* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Mitchell
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Support of State Funding - The National Lacrosse Center in Baltimore
FOR the purpose of showing support for State funding for a National Lacrosse Center in Baltimore so that such a facility would stay in Baltimore City and provide the lacrosse community with a much needed facility for its national center in a location that is central to its needs.
Body
Recitals
The State of Maryland, and more specifically the City of Baltimore, is considered the epicenter of the lacrosse world. Across the City and State, tens of thousands of youth compete in recreation programs, and Maryland's high school programs are considered some of the best in the country. Maryland's colleges and universities have won men's or women's national championships 76 times over the last 119 years, and City universities such as Johns Hopkins and Loyola are perennially in contention. The aggregate of all this lacrosse participation is that over 35,000 players play on more that 1,300 teams across the state.
Economically, lacrosse's popularity in the state of Maryland has meant that STX and Lax World have made the Baltimore region their national headquarters. Both companies are leaders in the $150 million a year lacrosse equipment and apparel market. In addition, Maryland benefits from the dozens of lacrosse events, tournaments, and camps that attract fans from throughout the country. For example, more than 110,000 tickets were sold for the 2004 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship, which was held at M&T Bank Stadium. That event alone generated an estimated $13 million for Baltimore and Maryland. The event returns to Baltimore in 2007.
The City of Baltimore recognizes lacrosse's importance to Baltimore and the State of Maryland and accordingly asks the Maryland Department of Economic Development to assist with the funding for the construction of a National Lacrosse Center. The new center being planned will be a 36,000 square-foot facility that will house the national administrative offices, an interactive museum and National Hall of Fame, and a 2,500 seat exhibition field. Having a facility of this nature in Baltimore will not only bring business to the City, but will also provide a positive environment for youth lacrosse players throughout the State.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body shows support for State funding for a National Lacrosse Center in Baltimore so that such a facility would stay in Baltimore City and provide the lacrosse community with a much needed facility for its national center in a location that is central to its needs.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Honorable Chair and Members of the 2007 Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, the National Lacrosse Association, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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