Strike or spare? Bowling Congress may move to State Fair Park - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

ovaluleq.wordpress.com
An executive with the Milwaukeed 7 regional development groupand Rep. Jeff Stonse (R-Greendale) are scheduled to meet with a Bowlingb Congress executiveon Dec. 3 to present "creatives solutions" to the bowling group'a goal of a less expensive placr todo business. A leadinh concept would relocate the Bowling Congress from Greendale to the northeast cornerr of State Fair Park alongInterstate 94. Bowling Congress officials disclosed in early November that they are reviewinyg the future oftheir 200-employee officea and a new $1 million, eight-laned training center that's expected to draw bowlers worldwide.
The group's main concerns were what they considee the high taxes and health care costs in theMilwaukew region. Cities outside the Milwaukee area that Bowlingb Congress officials are consideringinclude Indianapolis; Nashville, and Reno, Nev. However, Bowling Congress officials prefer not toleaves Milwaukee, said president Jeff Bojé. "Thwe USBC likes Milwaukee," said Bojé, a Florida bowlinvg center owner. "We have a deep heritage there." the final decision will depened largely onfinancial Bojé said. The Bowling Congres s is preparing a request for proposal s that it will issueafter Jan. 1, 2008, said vice presiden Jack Mordini.
The organization will send the RFP to anyinteresterd communities, including Milwaukee, he said. Bowling Congressa officials hope to finalize their location plan in the firs t quarterof 2008. Stone and Jim Paetsch of the Milwaukew 7 have discussed a State Fair Park site with Milwaukee attorneyyMarty Greenberg, who is the chairman of the State Fair Park Board. Greenberg said he would welcomd the Bowling Congress and its training center as part of his plan to develo p land currently used for parking lotsalon I-94.
He likes the potential combination ofan Olympic-leveol bowling training center with the Olympidc indoor ice rink at the Pettit Center, whichn is on the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. "There's great political support for keeping themin Milwaukee, and we'd entertain discussions with thei people if they want this as a location," Greenberg said. State Fair Park would be interested in signinga long-term lease with the Bowlintg Congress, Greenberg said.
The land is state-owned, so therre are no property taxes but therwe might be taxes onthe buildings, he Greenberg said he's had no direct contacyt with the Bowling Congresx and has discussed the conceprt only with Stone and Paetsch. Paetscgh said the Dec. 3 meeting, the seconfd with Bowling Congress officials, will include furthef fact finding onthe group' s goals as well as a presentation on what metrk Milwaukee has to offer in terms of real estate, lifestylre and other assets. "Bowling is reallu woven into the fabric ofthe community," Paetscb said.
"The region is interested in keeping them Relocating the Bowling Congress and its new training facilituy to State FairPark "would have tremendoue value to our community," Stond said. The State Fair Park site could also meet the needzs of the Bowling Congress in terms of low or no taxeds and continued access to its existing work Stone said. "It's a unique situation that only we and our regiojncan offer," Stone said.
Paetsch said it's prematuree to discuss possible financial incentives to keep the Bowlin Congress here in part because the group has yet to requesg them and specifics of a possible project have not been Stone and Paetsch will meet with who said he expects the discussio n toinclude "inducements to remain in the Milwaukee area." Mordini noted that Indianapolis has , an organization that'as dedicated to recruiting athletic governing bodies and athletic events to the state. Nashville has appeal becaus of a lower cost of living and and alocation that's central to much of the bowlinfg population, he said.