Hat tip to Ballpark Digest for this rumor …
Though it’s not been officially announced, we’ve heard the Washington Nationals are switching their Low Class A affiliation to the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League). The move makes geographic sense for the Nats, who are switching affiliation from the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League). The Suns had previously been an affiliate of the New York Mets
A move from Savannah to Hagerstown would certainly move the Nationals A-level affiliate closer to Washington DC along with AA Harrisburg and A Advanced Potomac. If the Nationals in fact have agreed to this and they can also agree with Norfolk for their AAA franchise, it would place the organization in a much more manageable arrangement for overseeing their player development.
BristowNats | 19-Sep-06 at 2:27 pm | Permalink
Hagerstown would be great but what is the long-term stadium situation up there?
Tom | 21-Sep-06 at 2:05 pm | Permalink
It is the worst stadium is SAL! Even worse that Savanah’s Grayson Stadium. Hopefully, the fan support will improve becuse of the local ties. Hagerstown has trditionally at the bottom of the SAL in attendence. The Nats are going to have to do the same inkind advertising the committed to with the P-Nats this season to help Hagerstown with their attendence. But, once you go there you’ll probably only go back for the “Thirsty Thursday” promo. They should also change their name to the Hagerstown Nationals and get new uniforms.
Brian J Oliver | 21-Sep-06 at 2:30 pm | Permalink
I’ve heard that Tom. Hopefully some pimping by the big league club can increase the fan interest.
BristowNats | 22-Sep-06 at 8:02 am | Permalink
I saw some articles that there is a slow-moving effort to build a new stadium up there.
The worst stadium in their league, huh? That sounds like Potomac…
I think the P-Nats moved from 6th to 7th in CL attendance this year. Not sure of the change in average per game. The long-term deal will help as will a new stadium. The big club does deserve kudos for their pimping of Potomac at RFK.
Matt | 20-Oct-06 at 8:58 am | Permalink
I live in Hagerstown, and while it is true that attendance is not great, there is a big reason for that.
It’s hard to root for a farm club of a team that you have no interest in. There’s no reason to get to know and root for the players, because even if they do end up making a big-league club, it’s not one you follow closely.
When the Hagerstown Suns were an Orioles affiliate, attendance was much higher. I think the same would happen if they were a Nationals affiliate, to a slightly lesser degree.
And yes, the stadium is pretty awful, but if attendance would begin to go up, I think the long-talked about new stadium construction would seem more realistic than it is right now.