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Fredericksburg ballpark groundbreaking set for March

Hagerstown SunsThings are moving quickly on a new Fredericksburg ballpark for the relocating Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League), with a new GM in place and a groundbreaking set for March.

The ownership group, which includes the current Suns owners, the Diamond Nation training firm and local Rosner Automotive Group principal Ron Rosner, are planning on buying 38 acres and construction a $29-million complex that include a 4,750-seat ballpark, five-field youth training complex and associated support facilities, with the city springing for a 16-acre parking lot. If all goes well, the new complex will be ready for the 2015 season. From Fredericksburg.com:

Diamond Nation President Keith Dilgard said the engineering, geotechnical and environmental work that has been done on the 38 acres has shown that the complex can be built there, though a good bit of grading will be required.

The site borders Interstate 95’s southbound lanes and overlooks the Rappahannock River.

The baseball partners have narrowed down the field of potential general contractors to four and expect to select the firm within a couple of weeks. All are large firms that have experience building professional sports stadiums, Dilgard said. HKS Inc. is the architect.

In addition, the owners have hired a new GM to work on the team’s transition and set up operations, which will also include establishing a team name and branding.

The corollary issue: what happens to Hagerstown’s Municipal Stadium once the Suns leave. Word at the Winter Meetings was that another affiliated league was looking into the market and the feasibility of using Municipal Stadium for a lower level of baseball.

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