Pros & Cons: The Future Location of Richmond's Baseball Stadium

Credit: DEAN HOFFMEYER

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By: Trevor Dickerson | Richmond.com
Published: August 03, 2012 Updated: August 03, 2012 - 12:00 AM

The issue of building a new stadium in Richmond is like pushing a balloon underwater. Sooner or later it?s just going to bubble back up to the surface.

That?s exactly what happened Monday when the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that officials with the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Greater Richmond Chamber had refocused their attention on building a new stadium in Shockoe Bottom--an idea first proposed by a group of local businessmen in 2003.

The same groups also have their eye on a site in Manchester, a few blocks from the river, and in the past, several proposals even called for the discussion of sights in the ?burbs (Short Pump Squirrels has a nice ring to it, eh?).

So in an attempt to push the debate forward in a city that seems to, on an administrative level at least, produce more squabble than solution, I?d like to offer my perspectives on each of the proposed ballpark plans, including the least discussed plan--leaving The Diamond as-is, with renovations.

Shockoe Bottom

Pros:

• Close proximity to, and increased business at, a variety of great local restaurants
• Interest from private investors looking to redevelop the surrounding area and make the ballpark the focal point of a larger project
• Increased foot traffic and revitalization in a historic area with character that just needs minor improvements

Cons:

• One-way streets and narrow roads would bring about tremendous gridlock, especially at capacity events, such as the fan-favorite Fourth of July games
• Would require demolition of, at a minimum, an entire block or two of historic buildings that give Richmond that quaint, small town charm it?s known for
• An absolute parking apocalypse (You can barely find a space on any normal Friday or Saturday night without a baseball stadium in The Bottom)

Manchester

Pros:

• One of the best views of the James River and the picturesque skyline that Richmond has to offer
• Generally more industrial area with less of a threat to historic structures
• Close proximity to downtown but enough removed to provide breathing room for infrastructure improvements such as improved roads

Cons:

• Fewer local establishments or restaurants
• Portions of Manchester-area need major revitalization (however a ballpark could be seen as a way to spur improvements)
• Generally unsightly area (besides area right along the river) with many light industrial and machinery buildings

Short Pump

Pros:

• Ample space and choice of location for stadium and parking
• Quick and easy access to Interstates 64 and 295 and Route 288
• What?s a few thousand more cars in the gridlock capital of Richmond?

Cons:

• Possibility of decreased attendance from fans in the city who already loathe coming to Short Pump (looking at you, Karri Peifer)
• A vibrant, thriving area, but devoid of the historic nature and character of most locations in and around the city
• Remember that traffic jam that stretched 60 miles and lasted 10 days in China a few years ago? That. In Short Pump.

Boulevard - The Diamond (with major renovations)

Pros:

• Easy access to Interstates 64 and 95, and not far removed from Carytown, The Fan or Downtown
• Familiar location with ample parking
• Tremendously less expensive and more economically feasible given the current economic climate

Cons:

• Like Manchester, highly industrialized area with few walkable shops or restaurants
• Stadium-hungry Squirrels management may end up leaving Richmond without the promise of a new facility
• Little change means less opportunity for revitalization of surrounding neighborhood (whether along Boulevard or any of the aforementioned proposed locations

One thing is clear: the decision is a complicated one, but now is our time to step up to the plate and take a swing before we strike out. If we don?t want to lose our second minor league baseball team (Gwinnett Braves, anyone?), we have to make some big decisions, and make them sooner rather than later.

Source: http://www2.richmond.com/news/2012/aug/03/pros-cons-future-location-richmonds-baseball-stadi-ar-2104198/

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