In today's Bulletin..

Our view: Norwich shrugs as Defenders edge closer to exodus


The Connecticut Defenders have three strikes against them and, yet, the Norwich City Council is considering issuing a $610,000 bond to pay for work at Dodd Stadium. It's a bond that would be money wasted since the team is already, in essence, out.

No one should delude themselves into thinking Dodd Stadium will be home to professional baseball much longer. The management team of the Connecticut Defenders has been working tirelessly to promote the team and to get people in the seats. While some improvements have been made, let's all be honest, it is not nearly enough. The Defenders still have one of the worst attendance records in Double-A baseball. That is strike one against the team. The team is, after all, a business and it is not interested in performing any public service for Norwich.

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Strike two against the team is its affiliation. How many people in this region care about the San Francisco Giants? Take Barry Bonds out of the equation -- and he will never come to Norwich on a rehab assignment -- and the Giants might as well be a franchise for a baseball team in another country. Unlike the years of Yankees affiliation, when fans could see the likes of Alfonso Soriano, Shane Spencer and Nick Johnson and then follow them in big league careers, there has yet to be that kind of connection between fans and players with the Giants affiliation.

If location is everything, it is the strike that was thrown right down the middle of the plate and was ripe for hitting. Instead, Norwich sat with its bat on its shoulder and watched this one go by. Dodd Stadium is in one of the worst possible locations it could be in. It is not close to the highway. It is buried in an industrial park, and the easiest way to get to it is closed off with a gate. Norwich called that pitch and has watched it ruin the chances of the stadium ever being successful without much effort to change the scenario.

Never had a chance
In truth, there are many more strikes against the Defenders.

Norwich, with its Stadium Advisory Authority, has made alternative uses of the stadium difficult at best. It has also been less than helpful in allowing team ownership to do what it believes is necessary to attract visitors. Although, it must be noted, the Stadium Advisory Authority would like to credit the team with the expenses it has already taken to improve the stadium.

The city has not negotiated the gate issue, even though it is the city that was supposed to do traffic studies and re-examine the concerns after season one.

So, why should the taxpayer be expected to pay for a failing venture? The City Council should do what City Councils have done when it comes to Dodd Stadium and the baseball team playing there for the last 12 seasons -- nothing of substance. In doing so, Norwich leaders will reap what they have sown through the years with Dodd Stadium. They will have an empty facility. And no one should blame Defenders owner Lou Dibella and his staff for the outcome.