Laredo Lemurs’ Baseball Stadium Named
Written by admin, Dec 9, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Local business tycoon is estatic to put his company’s name to the new stadium
(Laredo, Tx) As the Laredo baseball stadium continues on its fast-paced construction schedule, to be ready for its first baseball game on May 17, 2012, the next big announcement from the City of Laredo, Ventura Sports Group, and the Laredo Lemurs organization is the name of the soon-to-be completed baseball stadium.
Welcome to the Uni-Trade Stadium. “I am so proud and excited that one of Laredo’s own most prominent businessman, Mr. Eduardo Garza, and his company, leaders of industry in their own right, are true visionaries when it comes to the longterm viability of this stadium and the quality of life it will bring to not only Laredoans, but even visitors to our beatiful city,” said City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas. “I would also like to congratulate Ventura Sports Group for their work to make every aspect of the stadium and team, a world-class endeavor. From our coach, the incomparable Pete Incaviglia, to the team name, the Laredo Lemurs, which I love, by the way and now, the facility’s name: are all coming together for something very special for Laredo. Another home run!”
Eduardo Garza, CEO/President of Uni-Trade Forwarding, LLC, felt that the opportunity to be a part of something so permanent and so exciting, as tying his name to the baseball stadium, and ultimately, the team, was the right fit for this locally built, locally run business.
“Uni-Trade is as much a part of Laredo’s economic landscape as baseball is a major part of Laredo’s sports world,” said Garza. “Uni-Trade Stadium will come to represent the best of minor league baseball and family entertainment in Texas , much like Uni-Trade Forwarding represents the best in the forwarding industry.”
The partnership between Ventura Sports Group and Uni-Trade Forwarding gives them the exclusive naming rights to the the Ventura Sports Group run, City of Laredo owned multi-purpose facility. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We could not have hand-picked a better Naming Rights partner than Eduardo Garza and Uni-Trade Forwarding,” stated Mark Schuster, managing partner of Ventura Sports Group. “From the moment we begain discussing the possibility, we knew it was the perfect fit,” he added.
In early June, the City of Laredo officially broke ground on the $18 million facility. The construction is on a fast-pace to be completed in time for the first pitch, to be thrown out in spectacular Laredo fashion on Thursday, May 17, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Leyendecker Construction, a Laredo firm, along with HKS Sports & Entertainment, Humphries & Sanchez Architects and Puig Engineering, are all working together to help build a world-class sports entertainment facility for Laredo.
Uni-Trade Stadium is designed to accommodate professional baseball dimensions. The facility will have a stadium capacity of 6,000 for baseball with 3,940 fixed seats with seat back, arm rests and cupholders, as well as 11 suites; a party suite; club seating; and general admission seating. Grass berm areas will accommodate an additional 1,700 spectators and picnic tables another 370 attendees. The stadium will feature plenty of restrooms, fun and interactive fan amenities and numerous concession offerings throughout the 10-acre ballpark. A stadium club with an air-condition sports bar, first-class press box, and 11,000 square foot kids’ play area will also be included, along with team offices, clubhouses, and maintenance areas.
Aside from professional baseball, the facility will be able to host high school and college regular season and play-off games and tournaments. Additionally, Uni-Trade Stadium will be an entertainment venue itself, hosting concerts and other outdoor events, such as professional boxing, mixed martial arts competitions, car shows, as well as corporate picnics or even family reunions. The permanent concert stage, located above the centerfield wall, will bring the stadium capacity to over 16,000 for concerts and non-baseball events.
On the field, the Lemurs are currently searching worldwide for players to fill out their roster of 22 players for play in the American Assocation of Independent Professional Baseball League. The league has three divisions – North, Central and South – with teams in great markets, such as St. Paul, MN; Kansas City, MO; Lincoln, NE; El Paso, TX; and even Winnepeg, Canada;. According to Ruben Navas, Laredo Lemurs President, this is an exciting time for fans to get involved with the team.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this great opportunity for bringing great baseball to Laredo,” said Navas. “As a young Hispanic, I understand our culture and the passion for the game of baseball. I am honored to be a part of such an exciting time for Laredo, where families and friends will build many memories at the ballpark. With tickets as low as $5, there’s not a bad seat in the house. The organization is thrilled at the rapid growth of our fan base and local corporate support that we are receiving throughout our region.”
For more information on the Laredo Lemurs, please visit www.laredolemurs.com.
Funding for the project comes from sales tax that was originally set aside in 2000 for the construction and development of an entertainment complex, which included the Laredo Energy Arena. In 2008, voters approved for a portion of those same tax dollars – not a new tax – to be diverted to construct the baseball stadium.
