Progress on a new West Chester (Pa.) ballpark remains limited, as anticipated state funding has not come through and land-acquisition issues still must be worked out.
This information was laid out at a meeting of the West Chester Redevelopment Authority last night, as authority members shared the results of their research on the financial viability of the ballpark. Their conclusion: a short-season A NY-Penn League team would certainly be viable as a tenant covering operating costs, but other issues remain before the facility can be used year-round.
Such as finding tenants for the place. So far West Chester University has passed on playing its home schedule there, and the Philadelphia Athletics Society is looking at moving operations to Philadelphia proper (which is really where it belongs).
And then there’s the land issue. The ballpark site is currently owned by Pfizer, but so far the firm has not made a proposal to donate the land to the project. There’s a financial incentive to do so: Pfizer currently pays $750,000 to $800,000 in sewer costs annually to West Chester, and the borough would need to make up those payments if it takes over the land.
So, after all is said and done, movement on the ballpark is pretty much where it was three or four months ago: a lot of talk, and no solid funding or plan in sight.
RELATED STORIES: Proposed West Chester ballpark moves forward; West Chester: We need serious ballpark proposal before proceeding; Details emerge on proposed West Chester ballpark; Phillies: Not so fast on the new West Chester ballpark; Phillies, West Chester agree on new ballpark
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