Protest against downtown Concord stadium

CONCORDIANS (and friends of Concord) - SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE DOWNTOWN STADIUM PLAN!

Despite community opposition against a stadium in downtown Concord, and assurances made last year by city government that the project would not go forward, city council will be voting to potentially approve a sports facility and hotel in downtown Concord near BART.

The concept did not gain majority approval last year when brought before city council. The public was assured that the item was closed. A little time passed, and over winter break, a decision was made in private between the developer and city council to put the project on the first council agenda of the year. The developer is the son of former Walnut Creek mayor Merle Hall.

Concord council is ignoring public demand that the land be focused on housing. Concord is also denying an open bid process to allow other potential developers to come up with housing concepts. Mr Hall has been given exclusive rights to develop on the land, without public input and an official council vote. The city of Concord already has various sports fields, and is already contracted with Lennar to build a stadium in North Concord. The city won't need two sports stadiums.

Concord is already under the strain of gentrification, and a housing crunch. This stadium is not what Concord needs. Furthermore, the stadium requires a city partnership which would divert millions of public funds towards the project.