Venue Detail
Windy City Thunderbolts
Revenues From Sports Venues Pro Facilities Report
February, 2012
Windy City Thunderbolts
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14100 S Kenton Ave Crestwood, IL 60445 Phone: 708-489-2255 Fax: 708-489-2999 URL: www.thunderbolts.com Owner: Kevin Rhomberg and other investors League: Frontier League, West
Venue
Hawkinson Ford Field, 14100 S Kenton Ave, Crestwood, IL 60445-2251 Owner: City of Crestwood Managed by: Team Built: 1999 Capacity: 3,200 Permanent concession stands: 3 Concessionaire: Team Soft drink: Pepsi Cola Beer: MillerCoors
Naming rights
Sold to: Hawkinson Ford Price: $35,000 Term: 10 years Expires: 2009
Ticket prices
Season tickets range from $325 to $325 Single tickets range from $6.00 to $8.00
Attendance
2009 average attendance: 2,242 2010 average attendance: 1,962
Suites
Quantity: 2 Term: 3 to 5 years Price: $33,000 to $33,000 Seats: 25 to 25 Includes: Parking, tickets, private entrance, special events. Suite rental is $748 per event.
Financing
The $6.6 million stadium was funded with $700,000 from the state and the rest with revenue from the team over four years. The Thunderbolts pay the city $1 per ticket sold and 20 percent of all net scoreboard advertising.
The city of Crestwood, Illinois, lured the Will County Cheetahs with a new 2,500-seat ballpark that was to be ready when the 1998-99 season opened in June. Problems delayed construction and the opening took place in 1999.
There are two suites, a concessions concourse and a private party deck.
Naming rights were sold to local Ford dealer, Hawkinson Ford. The $35,000 payment goes to the village with additional undisclosed payments going to the team.
Under a new rent schedule, the team will pay $60,000 for the 2004 season, then $80,000 for the next four seasons. The next five years will go at $90,000 a year and the final five years will cost $100,000 a year. The city of Crestwood will continue to get all parking revenue, $1 per admission and 20 percent of scoreboard advertising. Previously the rent was $50,000 a year.
In 2003, the city threatened not to renew the Frontier League team's lease if attendance did not increase. Attendance improved. The team also changed its name for the 2004 season to the Thunderbolts.
Attendance has dropped 25 percent since the team began play in Crestwood. In 2003, attendance was down to 66,000.
Rotational scoreboard advertising costs $8,800 per season and includes a radio and public address announcement each game. A two-year contract is required.
Game-day signs can be placed inside the main gate at a cost of $1,100 per season, including a public address announcement.
Game-day luxury suites are $500 for 25 fans or $250 for 10 fans. The price includes food and beverage. (Baseball, Facilities, Financial, Professional Sports)