New name may help pay for work at Cougar field

Could Elfstrom Stadium become another U.S. Cellular Field?

It's possible. Under a deal approved Tuesday by the Kane County Forest Preserve Commission, the Kane County Cougars can sell the naming rights to the 17-year-old Geneva ballpark.

The Cougars' rent also will increase incrementally every four years over the next 20 years, going from about $1 million annually now to more than $1.3 million by 2024. Both moves are designed to raise revenue for a stalled $10.5 million renovation project.

The new agreement supersedes a contract signed between the Cougars and the commission in 2006.

The forest preserve district, which owns the stadium and rents the space to the Cougars organization, has committed $5 million to the project. The parties have spent months discussing how to bridge the gap between the forest district's commitment and the total project cost after bids for the project came in much higher than expected on two different occasions.

"What this (deal) did is show the commitment from ownership's standpoint to get this project done," Cougars Vice President/General Manager Jeff Sedivy said. "And it was a substantial commitment. I don't want the people of Kane County to lose sight of that."

Any name change must be approved by the forest preserve commission and the new name must include "Philip B. Elfstrom." Elfstrom is the former Kane County Forest Preserve Commission president responsible for bringing minor league baseball to Kane County in 1991.

"Elfstrom led the way for minor league baseball in this area," said forest preserve Commissioner Paul Greviskes, noting that the Cougars paved the way for other minor league teams in the suburbs.

The renovation will add a second-level seating area and other amenities to the ballpark.

The plans were negotiated as part of a 20-year contract the Cougars, a Class A affiliate of the Oakland A's, signed with the forest preserve district in 2006.

The expansion plans will remain the same under the new agreement.

Bids will be solicited for a third time in the next few weeks.

Both sides said they hope to finish renovations in time for the start of the 2009 season. The project already has been delayed once.