Schaumburg recommends Jim Beam Club at Boomers Stadium
Schaumburg trustees Tuesday unanimously recommended approval of the Schaumburg Boomers' request to replace the press box at the village- and park district-owned stadium with a Jim Beam Club and bar at the team's own expense.
"This is a capital improvement to the facility the team wants to sponsor and pay for," Village Manager Brian Townsend explained.
The resulting lounge area with a direct view of the field would be sponsored by the Jim Beam company itself, Boomers General Manager Michael Larson said.
Only suite-holders 21 years of age and older would be able to access the club during games, though the space may be able to be used differently for nongame special events. Larson said he did not believe the space to be large enough to accommodate all general-admission attendees.
There is already a temporary bar on the suite level and the plan is simply to give it a permanent space in a premium location there, he added.
Though the press box, as originally built in 1999, takes up a large area of the suite level behind home plate, its smaller radio booths and production area will remain, Larson said.
As the facility is co-owned by the village and Schaumburg Park District, trustees' recommendation also was to waive the project's permit and inspection fees.
Schaumburg's community development department is separately reviewing the plans for the club from a regulatory standpoint, even as the village and park district are granting their consent as landlords.
Larson said the hope is to start the project as soon as all aspects of the approval process are done and have it open before the regular season ends in early September.
According to the Boomers' building-permit application, the estimated cost of the project is $25,000.
The village board's vote on final approval is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Tuesday, July 24.