 900-member Fort McDowell Tribe has channeled profits from the
Fort McDowell Casino into well-designed homes for tribal members, new road
and water systems, a recreational facility for youth and the Wassaja
Memorial Health Center.
Focused on education, the tribe provides counselors, tutors and
scholarships for tribal members. Besides funding its own efforts to
preserve Yavapai language and culture, it provides Arizona universities
with million-dollar grants, built its own day care center and provided
every Fort McDowell home with a computer.
Recently, Fort McDowell bought fire trucks and emergency vehicles and hired
a 15-member crew to serve the 26,400-acre community located on the
northeast rim of the Phoenix Valley. The fire crew and emergency medical
technicians have a joint agreement and serve the neighboring Salt River
Indian Community.
'Our golf course is under construction and we have a motel in the planning
stages,' Pattea said of the many developments under way.
Benefits from casino revenues have not only provided for tribal members, he
said. The majority of the 1,200 employees at the casino come from elsewhere
in the Phoenix Valley.
At the Fort McDowell gas station on busy Beeline Highway, recently changing
from a Shell to Conoco station, cashier Manuelito Bahe, San Carlos
Apache-Navajo, said he is among Natives from other tribes benefiting from
employment at Fort McDowell.
Likewise, Fort McDowell benefits from its prime location along the Verde
River, attracting bird watchers along the river and travelers on their way
out of town in the Phoenix Valley to the high country of Payson, he said.
A consortium of Phoenix businessmen is competing with Fort McDowell for the
stadium site, hoping to win approval for a downtown site on Union Pacific
rail land, adjacent to Ball One Ballpark. No information has been released
on how the infrastructure would be funded.
The West Valley communities of Peoria and Avondale are proposing another
site, with $25.8 in infrastructure to be funded by the sale of bonds.
In Tempe, home of Arizona State University, land owned by the Salt River
Project has been offered, with infrastructure costs to be provided by a
lease to the Cardinals and ticket sales.
A consortium of government and university entities has proposed a more
costly site on the Tempe and Mesa border, with infrastructure expected to
total $78 million.
Tourism and Sport Authority Chairman Jim Grogan said some negotiations will
take place in private and details of site proposals will remain
confidential until a decision is made.
Sites are being examined for availability of land and infrastructure funds,
proximity to major highways and access to hotels and other businesses.
But, Pattea said even if Fort McDowell is not chosen for the Cardinals
stadium, the tribe has an alternative plan for a sports arena and is ready
to build.
'We've also been working on a spring training facility for baseball and
that has received proposals.'
Brenda Norrell reports from the Southwest. She can be reached at (520)
490-8558.
E-mail b_norrell@yahoo.com
Article copyright Indian Country Today.
Article copyright Indian Country Today.
V.20;
Indian Country Today (Lakota Times)
01-24-2001
Yavapai vie with valley interests for Cardinal sports arena: Spring
training an option
By Brenda Norrell
TODAY STAFF
FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI NATION, Ariz. - With the audacious and unconquerable
spirit that led Yavapai to victory over a dam proposal that would have
flooded their lands, halt federal agents attempting to seize their slot
machines, Fort McDowell is again demonstrating vision and courage.
President Clinton Pattea said the tribe is prepared to provide the
infrastructure and land for a $20 million Cardinals stadium, vying with
four other Phoenix Valley sites.
'It would enhance our economic development, bring people to patronize our
businesses and it would bring jobs,' Pattea said.
The nine-member board of the Tourism and Sports Authority said it would
decide in February which of five Phoenix Valley proposals will be awarded
the National Football League stadium site.
Already the 900-member Fort McDowell Tribe has channeled profits from the
Fort McDowell Casino into well-designed homes for tribal members, new road
and water systems, a recreational facility for youth and the Wassaja
Memorial Health Center.
Focused on education, the tribe provides counselors, tutors and
scholarships for tribal members. Besides funding its own efforts to
preserve Yavapai language and culture, it provides Arizona universities
with million-dollar grants, built its own day care center and provided
every Fort McDowell home with a computer.
Recently, Fort McDowell bought fire trucks and emergency vehicles and hired
a 15-member crew to serve the 26,400-acre community located on the
northeast rim of the Phoenix Valley. The fire crew and emergency medical
technicians have a joint agreement and serve the neighboring Salt River
Indian Community.
'Our golf course is under construction and we have a motel in the planning
stages,' Pattea said of the many developments under way.
Benefits from casino revenues have not only provided for tribal members, he
said. The majority of the 1,200 employees at the casino come from elsewhere
in the Phoenix Valley.
At the Fort McDowell gas station on busy Beeline Highway, recently changing
from a Shell to Conoco station, cashier Manuelito Bahe, San Carlos
Apache-Navajo, said he is among Natives from other tribes benefiting from
employment at Fort McDowell.
Likewise, Fort McDowell benefits from its prime location along the Verde
River, attracting bird watchers along the river and travelers on their way
out of town in the Phoenix Valley to the high country of Payson, he said.
A consortium of Phoenix businessmen is competing with Fort McDowell for the
stadium site, hoping to win approval for a downtown site on Union Pacific
rail land, adjacent to Ball One Ballpark. No information has been released
on how the infrastructure would be funded.
The West Valley communities of Peoria and Avondale are proposing another
site, with $25.8 in infrastructure to be funded by the sale of bonds.
In Tempe, home of Arizona State University, land owned by the Salt River
Project has been offered, with infrastructure costs to be provided by a
lease to the Cardinals and ticket sales.
A consortium of government and university entities has proposed a more
costly site on the Tempe and Mesa border, with infrastructure expected to
total $78 million.
Tourism and Sport Authority Chairman Jim Grogan said some negotiations will
take place in private and details of site proposals will remain
confidential until a decision is made.
Sites are being examined for availability of land and infrastructure funds,
proximity to major highways and access to hotels and other businesses.
But, Pattea said even if Fort McDowell is not chosen for the Cardinals
stadium, the tribe has an alternative plan for a sports arena and is ready
to build.
'We've also been working on a spring training facility for baseball and
that has received proposals.'
Brenda Norrell reports from the Southwest. She can be reached at (520)
490-8558.
E-mail b_norrell@yahoo.com
Article copyright Indian Country Today.
Article copyright Indian Country Today.
V.20;
