Regional cooperation may be key to ballpark
SPECIAL REPORT: Baseball in Richmond
A long-term ballpark solution will be addressed by the city and neighboring counties after the new franchise has formally relocated and the ownership group can join discussions. Talks would initially involve a lease agreement at The Diamond. It's expected team owners will contribute to the construction of a new facility or transformation of The Diamond.
"The only place in this area that I am very comfortable that Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond, Hanover can come together on is on the Boulevard," said James L. Jenkins, chairman of the board of directors of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which owns and operates The Diamond.
Regional cooperation is vital to a long-term solution, in the estimation of William J. Pantele, a former City Council president.
"At the end of the day, we need to look at what a baseball stadium or that activity really is, and it's a regional entertainment event. That's worth contributing to. It's not worth breaking the bank over," Pantele said. "So wherever [a new or transformed ballpark] is located West End, Boulevard, someplace else -- it's got to have a fiscally feasible model, and I don't think you'll ever get to that kind of model without the regional governments getting together."
While Minor League Baseball and the Eastern League have demonstrated patience regarding a long-term ballpark plan, it would be instructive to recall that dissatisfaction with The Diamond influenced the Atlanta Braves to relocate the Richmond Braves to Gwinnett County, Ga., following last season.
"We're making this leap of faith. We're bringing a team down there," said Joe McEacharn, the Eastern League president. "We understand that it is going to be a minimum of two years and potentially three years to work something out [regarding a long-term stadium solution]. Beyond that, the unknown is such that we don't want to draw lines in the sand.
"But we're not prepared to come down there and say, 'Let's revisit this in five years.'"
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Reader Reactions
Its common that there are no baseball leagues. Because not enough can play it to the level it takes. Just like football. Oh, unless you are counting flag football, which if you do then you can count softball for baseball.
Better not spend any public funds on another foolish venture. People in central VA do not support sports teams. Well not enough anyway. People here are do’ers and not watch’ers… Look at the success and filled adult sports leagues. Softball, Volleyball, Soccar, Football, Kickball, Dodgeball, etc… NO BASEBALL
Hold the phone. No one is saying that the long term solution is another boondoggle, so don’t go off the handle just yet. A long term solution might be a refurb of the Diamond, which seems to be the most acceptable solution for the naysayers. Let the talks take place before you start throwing rocks. As long as no one comes in with a shiny new carrot I think a reasonable solution can be worked out.
If the tax payers money is used, please dont let the state shutdown the restrooms!!
After countess meetings, articles, and useless press conferences, it’s really a no brainer. The counties have said all along that the only proposal they support is the renovation of the Diamond site. They have flatly refused to consider a huge complex in Richmond that would ultimately cost taxpayers. So finally, and wisely, we are right back where we started. Can we pleeeease get moving on the Diamond already?
No tax dollars for baseball (unless it is returned through profits).
I’m all for it. I dont mind some of my hard earned tax money going to a new or renovated park. Cant wait to see some baseball.
Regional cooperation in Richmond? That’s a joke right? Fund the stadium with private money and leave the taxpayers out.
Regional Cooperation? Is that another way of saying that I have spent all my money so please be stupid and give me yours. The counties need to focus their money on their tax payers needs NOT on something the city wants. I get just as much out of watching a High School baseball game and it is free.
Regional cooporation ugh, well don’t count your chickens just yet. With the economy getting bleaker every day, the last thing most people want to contribute to is another Richmond Region Fantasy Project.
As far as I’m concerned, the owners can build the park themselves with their own money. I believe that is what the Sawyer family did with Richmond International Raceway. I don’t want to see one red cent of my tax money go to support this thing.
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