A couple of times last week we noted that the city's looking to make some extra coin by selling off naming rights and sponsorship opportunities to private corporations interested in investing in public property. And, sure, we had a suggestion or two. But as City Manager Mary Suhm noted, she was thinking more along the lines of finding out if anyone was interesting in biting on "the big soccer center" scheduled to open next year -- meaning, of course, the Elm Fork Athletic Complex off Walnut Hill Lane just west of Stemmons, which will cost upwards of $38 million and is funded with '98, '03 and '06 bond money, speaking of. Said Suhm, "I think it'll have some real opportunities."
So happens that on Friday, the city decided to find out if they're out there. I was looking for something unrelated on the city's bids website this morning and found a request for proposals titled "Elm Fork Naming Rights." Says one of the accompanying docs:
"The purpose of this solicitation is to seek interested and qualified parties that can provide Sponsorship and Naming Rights for the Elm Fork Athletic Complex. Award will be made based on most advantageous proposer based on scoring criteria. The City reserves the right to award by method deemed most advantageous to the City."The city wants bids by no later than July 13. Maybe it'll have more luck than Jerry Jones? And speaking of the 19-soccer-field complex, I see that tomorrow the Park Board will actually discuss awarding the mammoth construction contract to Rogers-O'Brien Construction.
