Baseball in Richmond - Boulevard vs. Bottom, Times.....

OK, for the record, I am going to admit to what I DO NOT KNOW:

1. I haven't been to one of the developer-organized programs or the "Community Support Meetings" ("CSMs" - love their cute little acronyms) for baseball in Shockoe Bottom; and

2. I haven't seen the developer PowerPoint that explains the developer's position and rationale for baseball in the Bottom (although I have tried).

What I HAVE done is follow the news coverage pretty daggone religiously - since way back when in 2003 when the Richmond Baseball Initiative,or "RBI," was pushing for a new stadium.  [Those that know me well know I have a driving, almost compulsive, need to read the paper every day, along with my morning coffee.]  My father was in fact heavily involved in RBI, and I believe I have been introduced to Brian Bostic once or twice at various events around town.

So, all that is only to say that I do not consider myself the most educated person about the current proposal, nor to I claim to have pored over the financials, but what I do claim to have is basic knowledge about the evolution of this issue.  As I recall, the Braves wanted a new stadium, various members of the business community pushed for same, there was argument and dispute over whether we could renovate the Diamond - some said yes, the Braves said no.  Then there was also dispute over where, if there were to be a new ballpark, it should be put.  The locations I recall being put forth were (i) rebuilding at the Diamond; (ii) building in the Bottom; and (iii) even the site of the former Fulton Gas Works - which was proposed by none other than our former Mayor, Doug Wilder.  [If you want to know why that was a bad idea, just Google "brownfields"].

All of it fell apart.  No one could agree on renovation vs. new.  The counties, Chesterfield and Henrico, wouldn't commit to financially supporting a new ballpark.  The Braves insisted on new, and finally, after much rending of clothes and tearing of hair, they left for Gwinnett County, outside Atlanta.

OK.  So that brings us pretty much to the current day.

Now, where we are is we have NO ball team, but we're fighting over whether the new ball park for the phantom team should be built in Shockoe Bottom or on the Boulevard.

I also want to make a few assumptions about the Boulevard as a ball park site, since they are essentially inherent in the (VERY) conceptual plan that has been put forth by Highwoods Properties, the Master Developer for BOTH the proposed Shockoe Bottom and Boulevard projects.

ASSUMPTIONS:

• Boulevard will be developed, with or without a ball park.
• The Boulevard redevelopment, with or without a ball park, will require the demolition of both the Diamond and the Arthur Ashe Center.  By demolition, I mean the blowing-to-smithereens-and-starting-new. [BTW, I am absolutely in favor of this approach, and have discussed why in previous posts].
• The current approach  at the Boulevard site is to keep Sports Backers Stadium and to propose additional amateur sports development, including the possibility of a VCU tennis facility.

OK, let's assume my assumptions are correct.  If they aren't, feel free to point out why they are not.  Here's what I see as the $64,000 question:

QUERY:  If you are going to develop Boulevard with a large component of "amateur sports," including an existing soccer facility and (perhaps) a university tennis facility, wouldn't it make sense to have an amateur ball park there as well?

I swear I must be missing something.  Baseball has BEEN on the Boulevard, they plan to keep other sports on the Boulevard, we've finally gotten past the idea that we could renovate the Diamond and everyone seems to be on the same page and agree that we need a new stadium......

Given the choice between baseball in the Bottom and the Boulevard, doesn't Boulevard make more sense?  Baseball's been there.  Sports are going to be there anyway.  Rebuild it, and they will come.  Because they used to come.  And they'll come again.

Comments

[F.T. Rea]

Melissa,

Back in 2001 there was a flirtation with building a baseball stadium overlooking the river, using a parking lot owned by Ethyl. People dreamed of baseballs flying into the James and watching games from office windows.

The dream gradually faded. Don't remember what was wrong with the deal. Probably the money was wrong. But looking back on it, I think that was the beginning of the abandon-the-Boulevard concept.

Also, it should be noted that when the RBI push came, later, shifting the Downtown baseball concept to The Bottom, that came after the counties had already signed on to help renovate The Diamond ($18.5 million).

When the RBI movement began to pick up steam, Chesterfield County used the confusion to opt out, which eventually killed the original renovation concept.

Since then, Chesterfield and Henrico have consistently said "no" to kicking in on a baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom.

So, at this point, the City of Richmond would be thumbing its nose to regional cooperation, now and in the future, to tell the counties, "My way or the highway."

[James]

So because something has been done the same way for 100 years it should continue? That is a terrible argument.