THE OLD ORCHARD BEACH BALLPARK
Working Together to Rebuild Our Future
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The Ballpark History
The 48.7 acres of land The Ballpark sits on today, and approximately 100 acres that surround The Ballpark lot, was purchased by the town in the 1970’s. The town used some of the land to build the police and fire stations and the schools. After construction of the facilities was completed, lots of open space remained. In 1983, the town decided to sell about 50 acres to Jordan Kobritz so he could build a park for his professional baseball team. In order to secure financing for the project, the town agreed to co-sign the loan with Mr. Kobritz. After three seasons of baseball, Mr. Kobritz sold the team and left town. Old Orchard Beach was required
to pay back the 2.2 million dollar loan. The town would reacquire the land after paying off the debt.
In 1989, the town decided to help pay back the money it owed by leasing the ballpark to the Seashore Performing Arts Center (SeaPAC). SeaPAC was run by Dale Blow and Frank Russo. For three years, from 1989 to 1991, Mr. Blow and Mr. Russo mostly used the venue for music shows. An up and down relationship with the town and complaints from citizens about traffic and noise caused the relationship between the town and SeaPAC to end.
A ballpark advisory committee formed in 1990 to help the town decide what it wanted to do with the facility. Options were limited, however, because of amendments to the town charter. The town charter was changed to require a referendum on any sale of town land. This provision still remains today. The 1990 ballpark advisory committee recommended three steps.
First, the stadium should be a multi-purpose facility, owned and operated by the town of Old Orchard Beach.
Second, the town should hire a general manager to run The Ballpark.
Third, a policy board of 7 people should oversee the stadium’s use with at least 3 city councilors on the board or people appointed by the City Council.
The recommendations were never adopted.
In 1993 a new business, Ballpark Productions, owned by Old Orchard Beach native Archie St. Hilaire, entered into an agreement with the town to produce concerts and family-oriented events at The Ballpark. The town leased the venue to Ballpark Productions from April to October in the years 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. Mr. St. Hilaire chose not to renew the lease after 1997. Shortly after Ballpark Productions stopped producing events, Ed Anderson leased The Ballpark for three years because he wanted to bring a professional soccer team to town. He never did and the facility has not been used since.
The town paid off the loan on The Ballpark in 2003.
Reproduced from:
Old Orchard Beach Community Planning: A Vision for the Ballpark
APPENDIX C – Briefing Book for the Community Design Workshop
Page 9 of 32 of Appendix C
