Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

Here's the Albuquerque Journal's coverage of yesterday's announcement of the bond to help fund the new soccer stadium's construction. It will be in the amount of $50 million. The stadium is planned to begin construction sometime next year if the bond is passed and all goes smoothly.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2412949/mayor-makes-his-case-for-a-new-soccer-stadium.html

Upon receipt this past week of a 400-plus page feasibility analysis, the Mayor will send a resolution on Monday to City Council to get a bond proposal placed on the November ballot — on which he will also be on seeking re-election — for a new, publicly funded downtown soccer stadium with New Mexico United, a privately owned team, as the primary tenant.

The publicly financed project could cost an estimated $70 million before land acquisition costs.

“You all have earned a stadium,” Keller shouted to fans from the back of a pickup truck with his picture and one of Trevisani on all sides.

“So, New Mexicans and Burqueños, this can be our choice in November. And I know with the (team supporter’s group, the) Curse’s help, and with City Council’s help, we’re going to build a new home for the United right here in the Duke City.

Of course, there are more than a few things that have to happen still before the promise of a new downtown stadium is delivered. And while “multi-use” wasn’t used in the evening tailgate announcement, the term was used in the City’s news release sent out to media shortly thereafter, and a limited number of non-United events were mentioned in the feasibility study.

That news release also stated voters will be asked to approve a $50 million bond proposal for the stadium. The feasibility study cited the two preferred downtown locations for the proposed stadium.

State lawmakers have already earmarked about $9 million for the project over the past two legislative sessions, including $4 million from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this past session.

A pertinent quote from the Q&A section of the article talking about the site and land acquisition efforts.

JOURNAL: As has been reported by the Journal, the feasibility study identified four possible downtown locations and two “preferred” locations. Will the voters know the chosen location they will be voting on in November?

KELLER: “Because of the length of real estate transactions and so forth, we know it’ll hopefully be one of those four (locations), but we do know some of those lands have owners that may or may not want to sell. So we can’t be 100% sure about any location. That’s just the recommendations from the consultant.”

RAEL: “It would be premature to buy any property or make a final decision until the voters say yes because you need the revenues to build the stadium. And so until they say, yes, we’re right now just looking at all the sites making sure they work, and then waiting for the voters to make a decision.”