GOODYEAR, ARIZ. -- A 75-piece high school marching band played "Wild Thing" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as officials of Goodyear, Ariz., and the Cleveland Indians threw dirt into the shovel of the skip loader being run by Hall of Famer and former Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller.

The flying dirt near a mock-up baseball field marked the groundbreaking of the City of Goodyear's $75 million Spring Training Ballpark and Recreational Sports Complex Monday at noon in Arizona. Feller also threw out the first pitch to John Berroth, a member of the Arizona state champion Goodyear All-Star Little League Team. More than 350 people attended the groundbreaking in the shadow of the Sierra Estrella Mountains that marks the first step in the Indians' return to the Cactus League and the desert where they trained from 1947-92.

"This is a great day in Goodyear when we break ground to bring the Cleveland Indians and Cactus League baseball to the Southwest Valley," Goodyear Mayor Jim Cavanaugh said. "By owning and operating this incredible facility, the City of Goodyear will control a wonderful, year-round amenity in our community."

Renderings of the exterior design of the ballpark and of the Indians' team clubhouse were unveiled for the first time. The complex is being designed by renowned sports facility designer HOK of Kansas City and constructed by Barton Malow, a national construction services company headquartered in Michigan, with an office in Tempe. The practice fields and Indians player development complex will be completed in next summer, and the ballpark will be ready for the 2009 Cactus League season.

"We're extremely impressed with HOK's design because the architecture displays a simple elegance that draws upon the rich architectural history of the surrounding region," said Brian Dalke, interim city manager of Goodyear.

This one-of-a-kind sports complex includes an 8,000-seat ballpark with an additional 500 premium seats, six suites and 1,600 berm seats, as well as a 400 party-seat area in the outfield.

The complex also includes a separate clubhouse/practice field area that will serve as a year-round training facility for the Indians and provide Goodyear's residents with a grand recreational sports and events complex.

"The Cleveland Indians organization is excited about the opportunity to develop our players year-round in the warm Arizona weather," said Indians president Paul Dolan. "Having such a great ballpark and state-of-the-art training facility in Goodyear will be a real asset to our team, and we are really looking forward to the 2009 Spring Training season in the Cactus League."

The Indians will house their Spring Training operation and player development facility in Goodyear beginning next summer, when the Indians' clubhouse and practice fields are completed. The Indians' year-round portion of the practice field area will consist of their clubhouse, two major practice fields, one half field and batting practice areas. The remaining four major practice fields will be for the use of Goodyear residents, except during the two months of Spring Training. The city also expects to use both the ballpark and practice field area for special events throughout the year.

The ballpark itself will be the centerpiece of Ballpark Village, an innovative mixed-use development of office, retail, housing and hospitality being developed just southeast of Goodyear's future City Center by local developer Rose Properties Southwest. The unique design of this Spring Training ballpark distinguishes it from other Spring Training facilities in the Valley. Its 360-degree, ground-level concourse is being planned to ensure cohesive integration with surrounding restaurants, offices and a hotel/conference center.