Council shows support for sports center on airport site

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 | 9:46 a.m.

Plans for a $25 million sports complex at Boulder City's abandoned airport received a boost from the City Council on Tuesday.

The council voted 5-0 to have city staff begin negotiations with Hang Time Sports to put together lease, water use and development agreements for the city-owned land where the proposed complex would be built.

The proposed complex would include a fitness center that residents could join, plus numerous courts and fields for basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and softball on 38 acres between Nevada Way and the city's Boulder Creek Golf Club.

Hang Time Sports is headed by John Balistere and Jim Ferrence, who both graduated from Boulder City High School and retain strong ties to the city they grew up in.

Balistere still lives in Boulder City and was coach of the high school's boys basketball team for most of the 1990s.

Ferrence now lives in Henderson, but his parents still live in Boulder City, and his father, Bill, is manager of the local credit union. Ferrence is also senior vice president at Paladin Advertising, a Las Vegas firm, and was campaign manager for Mayor Bob Ferraro's successful re-election campaign earlier this year.

The proposed complex would be almost, if not entirely, privately financed, Ferrence said. He said they want to look into whether some city redevelopment funds could be used for the project.

City Attorney Dave Olsen said it could take a year to finalize lease, development and water use agreements with Hang Time Sports. During that time the group will be trying to secure funding for the project, Ferrence said.