Letter of Support For The Dutchess Stadium Improvements Bond

A. Gregg Pulver, Chair
Chair, Dutchess County Legislature
22 Market Street, 6th Floor
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
 
 
RE: RESOLUTION 2021017 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF AN AGGREGATE $1,666,500 SERIAL BONDS OF THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS, NEW YORK, TO PAY THE COST OF CERTAIN DUTCHESS COUNTY STADIUM CAPITAL PROJECTS, IN AND FOR SAID COUNTY
 
 
Dear Chair Pulver and Members of the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee:
 
On behalf of the board of directors of Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, its more than 1200 member constituents, and professional staff, I am writing to offer our resolute support for the county’s investment in upgrades to Dutchess Stadium.
 
This county asset has the potential to reasonably meet Minor League Baseball standards and develop a long-term partnership and agreement with the Class-A minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees.  Ultimately, this will save the county park from losing a tenant, grow our tourism base, and further support nonprofit organizations and businesses here in our region. 
 
We support the enhancements to Dutchess Stadium to attract the Yankees affiliate due to the following:

• The initial investment will come back to the county and its residents multiple times over.
• Should the county decline investment in the stadium, then we are at eminent risk of losing the tenant indefinitely.  This will leave the stadium empty and have an adverse economic impact at a time when our economy is unstable.  The county will lose: jobs, sales and room tax revenue, compounding economic impact for our local businesses; community support programs for our local nonprofit organizations; and a destination that has historically infused millions of dollars into our economy.
• 58% of visitors to Dutchess Stadium originate from outside the county, and the number will undoubtedly grow as a result of the Yankees affiliation. 
• The Yankees and Renegades ball clubs have a consistent history in supporting the surrounding community through access to talent for youth, mentoring and motivational incentive programs, fundraising and donations to benefit local nonprofits, scholarships, food drives, and access to Yankees stadium and players for educational purposes, literacy programs and more. 
• The Renegades direct fiscal community contributions near $100K annually.
• According to a study commissioned by Empire State Development and conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, visitors to Dutchess County spent $672.4 million on food and beverage, lodging, recreation, shopping and transportation in 2019. That study also showed those visitors contributed over $45.8 million in local taxes which were then reinvested in a wide variety of county programs to support youth, seniors, social services, infrastructure projects and more.
• The plan to host 66 home games, as opposed to the previous 38, will have nearly double the economic impact. 
• A survey of six Fishkill area hotels reported approximately 2,250 room nights in 2019 attributed to the stadium which resulted in an estimated $285,000 in revenue. Our hotels host teams, umpires, scouts, families and fans, and those individuals spend money at restaurants, shops, and other attractions – ultimately generating sales-tax dollars that come back to our community.
• The Renegades provide 196 part-time and 14 full-time jobs for local residents – at entry and professional skill levels. In 2012, payroll was nearly $1.1 million dollars – excluding taxes.
• A 2012 report estimated that non-Dutchess resident spending is nearly $1 million annually. Most certainly this has grown in the past 8 years.
• Total rent payments to the County of Dutchess from 1994-2012 exceeded $3 million.
• From 2008-2012, nearly $1.8 million was paid in payroll taxes, sales tax to New York State and fees to the County of Dutchess.
• With the new affiliation, an estimated $10M+ will annually benefit the regional economy.
• In 2019, Major League Baseball shows the Renegades averaged 4,116 fans per game x 36 home games = 148,158 for the season. For a close comparison, Rochester’s 2019 attendance averaged 6,846 per game with 66 home games totaling 451,853 fans. They have 35 FTEs and 715 seasonal employees. In 2017, they measured their economic impact at $9.5 million. Syracuse Chiefs/Mets average 3,500/game and they estimate $9 million economic impact.I recognize the outdated statistics, however 2012 was the last economic impact study available to us and is nevertheless compelling data. 

Beyond a show of good faith to the Yankee affiliate, the Legislature must act to ensure this county asset does not become an empty stadium in the foreseeable future.  It is an obligation of our legislators to support culture and take steps to strengthen our economy.  In our view this is an opportunity that far exceeds the initial investment and accomplishes the aforementioned.

We fully support a decision by county representatives to fund the necessary upgrades to Dutchess Stadium.  This resolution is in the best interest of our residents, businesses and visitors. 

Sincerely,
 
Frank M. Castella Jr.
President & CEO
Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce