Any time you try to build something and incorporate some sort of financing that involves bonds and taxes and, in our relevant case, tax-increment financing for a proposed new WVU baseball stadium, it can be a little confusing. And intimidating. I passed out yesterday. For starters, though, know that this is something Oliver Luck has done before.

That swank soccer facility the Houston Dynamo will soon call home is a little something Luck and the earth movers in Houston put together a few years back. What we call a TIF they call a TIRZ.

They used a six-block area not far from the Major League Baseball park there. Unlike the other stadiums there built for baseball, football and basketball, where the public was made to handle most of the funding, the team was willing and able to cover the majority cost for the soccer stadium. They used debt and equity financing as well as the the TIRZ.

Oh, and the Dynamo shares the stadium with Texas Southern University football.

There’s going to be some debate and some concern about sharing the facility with a minor-league baseball team and with American Legion teams and events — and if this stadium happens, WVU will not be the sole occupant. Luck said Monday he’s already heard from interested minor-league teams.

Remember, sole control of a facility has been an issue in the past. Is it the same? Well, it’s not identical, but I do wonder if people are going to have issues. And I wonder how, or if, a summer league team will overlap with WVU baseball’s offseason? It wouldn’t mess with WVU’s fall league, but what about camps? What about if a couple guys wanted to grab a fungo and take some infield — which is one of the major selling points of the basketball practice facility, where fungo is basketball and take some infield is put up some shots.

So there are some issues to be settled and and some obstacles to be taken down, but nothing will stand in the way of this plan, so long as it’s approved. WVU is about to get deep into baseball because it has to as a Big 12 member. Part and parcel is playing a bunch or “home games” around the state … and if these Big 12 teams thought it was hard to get to Morgantown, enjoy the trip to Bluefield. The pressure is on Greg Van Zant, for sure, because this stadium is a necessity. That’s that.

(Also, I loved reading GVZ’s response when he was ridiculously asked if he hopes to be the coach when the new park opens: “I hope so.” Can we leave this guy alone? Everyone knows the score. Let them play. Let them play. Let them play.)

Now, what happens to Hawley Field? I have no clue, but I’d imagine Marlon LeBlanc would be interested in some real estate and I know Luck has an affinity for soccer. I’m sure there’s going to be talk about creating more space for parking at the Coliseum, too. There were discussions in the past year about creating a sports complex in that area, though the baseball park was a central part of that.

But what about track? WVU has pretty good women’s cross country and track and field programs. They do not have great facilities, which no one talks much about these days. And if WVU is going to add a men’s sport — and WVU has to add a men’s sport — there’s no better option out there than to return men’s track and field to the university. I know there’s talk about a golf team, and I think that’s what’s going to happen, but there’s way too much tradition in track to ignore.

Finally, I sense there is considerable and understandable concern about supporting a minor-league team. How long will the appeal last after the novelty is gone? We’re only talking about three dozen or so home dates a year,  but also a number of mid-week games that are going to have thin crowds toward the end of the summer, I’m sure. The promotional calendar will be important, but a lot of this is just a leap of faith.

Granted, Luck takes educated leaps of faith. He thinks the Morgantown Whatevers can work like the State College Spikes. He even took a look at The Citadel and the Charleston RiverDogs. Part owner? Gene Budig, who luck hired as a consultant when Luck started as the athletic director.

Now, the big question: What do we name this minor-league team. I’ll begin …

– Morgantown Mine Mules.