For quite some time, Jerry Cail has been pushing for the development of the Reno Ice Dome 500, a $28-million, 175,000-square-foot sports complex to be built on 4.5 acres of land just north of the Reno Hilton.
Now Cail, chairman of the Nevada Commission on Sports and executive director of the non-profit organization called Nevada Youth Sports Development Inc.
that would own the Dome, is hitting the streets to promote his proposal.
Cail has pitched his plans to more than 40 groups as he did last week at the Reno Central Rotary Club meeting, and it appears his message is sparking the interest of many of his contacts.
Cail said that potential individual and business donors as well as some state government officials have expressed interest in supporting the project.
A ceremony at which Gov.
Kenny Guinn and Lt.
Gov.
Lorraine Hunt will announce their support for the project is tentatively scheduled for the second week of November.
Another gala is slated for December.
Cail said he has received verbal commitments from corporations that want to contribute $3 million to $5 million towards the construction cost.
Although he's fairly certain that the corporate commitments will come, he prefers not to disclose the donors' names until they make a formal announcement.
"We are looking for some foundations getting on board with matching funds," Cail said.
"We'll accept all comers."
The Nevada Youth Sports Development has explored other marketing avenues.
It hired Global Studio, an ad agency, to produce a DVD showcasing the ice dome.
The DVD presents a virtual tour of the ice dome's interior and features.
(A copy of the DVD is available by calling 323-5855 or (877) 942-3366.) Another development is the introduction of the dome's web site, www.renoicedome.com.
Finally, the group has opened an office off Terminal Way in Reno and hired Wanda Mattson as its development director.
Among the amenities the new venue would offer are a 5,000- to 6,500-seat arena built for a minor league hockey and arena football franchises, plus a recreational leisure ice area and sports training and education facility.
The arena's seating capacity could be expanded to host other events such as boxing matches.
Cail and Mattson say the ice dome could host at least 135 events a year and provide affordable recreational and sports training options for residents.
"It will generate its own revenue," Mattson said.
Groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for June 2004 with completion by 2005.
Cail said that $15 million is needed up front to begin construction.
Cail added there are different financing options available, Nevada Youth Sports prefers to rely on corporate and individual donations.
"We want this building to be capital debt free so that we're not always having to go back to the public," Cail said.
