The city rolled out the red carpet for the Chicago Bandits at an official news conference at Judson University yesterday. The deal looks pretty much like what was reported earlier, and has already been inserted into the 2008 budget, a presentation of which is on the agenda for tonight’s council meeting at 5:00. It looks like a done deal.

Under the terms of the deal, the city will pay $350,000 to make upgrades to the field at Judson, which include improvements to the infield, as well as installation of dugouts, a press box and bleachers.

Funding for the improvements have been included within the city’s proposed 2008 budget, which has been scheduled for a vote Dec. 19. (source: Courier News 11/28/07)

After playing at Judson for a few years, they move into a new, “4,400-seat stadium [to be] built on the site of the old Spartan Meadows Golf Course site along McLean Boulevard, (Courier 11/28/07)” courtesy of Elgin taxpayers.

The whole thing reminds me of this other famous team called the Elgin Racers, a franchise of the International Basketball League, which also moved from somewhere else to Elgin, and played their first season at Judson College. I’m sure the Bandits will do as much for Elgin as the Elgin Racers have.

Good luck to the Bandits! (apparently they will need it, because according to the Herald, they finished last in the league)

Filed under: citycouncil.
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