THE. WAIT. IS. OVER.
[Intro]
Good evening, everyone! I have had the privilege of working alongside many of you here today and am happy to celebrate this milestone with you.? What an incredible day it is to celebrate the grand opening of the?AdventHealth Sports Park at BLUHAWK. We’ve gathered here not just to cut a ribbon, but to mark the beginning of a new chapter in our community's sports and wellness journey, within a facet of the jewel we call Bluhawk.
[Impact on the Community]
The AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk isn’t just about competitive play on the many playing surfaces, or the state-of-the-art amenities, or even the barrage of entertaining activities; it’s about IMPACT.?IMPACT on the lives of our residents, commercial tenants, team members, business partners, and community.??The AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk represents a major milestone towards Price’s commitment to an elevated quality of life to those that frequent Bluhawk.
We are poised to make a significant mark not just on our city, but across the state and the region beyond. This facility, and the overall Bluhawk development will serve as a training and performance ground for youth athletes, a venue for local events, and a space for families to come together and engage in healthy activities.? Along with over half a million square feet of retail, food and beverage, experiential retail activities and three hotels totaling 350 rooms - all right outside the front door of this facility - Bluhawk will truly be tomorrow’s case study for the aspiring sport + retail adjacency driven development.
As I was preparing remarks for today’s event I spoke with a few leaders in the sport industry about what facilities like these mean to them.? They couldn’t wait to see the facility open, so that the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk can?FINALLY?provide the venue for intense training and competition.? A place where teams will be challenged with hurdles, fight through adversity, working together to accomplish success, pushing away from defeat and striving for victory.? I thought to myself – hmmm, sure feels like we’ve been at that for the last few years.
By the way, here's a few fun facts about the sports park and development - and I’m not running for office so feel free to fact check!
The AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk was built over a 22-month construction period following years of planning and entitlements, surviving through a pandemic and a grocery tax repeal.
Like a team working together to advance down the field, the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk and the Bluhawk development has required collaboration from numerous stakeholders. Our local leaders, business partners and community members have all played their part in getting us to this moment. This facility will not only elevate our sports programs but will also foster community connections that are so vital in today’s world.? So, if you will allow me, I would like to talk about all the MVPs who made this vision a reality.
[Thanking the Team]
First, to Kent, Lena and the entire Price Family.??You saw an opportunity for this property some 20 years ago, and today marks another milestone to fulfill your commitment to legacy and our company mission to positively IMPACT the lives of our residents, commercial tenants, team members, business partners and community.??You drive us to be Impactful and Collaborative, maintain Excellence and Integrity and we have enjoyed applying those core values to this facility and development.
On behalf of Price Brothers, we would like to thank several key members of the team.
To Lt Governor Toland, Bob North, Representative Tarwater and others with the?Commerce Department and the State of Kansas.??The AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk could not have been constructed without the use of STAR Bonds, and we appreciate your support and commitment to investing in the future at Bluhawk. We believe Bluhawk will be another successful use of the STAR Bond program, seen already in the outperforming bonds used to build this beautiful facility.
To the?City of Overland Park?- Mayor Skoog, Former Mayor Gerlach, Lori, Kristy, and others at City Hall and former City Mgr. Bill Ebel. Your efforts in engaging with the developer team and community stakeholders have made this sports facility a true community initiative. Your dedication to process, and drive to help us deliver a facility the community and visitor will relish, is unmatched.
To our naming rights partner,?AdventHealth?– Sam, Alan, Robyn, Dallas, Carly, and the rest of the team at AdventHealth. Your mission states,?“AdventHealth strives to live out your mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ beyond the walls of your hospital. One such way is by working to improve the health of the communities you serve.”?Your commitment to the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk is a resounding drumbeat to your mission and we appreciate your partnership with us.?
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To our lender, Arvest Bank?– Clay, Melody and the team at a bank founded by a family committed to an intense dedication to focusing on the customer above all else. You fulfilled that mission not just to your direct customer, but for every customer that will enter the doors of this facility.?
To our sports consulting team and operating partner at the?Sports Facilities Companies?– Dev, Eric, Jason, Jack, Greg, Mike, Patrick, Karl, Jake, Thane, John, (deep bench) and the many vendors you all managed. Your commitment to excellence has been evident from day one. You overcame challenges with ingenuity and determination, ensuring that this facility stands as a high-quality facility for years to come.?
The?Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes Law Firm?– Aaron, Greg, Sean, Nip, and your team.??You guys are thorough, to the cross of the T and the dot of the I.??You bring a good balance of legal depth and practicality to an otherwise cumbersome process.??What a refreshing approach, especially to those of us that don’t see the entertainment in reading legal documents.?
To our financial advisors at?IRR?– John and Collin.??You make it more than math.??You go beyond solving a capital stack.??You understand the development process and bring a level of advice that any developer would appreciate. John, it does look like we have the answer to “When?”?
To Jeff, Scott and the architectural team at?HOK, Seth, Luke and the engineers at?Olsson, Josh, Kelly and the landscape design team at?Stantec, Patrick, Henry and your team at Klover Architects, and all the additional consultants who designed this magnificent facility and front yard. You’ve created a facility both in and out that will inspire future champions.??Your vision and contributions will stand the test of time offering the attributes to make the facility and development sustainable and enjoyable.?
To our construction team - Justin, Tom, Scott, Luke, Kyle with?VCC?building this monstrous facility - Mike, Greg, Anthony at?Superior Bowen?striving through the site surroundings and parking lots - Frank, Tim, Jake at?Titan?pushing hard to make the “front yard” at the 159th street entrance to Bluhawk look great and the countless sub-contractors you all managed.??You’ve been the offensive line, working tirelessly to ensure every brick, beam, and parking stripe was in place. Your hard work and dedication brought the design vision to fruition for generations to come.?
To our incredible marketing and leasing team.?JLL?– Ashlyn, Becky, Paul, Holly, Kristin, Austin;?Treasure Advertising?– Sam and Jessica; and?House of Current?– Lisa, Wendy, Stefani. Your passion for promoting this project and fostering excitement within the community has been inspiring. You’ve helped us build anticipation, and today we are just beginning to witness the fruits of your labor.?
Kent. Lena.??You put faith in a development team at Price Brothers to deliver Bluhawk and we appreciate you for that.??To my team at?Price?- Stephanie, Mark, Ty, Caitlin, Joe.??You all are like family.??You get the best and often the worst of this thing we call development, and you keep hanging in.??Your support, willingness to engage and “Own It” is unsurpassed.??I appreciate you.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I invited my family to this event, stood on this stage and didn’t acknowledge them.??Jen, Maddie, Nate, Lainey.??You guys know better than anyone this thing I do is more than a career.??It’s a passion.? You lived this development experience as much as anyone in this room and continue to support me in your own way.??I love you for that.?
[Community Engagement]?
As we move forward, let’s remember that the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk and the entire Bluhawk development is for all of us. It’s a place where dreams will be pursued, where friendships will be forged, and where health and quality of life will be prioritized. A mixed-use development offering a unique, all-inclusive adjacency like no other, but accessible to all.?
[Closing]?
So, as we cut the ribbon, let it symbolize the transition of countless victories—both big and small—within these walls and beyond.?
Thank you all for being here this evening, for believing in this project, and for your unwavering support. Here’s to the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk - a place where champions are made, and communities gather.?
Without further ado, let’s cut that ribbon!?
Thank you!
Proud to be a part of such an amazing team! This is only the beginning! ??
Heinlein Consulting LLC
3 周Congrats Bart!
Director of Commercial Lending at Great Southern Bank | Commercial Real Estate Lending | LIHTC Lending | SBA lending | Construction Lending | Tax Credit Equity | Commercial and Industrial Lending | Private Banking
3 周Congrats to all of you!
Owner & Marketing Director at PLS Solar
3 周Congratulations! ??