'Untraditional' stadium planned for minor league baseball team

Water slides, a hot tub and an all-you-can-eat area are among the features planned for a ballpark that'll be built in Zion for Lake County's new minor-league team.

Projected to cost $15 million, the ballpark will be owned by the city of Zion and rise in the Trumpet Park business development east of the Tri-State Tollway and Route 173. Officials said crews are preparing the site for construction.

Speaking in advance of a party set for Wednesday, May 27, to unveil the new team's name, managing partner and president Rich Ehrenreich said the new park will accommodate about 8,000 fans.

However, the stadium will only have about 4,000 seats. The rest of the spectators will view the action from party areas and decks.

Ballpark renderings will be unveiled at the free event set from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the grand ballroom at KeyLime Cove Water Resort in Gurnee.

"I think people will find the Lake County ballpark to be more untraditional and more of a fun, festival-type atmosphere than most ballparks," Ehrenreich said Friday.

Money from Zion and state government will pay for construction of the stadium. Deerfield-based Grand Slam Sports & Entertainment, which owns the baseball team, will rent it for what Ehrenreich expects to be about $250,000 annually under a 20-year deal.

Zion's economic development director, J. Delaine Rogers, couldn't be reached for comment.

Actor Kevin Costner is part of the Grand Slam Sports venture. Ehrenreich said Costner will provide input to help decide the new baseball team's name and logo.

Lake County's team will be part of the independent Northern League. Ehrenreich, who also owns the Northern League's Schaumburg Flyers, said the Lake County squad is on track to open play in 2010.

In addition to learning the name, potential fans will see the new baseball team's colors and logo at the at KeyLime Cove bash Wednesday night. Free ballpark food, soft drinks and prizes will be part of the festivities.

After thousands of online votes, the five names left in the running are Comets, Skippers, Fielders, Luckies and Cowpokes.

Ehrenreich said the name that finishes first when voting closes Sunday won't necessarily be the Wednesday winner. The name and accompanying logo will be on merchandise, so it must be good for business.

"We're having an artist draw up logos for all five (names.)," Ehrenreich said. "We want to know how they look. We're developing a brand."