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This is very disappointing for those of us here in Richmond who love to see minor league baseball. I can't say it's all that surprising, with the amount of grandstanding (IMO) from the city over the course of the last several years. I'll just say this....if you work as a consultant, call the city of Richmond. They will pay you to do something, I promise. They have "consulted" this potential project to death.
If you listen to the local "leaders", there seems to be some thought that other groups will be lining up to take over this market. I find that questionable at best, considering the environment city leadership has created with the Braves. I think it has to be easier to keep the team that's been here 40+ years than to attract a new team, but maybe/hopefully I'm wrong. We'll see.
If you listen to the local "leaders", there seems to be some thought that other groups will be lining up to take over this market. I find that questionable at best, considering the environment city leadership has created with the Braves. I think it has to be easier to keep the team that's been here 40+ years than to attract a new team, but maybe/hopefully I'm wrong. We'll see.
Richmond would be ideal for the Nats...
...and if they want to work on capturing the region they should be beating down the door to get into Richmond.
...and if they want to work on capturing the region they should be beating down the door to get into Richmond.
I wonder how many new Nats fans could be generated from this area with a minor league club? Think about it, a large portion of fans around here are Braves fans because of the R-Braves (and because of TBS formerly broadcasting most A-Braves games, etc).
Now with various factors (potential dissatisfaction with the A-Braves, lack of A-Braves games to see on TV or R-Braves games to see locally, ability to see every Nats game on TV or with a 2 hour drive, etc) you're right that there probably is an excellent opportunity to really cultivate a Nats fan base.
This is not to mention that they could possibly further develop the rivalry with the Orioles since their AAA team is right down the road (this is highly unlikely in my opinion, because I doubt the area can attract another AAA team at this point). Also, Potomac is the Nationals High-A club, so there would be at least some opportunity to follow these guys right up the organization ladder. It would be nice, I agree.
Now with various factors (potential dissatisfaction with the A-Braves, lack of A-Braves games to see on TV or R-Braves games to see locally, ability to see every Nats game on TV or with a 2 hour drive, etc) you're right that there probably is an excellent opportunity to really cultivate a Nats fan base.
This is not to mention that they could possibly further develop the rivalry with the Orioles since their AAA team is right down the road (this is highly unlikely in my opinion, because I doubt the area can attract another AAA team at this point). Also, Potomac is the Nationals High-A club, so there would be at least some opportunity to follow these guys right up the organization ladder. It would be nice, I agree.
One of my favorite logos...
...and my favorite ballpark accessory...
Those are good points about bringing in the Nat's AAA team. But will a new tenant demand a new ballpark, also?
I always looked at the Diamond when I drove up 95 and my thoughts escape to baseball. I remember a game in '93 when Javy, Chipper and Klesko were in the line-up facing Fernando Valenzuela trying to come back with the O's. Great memories of good times there.
...and my favorite ballpark accessory...
Those are good points about bringing in the Nat's AAA team. But will a new tenant demand a new ballpark, also?
I always looked at the Diamond when I drove up 95 and my thoughts escape to baseball. I remember a game in '93 when Javy, Chipper and Klesko were in the line-up facing Fernando Valenzuela trying to come back with the O's. Great memories of good times there.
quote:Originally posted by infidel_08:
But will a new tenant demand a new ballpark, also?
I would say yes, that's almost a certainty. I've heard some talk that a team in one of the lower leagues (Sally League, for instance) would possibly be happy enough with a market of Richmond's size that they wouldn't necessarily demand a new park.
But that place is so bad, I would think it borders on unacceptable for any full season league. I would think any team would want a facility that was more conducive to player development than The Diamond. They don't have a weight room, their cage space is limited, etc. That's not even to mention the size/amenities of the clubhouse and the fact that it's not the greatest facility/area from the fan's perspective.
I would expect there would need to be a clear movement towards a new stadium in order to attract another team. I would guess another team could possibly deal with The Diamond's shortcomings for a year or so while a stadium was being built. The problem is that the city may not be able to get its ducks in a row on a new stadium for years. It was amazing to read that Gwinnett County's deal with the Braves and proposal for a site/developement plan for their stadium came together in four months, more or less. It takes that long around here for the first round of consultants to finish their work.
There is still a cultural reluctance to commit large taxpayer resources to enhance a sports team's bottom line, and the structure of our local governments also reinforces the leanings against committing big wads of cash to pro sports. Personally, I think all that is as it should be.
I am not terribly torn up about this. Once the apex of minor league ball, AAA is now the parking place for guys in their late 20's trying to claw back from injuries, guys who had their MLB shots and failed to stick and are trying to get back, etc. In this era, the hot prospects are in AA ball. Most of them skip AAA entirely on their way to the bigs. Give us one of those AA teams, so we can really get a look at the next generation of MLB stars.
I would like to see a more intimate park, which hopefully would be possible now since a lower level team might demand lesser seating. That would hopefully help the area localities keep a lid on the expenses. Maybe we can make it economically viable even with only 5,000 average attendance.
We should also make sure VCU is a full partner in the park going forward. They use the facility for their 25-30 home games/year and there's no reason we shouldn't accommodate them in their practices, etc. as well, at least until the pro team shows up in April. Getting them more invested in the facility would also discourage them from taking their business elsewhere and assure the facility's use is maximized.
I am not terribly torn up about this. Once the apex of minor league ball, AAA is now the parking place for guys in their late 20's trying to claw back from injuries, guys who had their MLB shots and failed to stick and are trying to get back, etc. In this era, the hot prospects are in AA ball. Most of them skip AAA entirely on their way to the bigs. Give us one of those AA teams, so we can really get a look at the next generation of MLB stars.
I would like to see a more intimate park, which hopefully would be possible now since a lower level team might demand lesser seating. That would hopefully help the area localities keep a lid on the expenses. Maybe we can make it economically viable even with only 5,000 average attendance.
We should also make sure VCU is a full partner in the park going forward. They use the facility for their 25-30 home games/year and there's no reason we shouldn't accommodate them in their practices, etc. as well, at least until the pro team shows up in April. Getting them more invested in the facility would also discourage them from taking their business elsewhere and assure the facility's use is maximized.
I would love to see AA baseball here. I made basically the exact same case you just made to a friend earlier (better players, AAA being used as insurance for the major league level, smaller stadium allowances). He was of the mindset that anything other than AAA was some huge step backward. Now, if it's below AA, then who knows. But like I said, AA would be awesome. With that being said, AA is probably the worst geographical fit of all, so that'll likely be a concern.
The big problem right now is that the new president of MiLB is likely to view this as an early test of his leadership skills. Look for him to interpose himself as the bottleneck between the city (or the localities working as a group or through the RMA) and the minor league teams that might consider relocating here.
MiLB does not want a situation to develop where the teams are bidding against each other to get a deal with Richmond. That would set a precedent with teams taking LESS from localities. Obviously MiLB has an ongoing interest in maintaining its cartel capabilities to drive UP the amount localities pay to induce teams to move.
The Richmond area is going to have to be prepared to be patient, in order to assure it doesn't get taken to the cleaners on this. Mayor Wilder is taking a lot of flack on this right now and rightfully so, but you don't want that to lead to a case of "auction fever" where you're so desperate to get something NOW that you end up paying out the wazoo.
MiLB does not want a situation to develop where the teams are bidding against each other to get a deal with Richmond. That would set a precedent with teams taking LESS from localities. Obviously MiLB has an ongoing interest in maintaining its cartel capabilities to drive UP the amount localities pay to induce teams to move.
The Richmond area is going to have to be prepared to be patient, in order to assure it doesn't get taken to the cleaners on this. Mayor Wilder is taking a lot of flack on this right now and rightfully so, but you don't want that to lead to a case of "auction fever" where you're so desperate to get something NOW that you end up paying out the wazoo.
In the interim they could always rent it out to the dog fighting crowd.
quote:Originally posted by igball:
In the interim they could always rent it out to the dog fighting crowd.
Bad, bad joke. Poor taste and unnecessary, in my opinion.
Interesting...especially the possibility of Fayetteville. I can't help but wonder how a minor league franchise would affect the CPL team that has been extremely successful there.
Do they get much turnout there? At the few games I've attended in Petersburg, it's pretty much family and friends only. Nothing that a minor league franchise would upset.
I lived in Richmond when the Diamond was quickly build to replace Parker Field. It was triumphant, a great example of community spirit and initiative. And it was a great ballpark. I think it still is, and I really cannot understand what makes it so unacceptable. I support a downtown ballpark for Richmond, but only because of my love for ballparks. The ballpark is not a legitimate reason for the Braves departure from Richmond, a great baseball city. The only reason -- and it is not a good one -- is greed and selfishness on the part of the Atlanta Braves.
Any other organization ought to look at Richmond as a potential gold mine. The Nats would be wonderful. I still remember 1964 when it was the Richmond Virginians, the AAA team of the Yankees, whose best pitcher was Mel Stottlmyre, who was called up late in the season and won 9 games to lead NY to the pennant and the World Series against the Cardinals. Those were the best days.
Any other organization ought to look at Richmond as a potential gold mine. The Nats would be wonderful. I still remember 1964 when it was the Richmond Virginians, the AAA team of the Yankees, whose best pitcher was Mel Stottlmyre, who was called up late in the season and won 9 games to lead NY to the pennant and the World Series against the Cardinals. Those were the best days.
quote:Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Do they get much turnout there? At the few games I've attended in Petersburg, it's pretty much family and friends only. Nothing that a minor league franchise would upset.
The Fayetteville team draws great, averaging around 2000 fans a game.