Mar 22, 2016 – Apr 6, 2016 · Related development

Estimates rise to $48.4 million, then $44 million, for a Class AA ballpark

A consultant presentation put the cost of a ballpark built to Class AA specifications at up to $48.4 million, including a $3.8 million contingency. In April 2016 a $44 million estimate was reported, with about $36 million expected from hotel occupancy taxes under a staff proposal to the LGC.^[1]^[2]

Elisha Demerson Mark Nair Michelle BonnerAmarillo Local Government Corporation (LGC)

What the sources say

✓ Verified
In March 2016 a Brailsford & Dunlavey presentation put the cost of a ballpark meeting Class AA specifications at up to $48.4 million, including a $3.8 million contingency, compared with the $32 million estimate for an independent-league ballpark.^[1]
Estimate
$48,400,000
Contingency
$3,800,000
Prior estimate
$32,000,000
✓ Verified
Councilmen Elisha Demerson and Mark Nair: Councilman Elisha Demerson said, 'Given the cost-benefit analysis you made … I would like to at least explore it.' Councilman Mark Nair said, 'I struggle with spending more than we told the public.'^[1]
✓ Verified
Michelle Bonner, Assistant City Manager (proposal): In April 2016 the ballpark estimate was reported at $44 million including street and infrastructure work, with about $36 million expected from hotel occupancy taxes and an approximately $8 million gap partly covered by city funds set aside, under a proposal Assistant City Manager Michelle Bonner presented to the LGC.^[2]
Estimate
$44,000,000
Hot
$36,000,000
Gap
$8,000,000
✓ Verified
The City's published hotel occupancy tax table lists a 6% state rate, a 7% city rate and a 2% Amarillo-Potter Event Venue District rate (15% total) for each fiscal year from 2018-19 through 2023-24, and the City's hotel tax page gives the same 7% city rate plus 2% for the venue district. No fetched source records a council vote changing a hotel tax rate for the MPEV; the April 2016 funding plan that described a raise in the local hotel tax is recorded in this storyline as reported. ^[3]^[4]^[2]
City rate
7%
Venue district rate
2%
Total rate
15%

Sources

1.New Amarillo Ballpark Cost: $48.4 Million — Ballpark Digest, Mar 22, 2016 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026newsIndependentStance: neutral
2.Amarillo Officials Look at Hotel Taxes for Ballpark Construction — Ballpark Digest, Apr 6, 2016 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026newsIndependentStance: neutralRelies in part on a myhighplains.com report (not separately fetched).
3.Financial Information (Tax Rates table, FY2018-19 to FY2023-24) — City of Amarillo, Sep 24, 2026 · retrieved Oct 9, 2026primarySubject-authoredLive page; publication date unknown (page lists documents posted through Sept 2026). Tax Rates table gives property tax rate by fiscal year 2018-19 through 2023-24.
4.Hotel Motel Taxes — City of Amarillo, Oct 10, 2026 · retrieved Oct 10, 2026primarySubject-authoredUndated web page; 'published' is the retrieval date. States 7% city rate plus 2% for the Amarillo-Potter Events Venue District; no rate history.