Sarpy diamond taking shape

The Omaha Royals' new stadium in Sarpy County remains on schedule to host baseball in spring 2011.

In recent weeks, crews have been able to move dirt and place concrete footings for the $25 million stadium, Sarpy County Administrator Mark Wayne said Tuesday. One dugout has been poured.

“They're making good progress considering the weather,” he said.

The construction site, north of 126th Street and Nebraska Highway 370, is partly visible from the highway. But within a month, work will begin to cut down a hill in the area, which should open up the view and allow the first road in to the stadium site.

By May, bids will be taken for road work around the stadium.

Wayne said precast buildings were ordered last week and should be ready to install starting by June.

After those are delivered, Wayne said, the stadium structure should go up quickly. It has little steel compared with Omaha's new downtown stadium. The Sarpy stadium's seating, for instance, will be set into a bowl on the ground, not built up.

June is also when a City of Papillion water line to the site is expected to be in place.

That's key, Wayne said, because the field is scheduled to be installed in June so the grass has the rest of the growing season to get established.

Contact the writer:

444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com