Bridgeview’s sports dome before the December 2015, storm damage. (Courtesy Bridgeview Sports Dome Facebook Page)

A storm-damaged indoor sports dome with an inflatable roof and a history that includes a federal lawsuit may be sold by the Village of Bridgeview.

A plan by Bridgeview-based Stampede Meat, Inc. to construct a 60,000-75,000-square-foot food processing plant was approved by the Bridgeview Village Board Oct. 19. The plant would be constructed on a five-acre site at 8900 S. 77th Ave., purchased by the village in 2003 for $1.6 million.

It was once proposed as an indoor practice space for the Chicago Fire soccer team. Most recently, the Bridgeview Sports Dome was used as an indoor golf driving range and an indoor soccer and football space.

How the village acquired the former Bridgeview Sports Dome was the subject of an FBI investigation and a federal lawsuit filed in 2005 by former co-owner John LaFlamboy who claimed Mayor Steve Landek wanted to lure the soccer team to Bridgeview and strong-armed LaFlamboy to sell his share in the business to a mob-associated former Chicago cop for $175,000.

LaFlamboy’s complaint alleged $6 million in damages, claiming that mayor Landek (who now also serves as State Representative and owns the Des Plaines Valley News) engaged in a conspiracy to acquire the World Golf Dome after LaFlamboy refused to cough up campaign donations equaling 8-to-10 percent of his profits or buy $50 fundraising tickets to a “Men’s Picnic.” LaFlamboy also accused the local police department and building department of harassing him.

In the complaint, LaFlamboy said he was visited by former Chicago cop Fred Pascente, a former village employee and a “hulking accomplice” all “armed with revolvers” to threaten him into selling his share of the property. During the trial it was revealed the LaFlamboy was secretly recording conversations for the FBI. No charges were ever filed by the FBI.

The village, defended by Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, of Burke Burns & Pinelli, Ltd., denied all LaFlamboy’s allegations. Landek and other officials settled with LaFlamboy in 2009 for an unspecified amount.

In recent years, the village had planned to tear down the sports dome and build a new one closer to Toyota Park, the village-owned soccer stadium used by the Chicago Fire. An ice storm in December 2015, punctured the dome’s roof and hastened its demise.

The Stampede Meat, Inc. proposal said the new processing plant would employ 250 people at the new “state-of-the-art” plant. The 21-year-old company has $5.7 million in annual sales. The company produces more than 500 beef, pork and poultry products sold at retail grocers such as Costco, and restaurants such as Applebees according to their website. The location is in an industrial area next to the I-294 Expressway and away from any housing. The village declined to make public Stampede’s offer price for the parcel. Currently, the village leases out an easement on the property for a cell phone tower.

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