As Richmond officials continue to debate the best course of action regarding a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark, experts advise a downtown location for the most impact.
Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy was on a panel discussing new ballpark at the Real Estate Trends Conference, and his advice was clear: build downtown for the most impact. It’s a subject where he has experience: as mayor in the 1990s, he was a key player in getting PNC Park built in downtown Pittsburgh. And while the team has struggled over the years, there’s no doubt PNC Park and neighboring Heinz Field have had a positive economic impact.
That impact can be had in Richmond:
Building a baseball park or an arena will be a catalyst for private investments, higher payroll and sales tax revenues, more employment and economic growth, Murphy said.
Richmond has the same opportunity as Pittsburgh, he said. “It’s not a transaction to build a baseball stadium, but a strategy to build vibrancy and activity.”…
The most successful cities are those with sites near each other in pedestrian-friendly, redeveloped downtown areas, the speakers said.
The city and the Flying Squirrels are still talking about a new-ballpark deal; a plan to build a new facility next to The Diamond is apparently dead, and two downtown locations are in play.
RELATED STORIES: Squirrels: No plans to leave Richmond “at the present time”; Didn’t take long: Opposition rises to Richmond Shockoe Bottom ballpark site; Richmond ballpark discussion shifts back to Shockoe Bottom; Manchester in play as well; Richmond: Yes, we really do intend on building a new ballpark; Budget issues postpone Squirrels ballpark to 2015 at the earliest; New Richmond ballpark by 2014?; DiBella: Time to start talking new ballpark; Flying Squirrels throw out first offer on new ballpark; Baseball returns to Richmond’s Diamond — but for how long?; Baseball returns to Richmond tonight; Flying Squirrels unveil uniform designs; Flying Squirrels unveil logo, color schemes; Richmond contest yields another dreadful name; Five finalists for Richmond team name announced; It’s official: Defenders to Richmond; Key decisions due on Connecticut/Richmond move this week; DiBella to keep Defenders, move team to Richmond;Opening Day Partners, HNTB propose radical overhaul of Richmond’s Diamond; Sale of Connecticut Defenders scrapped; New Richmond ballpark can’t happen without city assistance: consultants; Community support lacking for Richmond ballpark proposal; MiLB: New ballpark still preferred route in Richmond; Bostic: It makes no sense to renovate The Diamond; Richmond baseball study didn’t consider renovated Diamond, stacks deck for new downtown ballpark; Richmond ballpark consulting deal draws criticism; Norwich approves Defenders lease transfer; Richmond to study new ballpark; Defenders ballpark lease transfer on tap for next week; new team for Norwich chosen?; Renovated Diamond may do in Richmond; MiLB to Richmond: Show us the ballpark plan; Richmond group applies for permission to buy team; New Richmond ballpark would rely on sales-tax rebates; Richmond group says it’s close to buying team
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!