Comments on: Richmond Now Available?

By: Wooden U. Lykteneau

Wooden U. Lykteneau — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:34:02 +0000

This smells like a ploy to get Richmond to pony up, given that it’s doubtful that a new stadium will be built. That said, here’s the affiliate dance roundup from Ballpark Digest, which might give some clues:
http://www.ballparkdigest.com/affiliates_2008.html

Potomac and Harrisburg are signed through 2010; Hagerstown is signed through 2008.

By: Suns Fan

Suns Fan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:55:58 +0000

As much as I hate to say it, moving Hagerstown would be the only thing that makes sense from the Nationals perspective. But then you have a low A team playing in a AAA market. There are other AAA teams that are struggling financially–both in the PCL. My guess is one of those teams moves to Richmond, and the Braves agree to have their Gwenett team play in the PCL, and fund the excess travel costs caused by having a Pacific Coast League Team on the east coast.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:09:57 +0000

Well, even if it’s cheap, you have to admit, having the Nats in Richmond is not only natural, but overdue. Yeah, they may have to juggle some things around, but as a Nats fan from the Fredericksburg area, that would be truly wonderful.

By: Louis J.

Louis J. — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:09:22 +0000

The Diamond (AAA stadium in Richmond) has serious drainage problems and the planned relocation/redevelopment of a new stadium near the river ran into similair water/flood problems. This is the reason for the Braves moving to another location. Remember, the Nats can't move the Hagerstown without purchasing it first and dealing with the existing lease agreement with the City which is renovating the field. I rather buy the P-Nats instead.

The cultivation of the Richmond area would a great marketing idea for the Nats (how many fans are going to travel from Columbus to watch a game and Richmond is only 2 hrs away). This situation is perfect for an ownership group led by the Lerners who are the masters of developing properties. The Lerners & City of Richmond could develop a smaller version of the new Nationals ballpark on the river with a stadium and a mix of commercial, office, retail and residential condo. While this may take a few years, it would give the Nationals time to identify (and negotiate with) another AAA franchise which can be purchased and moved to the new site in Richmond.

In the meantime, the Nationals can purchase the Potomac Nationals and move them to THE DIAMOND to establish a presence in Richmond. They would also investigate a future location (and negotiate with the apporpriate Town/City/County) for new stadium complex for the P-Nats (similiar to the Wilmington, Delaware site). Once the new stadiums are completed and a new AAA team is purchased and moved into the new Richmond site the P-Nats can move to their new location. Some areas of interest in Virginia for the P-Nats would be Stafford/Fredericksburg area, Charlottesville-Albermarle County, Staunton-Augusta County, Winchester-Front Royal & Warrenton/Fauquier County. A number of teams own their minor league affiliates such as the Braves and the Red Sox subsidary recently purchased the Advanced Class A franchise in Salem, VA. It's about time that the Nats start doing the same thing.

They have time (2-3 years) to accomplish this if they act quickly before another organization establishes a presence in this area.

By: Pilchard

Pilchard — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:11:33 +0000

Columbus is opening a new stadium in 2009, and there are rumors that the Indians and Columbus officials are eyeing a possible affliation as Cleveland’s lease with Buffalo ends in 2008. Will be interesting to see how all this plays out.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:02:24 +0000

This is kind of off topic but I looked at Atlanta’s top 10 prospects on BP today and Goldstein ranked Heyward as a 5 star prospect. Considering Burgess was ahead of him heading into their senior year and only slipped in the draft due to a poor senior season. But performed considerably well in his pro debut do you think he’ll recieve the same 5 star ranking from Goldstein as well?

By: Louis J.

Louis J. — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:05:59 +0000

Pilchard
Still doesn’t help the Nats since Buffalo would have to get a team if one left. If only Cleveland moves its PDA to Columbus, then the Nats would be forced to go to Buffalo. The only way that the Nats AAA team can go to Richmond is if an AAA owner(franchise) exists in Richmond which won’t be the case after the Braves move out. For example, the Ottawa AAA franchise doesn’t exist anymore because it was purchased and the owner moved it to Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA) and entered into a PDA with the Phillies to be their AAA affiliate. The Orioles -who were in Ottawa- moved to Norfolk (where the Mets were); the Yankees (who were in Columbus) moved to Scranton-Wilkes-Barre (where the Phillies were); the Nationals (who were in New Orleans) moved to Columbus and the Mets moved to New Orleans. Buy a franchise and you can move otherwise you play the game of musical chairs of where you locate your minor league team.

By: BristowNats

BristowNats — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:07:01 +0000

I think this will be the beginning of the end for the Potomac Nats in PWC. The Pfitz is way past prime (if it ever had one) and PWC won’t (and shouldn’t) pony up the bucks for it. I like Louis J’s beachead in Richmond idea but I don’t think a AAA franchise will be floating around to see it through. Rather I think the P-Nats may be the endgame for Richmond. They can build a smaller stadium which looks like a cost savings to the city.

Louisville has the Reds AAA team now and a nice stadium downtown and won’t let a AAA franchise go easily even if they lose the Reds to Columbus. I don’t think the Reds own the AAA franchise.

Columbus v. Buffalo would be an interesting battle with the Nats picking up the scraps.

By: uvanatsetc

uvanatsetc — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:08:14 +0000

to continue along the lines of louis j’s post, the university of virginia has a very nice little park in charlottesville. i don’t know the logistics and legalities of putting a professional team in an ncaa park, but i think it would be worth a shot. of course, i’ve been wishing c-ville had a minor league team for years, so i’m a little bit biased.

By: phil dunn

phil dunn — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:32:54 +0000

Buying a Triple A franchise takes money and I doubt the Lerners are interested for that reason alone. I won’t call the Lerner’s cheap but they are disinclined to spend money unless there is a huge return on investment.

By: Pilchard

Pilchard — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:59:43 +0000

Louis J,

Thanks for your post. I realize that the Nats moving their AAA franchise to Richmond is not as easy as simply signing a deal with the City if the Indians affliate with Columbus. Also, aware that Buffalo has very strong following and nice park. So, the Nats will play in Buffalo if the only AAA movement in 2009 was Cleveland to Columbus and the Braves to Gwinett County. However, there usually is a domino effect when franchises change affliates; so, there is a possibility that the Nats could move to Richmond, but it will require some city to lose their AAA team.

By: Louis J.

Louis J. — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:34:40 +0000

uvanatsetc
The Low Class A team in Vermont (The Lake Monsters) play at the Univ. of Vermont’s Centennial Field so I guess tha NCAA does not object. In your opinion, is the Charlottesville area large enough to support a minor league team w/average attendance of 2000-3000 people? I remember that the UVA field I saw years ago was near the soccer stadium (soccer stadium was a very nice facility) and was not large enough to seat many people. Have they built another field?

By: Louis J.

Louis J. — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:55:44 +0000

BristowNats
Think big! The Red Sox organizations own the team, the stadium, cable outlets, minor league franchises, 50% interest in Roush Racing (NASCAR), etc. Dan Snyder owns the Redskins, FEDEX Field, Six Flags, Motion Picture studio, etc. Where do you think they get all of their money. The Lerners own the Nats, Shopping Centers & Commercial Buildings. If they want to play with the big boys, they’ll have to diversify to maximize their “revenue streams”. (Stan Kasten always reminds us about maximizing their revenue streams)

Building a small stadium in Richmond is not maximizing your revenue steam. Building a complex with an 8000 seat stadium w/luxury box/suites for the “Main Street” old line businesses to purchase together with a mix of commercial, retail and condo is maximizing your revenue streams and the Lerner’s net worth.

By: Louis J.

Louis J. — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:17:49 +0000

Think big and I suggest a 8000 seat stadium. Change that to a 12, 500 seat stadium…..

By: uvanatsetc

uvanatsetc — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:09:49 +0000

uva’s baseball box scores give attendance numbers in the 1000’s and 2000’s, so that, you’d think, would be about the level of attendance you might expect from a minor league team put in that stadium. draw your own conclusions from that

By: Gary

Gary — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 03:36:08 +0000

Somehow, Louis J. makes sense to me with his musings on building a mini-Nats Park somewhere.
I live an hour from Winchester (and Charlottesville), so to ME those two make sense to build something like this. There’s one other place no one thought of: Harrisonburg, as in James Madison University.
They’re tearing down the old Valley League park there, and putting up a NEW park for JMU to use (with lights!!!). Perhaps, the Nats COULD get in touch with the city poobahs about sharing?? (I doubt it, personally, but still…)

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:10:08 +0000

Has anyone talked with Art Silber or anyone at the P-Nats?
I understand they have finally come to some agreement with PWC about a new stadium. Art lives in Florida, but the kids live in the area. So if he is committed to the new Pfitz, how can this all work out?

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:33:03 +0000

Haven’t read anything about an agreement, Tom, but I’m sure SOMETHING has to happen soon. I went to Pfitz last summer, but sitting on those bleachers in the hot sun (even @ sunset) is NOT what I call comfortable.
It WOULD be nice if we had real minor league ball out here in the (Shenandoah) Valley, instead of the Valley League. Maybe somebody can put in the word to the poobahs in Natsland, that we’ve got a fan base out here just WAITING to be tapped.
You know, like open Nationals Fan Stores, like the Redskins have. Trust me, the Lerner poobahs can generate good will this way.