Bridgeport thoughts
The news Thursday that the Wild Things have an agreement with Genesis Partners to bring Frontier League baseball to Bridgeport, W.Va., in 2014 came as a surprise, even if ownership had been working on this kind of deal since 2004.The original plan was for a ballpark and upscale community development to be located in Fairmont, W.Va. The ballpark was to be shared by a Frontier League franchise -- owned by the Wild Things' group -- and Fairmont State's baseball team. Wild Things ownership thought a team in Fairmont would be ideal because it would be located between Morgantown and the Clarksburg/Bridgeport area.
That plan, however, was stuck in a West Virginia political power struggle, and the end result was the Bridgeport plan. The ballpark will cost $15 to $20 million and seat 3,5000. It will be located in the $1.4 billion Charles Pointe master-planned community (think Southpointe with a ballpark). Bridgeport is located 75 miles south of Washington.
The most interesting part of this announcement by the Wild Things is the timing. It comes on the heels of West Virginia University's announcement last month that it wants to build a ballpark at University Town Center, just off the I-79 Star City exit. The park would be home to the Mountaineers' baseball program and a minor league team. According to the Charleston Daily Mail, WVU athletic director Oliver Luck wants the ballpark to have a synthetic playing surface. Readers of this blog know that means an independent team would likely be the tenant.
The developers in Bridgeport are far ahead of WVU's, and the Wild Things have been working for years on the former project. But you have to wonder how the WVU situation will impact a Bridgeport franchise.
Labels: Bridgeport
posted by Chris Dugan at
2:41 PM
19 Comments:
Something smells.
"Something smells."
It's you.
I think if's you - I know it's you.
I know I don’t understand all the different things involved with this arrangement. Having said that, how is that the Wild Things are involved in bringing Frontier League baseball to West (By God) Virginia? Would that not best be a function of the League office? It is easy to see how the Wild Things would benefit by having a rival so close by, However, isn’t it a sort of conflict of interest? This possibility (of a team in WV)certainly has never come up in any of the season ticket holders meetings. However, one just has to get the feeling that there are a lot of things that are being withheld from us.
These monthly meetings are becoming more of a thing where there is a lot more of the season ticket holders being ‘advised’ of what is going to happen rather than a lot of input from the actual attendees. It seems that almost all suggestions made by individuals have already been thought of by the Wild Things and, in most cases, dismissed or, just go by the wayside. Even big mouthed me has stopped making any remarks or suggestions. As with Borg, resistance is futile. As long as the Wild Things keep the promises they have already made, I’m willing to settle for that. (ie; making the ushers actually do their jobs). I'll have to see that to really believe it
It just seems odd to me that for an organization that has not produced much in the way of on field success in ten seasons or, judging from attendance the last few seasons, not much from ticket sales either, could be entering an agreement with Genesis Partners or anybody else for that matter. The Wild Things alone, seems to be struggling for their own survival so what do they have to offer these folks? Ain’t no skin off my nose – just wondering!
Whatever happens I hope it all works out for sake of us Wild Things fans that want to see the team succeed here in Washington rather than go the way of so many other Frontier League teams in the past.
Ima Fraid
Chris any chance Wild Things ownership would move the team?
There's always a chance, but I'd say it's highly unlikely.
So, there is a plan B that involves moving the team. Thought so.
Who said that?
I am not the one that said there is a plan B but it almost sounded like that is what you inplied. At least it did to me.
The annual preseason hype for the WTs will begin shortly. This year it will be more intense than ever.
It will be very interesting to see just how it pans out. I sort of think most fans know by now that it will be just so much hot air – again.
All I said was there's always a chance, but it's highly unlikely. There's always a chance the Pirates will trade for Albert Pujols this year, too, but that's also highly unlikely.
Frankly i don't much care what happens. I know i'm not driving 65 expensive miles to watch two high school teams play sloppy baseball. I hardly ever drive the 15 miles to watch the local minor minor minor league team throw the ball arond like a bunch of grade school kids.
The smell is getting stronger.
Wow WT ownership can throw money around to build stadiums and fund more teams but can't pay employees what they are owed. If you don't believe me ask some of the employees if they have gotten what they are owed
"i'm not driving 65 expensive miles to watch two high school teams play sloppy baseball. I hardly ever drive the 15 miles to watch the local minor minor minor league team throw the ball arond like a bunch of grade school kids."
But I will waste my valauble team reading and commenting on a blog about the minor minor minor league team that I have no interest in.
"The smell is getting stronger."
The smell is you. Go take a shower.
Thank you, thank you, I will be appearing here all weekend.
Wild Bill is getting nasty now.
Some of us even waste time studying the WT stats and bios on line.
Some body needs to get a wife, then a life
Something smells
OH DEAR GOD DONT MOVE THEM THERE THE BEST THING WASHINGTON PA HAS EVER HAD
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