Images courtesy of Pendulum Studios.

The Green Bay Bullfrogs passed an important first hurdle on a new downtown ballpark after the city's Redevelopment Authority gave the team 12 months to arrange financing for the $15.7-million ballpark plan.

The plan calls for a ballpark on the Fox River with adjoining docks so fans can attend games after boating on the river. The ballpark would seat 4,500.

The Redevelopment Authority approved the plan for the facility and gave Bullfrogs owner Jeffrey Royle and developer Smet Construction one year to arrange financing for the ballpark. So far Royle has a rough budget of sorts: $9 million in private investment, $4.2 million in tax credits, and $2.5 million in naming rights and other sponsorships. It doesn't sound like he wants to take a full year to arrange the financing: a May 2011 opening is the goal, which means construction will need to start next summer.

The design deserves a few comments. The ballpark will be located on the Fox River on the south side of downtown Green Bay on a 13.3-acre site already owned by the city. It certainly has the potential to be one of the more scenic ballparks in the country: besides the riverside location, it is situated next to the Don A. Tilleman Bridge and takes advantage of the scenic location. We're not aware of many ballparks featuring boat access (besides AT&T Park, of course), so that will make it immediately stand out.

The Bullfrogs currently play at Joannes Stadium, a 1950-era facility that's probably as good as it's ever going to get: parking is problematic, and the location in a city park actually hinders any more expansion. 

RELATED STORIES: Royle: We've outgrown Joannes Stadium

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