Observer Story: Pitching a new ballpark.

The following story was in the Charlotte Observer ... I'll paste the pertinent information here and give you a link.

Link to Full Observer Article

Getting a minor league stadium (which would be expandable) in the uptown area is the first step to getting the MLB to move to the city. If a stadium that could be upgraded is available, then the area could persue a professional team. In the mean-time, the Devilrays have announced their intent on leaving St. Pete. There are teams out there. If you ever saw a game at Tropicana Field, you would know why they are so desperate to leave.

 

I think pursuing MLB team is a failed proposition. Not enough population (people or corporations) to support 3 pro teams: Panthers, Bobs and whatever MLB.

Don't forget that the Ft Mill site is also expandable. That didn't do much either.

The target should be a sustainable, fan afforable accessible minor league park that could host among other things the ACC tournament (what a great time several years ago until the social police got their tighty whities all knotted up over the St of SC flag).

 

Fort Mill isn't a "population" center. Placing the team down there was a terrible move by Shinn.

As for Charlotte not being a large enough population center, they didn't think Charlotte was big enough for either a pro-football team or for a pro-basketball team back in the 80s.

The stadium being pitched is for the Knights ... build a AAA stadium uptown near the Panthers. It will position the city for expansion though. It's not a bad idea.

 

If you've seen the arrangement that Jacksonville, FL has, you have to like the proposal that's been made here. It's a huge asset to that city's downtown area.

 

I'd love to see the Knights move back to downtown Charlotte.

The expandability question is one I'm not sure about from a time frame standpoint, bear with me here. I don't personally think Charlotte can support a competitive MLB team from a population standpoint right now, nor in the next couple of years, someday yes, but how soon I'm not sure. I do think the Corporate growth will support the team fairly short term.

And therein is the problem. Will the existing portion of the stadium be outdated by the time the expansion is ready? What is the average lifetime for Major League facilities now a days?

 

Life span of major league parks, depends on how long it takes rich owner to get cities,counties, and states to pay for it with tax money, or until he moves to another area that will!!!!!!!

 

Quite frankly, I'm not sure I would want a MLB franchise. I love the idea of a AAA team located downtown, though. It would be a great experience of fun baseball at a cheap price....and maybe $3.00 beers...not that I drink beer, but I figure if the beer is cheap, everything else will fall in line.

I know I would attend more games downtown then where it's located now.

 

"Build it and they will come".

 

We've Already Made Two Mistakes

Mistake No.1. Back in the early 80's, a proposal was made to locate the Coliseum on the current site of Bank of America stadium. The proposal was rejected in favor of the Billy Graham site because the City owned the land, traffic control and access to the BOA site was perceived to be a major problem, and planners felt the BG site would serve as a catalyst for development in that area. Well, it's 20 years later and the City just opened a new DOWNTOWN arena (where it should have been to begin with), the development on BG parkway never took place, and the Coliseum sits empty awaiting the wrecking ball.

Mistake No. 2. George Shinn building Knights Stadium and the Hornet's Training Facility out in the boonies. Commercial development in that area will "explode" with a new ballpark, is what they said. Well, they did eventually build a McDonald's and Ford dealership at the Gold Hill Road exit, but I don't think that's exactly the scale of development they had in mind. So much for the Field of Dreams theory at that site.

The proposal to move the Knights to an uptown site is an absolute "no brainer", and the site of the proposed Third Ward park (they meant ballpark) near the Panthers stadium would be a perfect location. There is nothing that would do more for the continued growth of downtown than a minor league stadium. Family entertainment at an affordable price, not to mention some good baseball. The place will be PACKED when the team is in town. I like the idea of a cool, clear, spring evening with the wife and family, tossing down a couple of those $3.00 "cold ones" and cheering for the team. Where do I buy season tickets? Let's not make Mistake No. 3 and bury the Knights in Fort Mill.

 

As far as a major league team I would forsee packed houses on the weekends as I believe those games could draw from a large area, Atlanta is just too far. But can a team survive with 10,000 attendance during the week and packed out on the weekends? Also, television revenue, local rights, seem to play a huge part of the teams budgets. Is that money available in the Charlotte market? I imagine Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Greenville/Spartanburg, Columbia etc would tag on but is it still enough? It'll take much bigger brains than mine to figure all of this out. Much more than just building a stadium. Would be nice to see though. I know I would make the trek to Charlotte on a regular basis, if they are in the National League, still hate the designated hitter rule.