• The area planned for this major league stadium complex is along Twinsburg Road east of Route 8.
  This is north of the Ashbrooke West neighborhood.
• Though not mentioned in this article, the plan may include facilities in Boston Heights, south of Twinsburg Road.
• In response to a question at the 8 February 2006 Village Council meeting, Boston Heights' Mayor and Council members stated that they had not been made aware of the meeting (nor invited to attend).

The following is quoted, with permission, from the NorthSummit7@AOL.COM (NS7) email newsletter of 9 February 2006:

$265 MILLION SPORTS COMPLEX PROPOSED
POSSIBLE 2,600 JOBS ADDED IN AREA

There have been recent reports of the possibility of a Soccer Stadium coming to the Nordonia Hills area. Those reports have more credibility as a result of a meeting held in Macedonia City Hall this morning. Other areas were being explored for this project but today the planners said that they are now, "Focused on our area." Plans for a proposed $265 Million sports facility were revealed that included the possibility of adding 2,600 permanent and seasonal jobs to the area. Those conducting and attending the meeting were:

Paul Garofolo President & CEO, The Signature Group Chris Burnham President & Ex. Dir., Summit Co. Port Authority Richard Rebadow Senior VP, Economic Dev., Greater Akron Chamber Terri Stewart Principal, SeasonGood & Mayer, LLC (Cincinnati) Joseph Robertson SeasonGood & Mayer, LLC (Cincinnati) Pat Carano SCPA Don Kuchta Mayor, City of Macedonia Dave Engle City of Macedonia City Council Steve Brunot City of Macedonia Finance Dir. Paul Buescher Trustee, Northfield Center Twp. Wayne Blankenship Nordonia Hills School Board Patti Koslo Nordonia Hills School Board Doug Masteller Nordonia Hills School Board Tom Hartman Nordonia Hills School Board Chris Wright Nordonia Hills School Board Mary Sindlar Nordonia Hills School Board

This proposed project is not just about a stadium but an entire sports complex and a first of its kind in the United States. It will include a 20,000 to 25,000 seat stadium with 20 additional outdoor soccer fields. Additionally, a 600,000 sq. ft. retail village is planned that may include a "World class sports rehabilitation center" and what planners called a "Lifestyle center."

Projections are up to 2,600 additional jobs for our area. This includes 300 permanent and 400 seasonal jobs for the stadium and 1,300 permanent jobs and 430 seasonal jobs for the retail facilities. These figures do NOT include the estimated 350 construction jobs for the stadium and the 1,000 for the retail complex.

Paul Garofolo told those attending that the stadium is not just planned for soccer exclusively but could also host nearly 144 other types of events including concerts, monster trucks, rodeos, boxing, graduations, etc. Garofolo stated, "Anything the Gund arena can host can be done here." He said that the stadium would feature a "Roll away natural grass field" to accommodate other events.

This proposed project is planned for the 240-acre site between Highland and Twinsburg Roads and East of Route 8. If all goes according to plan, Paul Garofolo said that they would like to break ground during the 4th quarter of this year and to open by "Late Spring of 2008!"

Paul G. Buescher
NS7 Editor & Publisher