Goodyear Development or Lack Thereof

The linked article provides some insight into how the stadium deal was put together. The foreclosure on the surrounding economy and the economy are likely to keep the land around the complex barren for quite a while longer.

The city bought the land from the Wood family at a "discount"
which helps explain the distance between the stadium and development complex. Just be thankful that the Indians got there first. The Reds complex will be twice as far away.

almost 3 years ago palcal 13 comments 0 recs |

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Geez, good to know I guess.

by supermarioelia on Mar 24, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Wait a minute, this was a farm? What the heck did they grow?

by Ryan on Mar 24, 2009 2:29 AM EDT reply actions

old

by Voltaire on Mar 24, 2009 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions

The Goodyear of today exists because of the cotton of yesteryear. It was part of the 16,000 acres purchased in 1917 for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company by junior executive Paul Litchfield. Cotton used to make rubber tires for airplanes in World War I was in short supply because foreign sources were in war torn countries or disease ridden. When Goodyear found that Arizona’s climate and soil was similar to foreign sources, the company sent Litchfield to purchase land. The small community that formed as a result of the Goodyear Farms cotton industry first became known as "Egypt" for the Egyptian cotton grown there and then, finally, was called "Goodyear."

There’s an interesting Akron connection, actually.

by FranklinScott on Mar 24, 2009 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

ok, that makes sense

by Ryan on Mar 24, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

There are still cotton fields in the West Valley of Phoenix (where Goodyear is) today – stuck in the middle of a bunch of housing developments.

by APV on Mar 24, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

There’s cotton in tires??

by Logodaedalus on Mar 24, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do you think your ride is so cushiony? Shocks and struts?

Signature to be named later.

by emd2k3 on Mar 24, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I assumed they were filled with the down from baby dodo birds, marinated for 300 years in whale oil, and then hand-woven by blind leprechauns into sheets which could be painstakingly layered inside the tire….

But it turns out it’s just cotton? Lame!

by Logodaedalus on Mar 24, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, all of that is part of the process, but they add a layer of cotton, too.

Signature to be named later.

by emd2k3 on Mar 24, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh! That’s a relief.

by Logodaedalus on Mar 25, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/spring/goodyear.html

Prior to the construction of the baseball complex, the land was part of the Wood Ranch and was used to farm cotton and wheat and raise cattle and poultry. Information about the land’s history is contained on a display next to the ballpark’s dedication plaque.

by palcal on Mar 24, 2009 2:41 AM EDT reply actions