And the beat goes on.....
from today's Richmond Times-Dispatch by John O'Connor:
A move by the Class AA Connecticut Defenders to Richmond under their current president/managing partner appears to be the most likely scenario for baseball at The Diamond next spring, sources involved with the situation say.
Connecticut's Lou DiBella earlier this month requested from Minor League Baseball permission to explore the Richmond market for the purpose of potentially relocating his franchise here. With members of his potential management team, DiBella visited Richmond this week and met with community leaders.
The Eastern League could reach a resolution regarding franchise relocation to Richmond and that operation's ownership by July 1.
There are other alternatives, such as an ownership group purchasing the franchise from DiBella, and another Eastern League franchise relocating here. But allowing DiBella to move his franchise to Richmond, with local investors as partners, would accomplish three Eastern League goals:
Vacate Norwich, Conn., which many in the baseball industry believe is a market too small to support a Class AA franchise. Norwich has been the Eastern League's lowest-drawing team, or next-to-last, in each of the past six years. Connecticut (2,672) so far this season ranks ahead of only Erie (2,548). Also, speculation since January that the Defenders were headed to Richmond cut into community support and a return to Norwich probably would not reverse the damage.
Occupy Richmond, which Eastern League owners project as the league's top market.
Establish Richmond's future franchise. That is expected to draw out additional local investors, and more local investors could emerge as the ballpark solution becomes clearer. Minor League Baseball favors ownership groups with local partners.
"It's not inconceivable that we get our decisions made, we get up and running, and then there are changes to that," Eastern League President Joe McEacharn said of the ownership situation. Others involved in the process have been prohibited from speaking publicly by Minor League Baseball.
Richmond Baseball Club LC's bid to buy the Connecticut franchise last month for $15.4 million failed due to lack of funds. McEacharn pledged that an Eastern League franchise will be in Richmond next season. Earlier this week, he added that there had been no determination of which of the 12 franchises would move.
Negotiations regarding Connecticut's relocation to Richmond under DiBella are ongoing. Other owner/operators remain interested in becoming part of the process. McEacharn said finalization of a franchise move and ownership need to be happen "on or before August 1."
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com.
Lou has what they want so I hope things work out for him. I womder what happened last night in the season openers of the NY-Penn league?
Another side note is something that Hondo mentioned a couple of weeks ago--who from the Southern Division takes the place of Connecticut in the Northern Division. Hope they really like bus trips....
posted by greg8370 at 10:34 AM
10 Comments:
NY Penn att for 6/19/09
Lowell 5.0 K
Brklyn 9.2
HV 5.1
St Col 5.5
Batav 1.3
oneon 1.2
Ma Val 4.1
Roughly 30 K for 7 games. Let's see what it is next week.
Wonder if anyone has paid attendance to Dodd attendance for the last two week end sets?
3:18 PM
att. for the weekend set with Portland drew 14.5 (5/29-5/331)
att. for the weekend set with the Curve drew 14.5 (6/12-6/14)
3:30 PM
i dont believe that norwich is too small to support an aa franchise
i think its dodd
the stadium was built in the worst place, which makes for conditions of viewing games, less than optimal
look at san francisco
when the team was housed at candlestick, attendance was awful...no matter how good the team was
at the belle, attendance has always been good to great
4:11 PM
bacci40--it's easy enough to get to--it's off Rt32/I395 and Rt2.
As far as it being in an industrial park it's not like you're in the middle of factories and smokestacks; it's mostly doctors, a Bud distributor, office buildings, a Frito Lay distributor, a Easter Seals office, National Guard building and these are all spread out; they are not on top on each other and on the other end of Stott Ave. there are plenty of homes.
For sure, downtown Norwich/New London/Groton would have been better, but look at all the fun the folks in Richmond are having getting a downtown park. And the timeframe for the Yankees coming here in '95 didn't allow for a lot of time to shop around for the best location. It was suppose to be in Groton but that deal didn't happen.
Also no one complained the first few years about the location especially when ESPN broadcast from there a few times and the beat writers for the Yankees would come up to cover rehabs and fall in love with the place back in the mid/late 90's and end up writing sidebar stories about Dodd.
But make no mistake that was then and now...well the scoreboard only half works, the road sign doesn't work and the "to-do" list for everything else would be pretty long.
It's still a great time for me, there is not a bad seat in the place, and the ticket prices are OK.
This are could support Double A but the marketing/advertising just has not "clicked" for some reason....
4:39 PM
Bacci,
You don't know your rear from Dodd, so why don't you just stuff it until you get up the nerve to get down here and see everything in person. You have no idea what you are talking any more then those imbeciles on McCoveys Chronicles. Dodd is one of the best stadiums I've ever been in for watching a game; the sight lines are unbelievable.
And while you have my "Irish" up, why don't you come up with five (5) reasons why Decker has been so great in your mind (and win/loss ain't one of them), then I'll give you my thoughts. Tangible reasons Bacci, no BS about insignificant crapola. Show me why you are such a expert.
Lastly, Candlestick has nothing to do with it. It was a different era. Neither does PacBell, which in itself is no bargain. And I'll bet you visited both those parks as often as you have Dodd.
Go raise your kids to become model citizens, make your family happy, and feel rewarded every day you go to work. I'm sure you do a good job at whatever you do, but you don't know Dodd.
7:34 PM
dodd coulda worked.
......and machemer was my favorite manager. i even dropped 75 bucks on his yellow norwich game worn jersey. once i put it on my pool game improved, chicks started hitting on me, and i started catching a lot more foul balls.
8:23 PM
and those magic jerseys are now sale now at Cutter's Corners for the bargin price of $50!!
11:20 PM
What year are the yellow ones from? i want to get one but i cant tell whose jersey is which one. My Geno away jersey was a great buy. its lucky. i should play lotto when i wear it.....
7:25 PM
gino fan --they worn them in 2007
8:37 PM
o thanks, greg. i appreciate it.
9:11 PM
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