POTOMAC-Prince William says no new park likely in 2007

[vasprtsfn]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900821.html

If that happens, it could mark the end of professional baseball in Woodbridge.

[Peorgie T]

Too bad, I thought it was a done deal. Has there been any speculation as to where the team would move to?

[vasprtsfn]

Too bad, I thought it was a done deal. Has there been any speculation as to where the team would move to?

No, there has not been any specific locations mentioned. But the owner has said that, while his first choice is to keep the team here in Woodbridge, he would relocate the team elsewhere. My best guess is that it would likely be out of Northern Virginia altogether.

[Peorgie T]

No, there has not been any specific locations mentioned. But the owner has said that, while his first choice is to keep the team here in Woodbridge, he would relocate the team elsewhere. My best guess is that it would likely be out of Northern Virginia altogether.

Charlottesville is a nice size town with a lot of growth, and a fair amount of tourism during baseball season. It's probably far enough from Lynchburg so as not to compete with the Hillcats for attendance. I guess the P-Nats owner would be looking to relocate to a city willing to fund a new park.

[vasprtsfn]

According to Ask Jeeves, it is 56 miles between the 2 cities, Cville and Lynchburg, so there are no territoriy issues there. As for the city entirely funding a new park, it may not be that much. According to his plan, the county would pay for 50% of the cost, but would own the park and have access to using the park for other events over 80% of the total number of evenings per calendar year. Maybe he would offer the same thing in Charlottesville. I dont know, too early to say. Lets see what happens in Prince William first. My best guess is that a vote will happen before the beginning of April.

[Aa3rt]

For what it's worth-there is a new stadium a'buildin' here in Waldorf (Charles County, MD) that is supposed to host a team called "Southern Maryland Blue Crabs" in the Atlantic (Independent) League, beginning in 2008.

The stadium, a "political football" hereabouts, was originally planned for Hughesville (also in Charles County) but much closer to both the St. Mary's and Calvert County lines to, hopefully, draw patrons from all 3 southern Maryland counties, thus living up to the name "Southern Maryland".

Way back in the late 1980's/early 1990's (I forget exactly when.) there was a stadium proposal at that time, a working agreement made with the Cleveland Indians and a team name of "Chesapeake Voyagers" chosen (the team was to play in the Carolina League) before the elections knocked out the sitting county commissioners, with the new commissioners quickly ending any hope of a stadium at that time.

With the Bowie Baysox up the road only about 20 miles, I wonder what kind of drawing power the new team will have? I've also read that the Bowie attendance has dropped off markedly in the last few years (don't have the numbers to prove it) and wonder if, with the arrival of the Washington Nationals, is the area now baseball "saturated"?

[Peorgie T]

The Baysox have probably been affected by the arrival of the Nats more than the P-Nats have. They are a lot closer to RFK, and easier to get to if you live close in. I've been to very few games in Woodbridge over the years because it would take me well over an hour to get there on a weeknight from Arlington. I would guess that more of the Potomac fans are in PW county, and points south.

[bigtime39]

Wasn't there talk a while back about a minor league stadium in Fairfax as part of a mixed use delelopment? I don't remember exactly, but seem to recall something along those lines.

[Peorgie T]

Wasn't there talk a while back about a minor league stadium in Fairfax as part of a mixed use delelopment? I don't remember exactly, but seem to recall something along those lines.
That was a proposal that arose some time before the Expos moved to DC. It was supposed to be near the Dunn Loring Metro, but the residents in the area didn't want it (understandably, I might add, that area's already a traffic nightmare). I'm not sure if the Cannons/Nationals were the team that they wanted to play there or not.