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eandslee

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Tommy I would like to see both a new Arena and a new baseball stadium. I hope we can redeem our sports interests cause I am really dissapointed in the sports here in Richmond from back in the 60's and 70's when we had amazing sports from the Richmond Robins to the Virginia Squires where "Doctor" J Julius Erving played. I really want to see the sports scene lit up again.

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RIC75 I dont use the city or county parks but I still pay taxes to build them and they do me no good at all. It goes around with everything you can think of that is used for taxpayers money. Believe it or not but all the other cities that have a minor league team are owned by the city and not the team. So if I was the city I would buy the Richmond Braves from the Atlanta Braves just like all the other cities do. Believe it or not but I am no longer a Braves fan but am now a Nationals Fan. I hate the fact that they spent all this money for research and plannig for the ballpark and then say that they are going to leave Richmond. I really hope the Columbus Clippers come ot Richmond so that they are only 2 hours away from the MLB team. Id really love to see the Clippers here in Richmond.

The Park System as far as I'm aware brings in more people on a smaller budget and people aren't charged admittance. If a team wants to come here that can for the most part support itself and manages to raise attendance I'm all for it but the Braves as they stand now show no propensity for bringing in crowds. A better comparison would be the Performing Arts Center which has been criticized by some for taxing many to support the few but it at least helps to contribute to the overall draw of downtown to visitors. The Diamond did not and it had no synergy with the surrounding area. Perhaps Bill's Barbecue saw a rise in business on game evenings but that's probably about it. I supported a Shockoe Bottom stadium that didn't mean leeching tax dollars from the surrounding neighborhood businesses for years to come but the devlopers couldn't be swayed on that idea either. It seems that Richmond is looked on as a city for handouts. We need to change that image and start attracting responsible, self-supporting franchises and developments.

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"I knew this would happen and is exactly why I am leaving Richmond cause sports around here gets so much crap. We aint never gonna be able to support a real sports team till the day I die and is exactly why I want to leave Richmond"

So the Braves are a real sports team? I say let them go! Having the Rams do well is much more important to me and is much more likely to draw big time attention. Lets face it, even if the Braves won the IL every year would it really matter? Would it really be a sports story? The Rams beat Duke in the NCAA tourney and it was a front page national sports story. I also agree with others, having a top notch coliseum is much more important to the city than the R Braves. Remember they call it the minor leagues for a reason! I can't think of any reason why I would go to an R Braves game. I would be much more likely to drive to DC or Baltimore to see a baseball game. Sorry, but minor league stuff just does not do it for me. I see about 5-10 professional games a year (NFL, NBA and MLB), going to an R Braves game would not be a substitute.

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If you went on MILB.com it was all over it saying the R-Braves won the IL championship. They were on National TV playing the Sacramento River Cats in the AAA Championship on ESPN they even had a commercial promoting the City of Richmond. You call that little attention? I call that a very big deal being on ESPN and having your own city being premoted on ESPN all over the country. I go to DC and Baltimore too to watch MLB Games but remember the Minor Leagues are the Future of baseball in the Majors. The top prospects try to make a name for themselves for the future of their team. It might be minor but at the end these prospects might make it big in the Majors.

Edited by Downtowner
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If you went on MILB.com it was all over it saying the R-Braves won the IL championship. They were on National TV playing the Sacramento River Cats in the AAA Championship on ESPN they even had a commercial promoting the City of Richmond. You call that little attention? I call that a very big deal being on ESPN and having your own city being premoted on ESPN all over the country. I go to DC and Baltimore too to watch MLB Games but remember the Minor Leagues are the Future of baseball in the Majors. The top prospects try to make a name for themselves for the future of their team. It might be minor but at the end these prospects might make it big in the Majors.

I see your point. It would be very interesting to see the ratings for this IL Championship game compared to the DUKE-VCU game. I'm pretty neutral on this issue but would consider the win over Duke a much bigger event. I just moved here over a year ago and was pushing a move to Cleveland. The sports in Cleveland is great and unlike other markets, very accessible (I'm originally from NE Ohio). But in the end economic factors won out and we moved to Richmond. To get my sports fill I went to some Rams games and really enjoyed it. I had no interest in seeing the Braves. I did see the Indians play once last year.

I think the Braves will continue to struggle if they stay here. It appears that they have a lot more competition now in Richmond fighting for the entertainment dollar. Dave and Busters is coming to this market and there are other more high profile alternatives that a family is more likely to attend.

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Yeah thats pretty cool you went to Cleveland to see the Indians. They got a good team going right now. But yeah I fear to if the braves stay here then they will continue to struggle. I just wish the cost of seeing a game would be more affordable and a new ballpark and I have no doubt in my mind more people would come to see a game. But the greedy owners of the R-Braves in atlanta just want more and more money and all that is, is pure greed.

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OMG I AM SO FRICKEN FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!I knew this would happen and is exactly why I am leaving Richmond cause sports around here gets so much crap. We aint never gonna be able to support a real sports team till the day I die and is exactly why I want to leave Richmond. You would think with close to 1.2 million people we would be able to support sports here in this town. I dont want a AA or A level club cause the stadium is going to look like a cardboard box and isnt that big. I hate AA and A stadiums cause there is no upper decks. I am gonna just move out of Richmond and head to a city that has a real sports team. Atlanta GA here I come. Im sick of this dump that has no sports teams that are worth a dam. Im going to Atlanta and worship the A-Braves just like you see at Fenway Park. I am sick of this bull crap and on the news they said its gonna effect the economy. Of course it is the city is the ones who let this crap happen. Like I said I live in a below average city where nothing gets done and all we do is talk talk talk.

What are you talking about? Atlanta doesn't support their team well at all. The last four years or so the Braves were in the playoffs it wasn't even close to a sell out crowd at Turner Field. I've been watching them on TBS for years and lately their crowds have been very light. A maybe it's because they havent done well, but if they're fans they should go regardless.

The whole new stadium idea was talked to death and here's the result, the AAA team is leaving town. If you're leaving town because of that, then bye...good luck in your new city. People don't go to Richmond Braves games because when they do go they enjoy a decent game then remember "oh yeah, I'm in the ghetto." as they go to their car.

All this talking, planning and meetings distracts people in Richmond long enough, but people in the real world don't put up with it and here's the result. Yet another case of Richmond ignoring its potential and sticking to the "oh that's good enough" mentality.

and in the end, what do I care? I'm a Mets fan. I wasn't angry when their AAA affiliation with the Norfolk Tides ended because I didn't go to those games either. Most of the great players of late have come to the big leagues from AA teams, so that'll be fine let's have one of those.

Bottom line Richmond is not a sports town and there's no sense in force feeding it on people. How many basketball teams have we had in the last ten years? Remember the arena football team? Yeah they're gone too.

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Expect a news conference from the braves today at 3:30 on NBC 12 I think it is. Also I heard there would be problems with a AA team they said they wouldnt know what league we would belong in. It would the southern league or the eastern league if we were to have a AA team. But I really want a AA team now just so I can get autographs of big time prospects cause alot of you are right that the highly regarded prospects are only in AA for a very short time. But I just want to see more people support a team here better than they have in the past? Why is it that Metro Richmond cant ever do good enough in supporting a sports team? What really makes us not support sports here in Richmond? Are there that many people in Richmond that are computer geeks and Performing Arts finatics.

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People don't go to Richmond Braves games because when they do go they enjoy a decent game then remember "oh yeah, I'm in the ghetto." as they go to their car.

Sorry, not exactly the "ghetto". While I agree the surroundings could be more appealing for fans, I would hardly charecterize it as a ghetto. I supported a downtown stadium. That would have been absolutely a homerun (no pun intended). Lots to do, plenty of parking (despite what the naysayers were trying to say), and close to a fan base (downtown workers). All in all, I think this will end up being a positive.

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Yeah, but you have to put yourself in the mindset of the average person from the suburbs who drives to the Diamond and looks around. They see vagrants wandering around, panhandlers, vandalized buildings, industrial areas and in their mind they're thinking ghetto and worried that a wrong turn on a street will invite trouble. They're not going to feel safe there with their families. Are these generalizations and possible stereotypes? Yeah, more than likely, but that's the truth of the matter. The community has been babbling on for almost five years about a new stadium and redeveloping Boulevard. The Braves have gotten tired of it and are moving on. I don't blame them. A carrot's been dangled in front of them far too long.

Granted there are changes coming and slowly the area's improving...there's a lot of potential there but unfortunately we're not good about realizing our potential here in Richmond.

We have to say Godspeed to the Braves and either focus on drawing another franshise or developing that area to accomodate new growth.

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You know, this is total bullcrap that no one in my neighborhood has been included in any of these discussions. As a neighbor to this proposal, I sure would like a fudgeing clue as to what the propsal looks like. I have my entire angel loveed life and worth, invested in 3 properties that are within fart-smelling distance of this development.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for the betterment of this area. Yeah, the vagrants and hobo transients are constantly stinking up the place and have to be "shoo-ed" off, but there are some hella nice homes around there and people have a lot of money invested in them and would at least like a "head's up" or something. crap!

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I just dont understand how the Rbraves are going to go to Gwinett county GA and people support the braves when they cant support the Atlanta Braves that well. I have to end up saying either the Atlanta Braves or the "Gwinett Braves" will end up moving out of the Atlanta area. I say this because the AAA team tickets and cost will be more affordable then the MLB level. I say this also because if the gwinett braves are within the atlanta area and have the atlanta braves wouldnt you rather see the atlanta braves than the gwinett braves? I just dont see both teams staying in Atlanta and you can look at it either way you'd like, but at the end one of the teams will end up leaving Atlanta. Atlanta is gonna get kicked in the butt in a few years after they have completed this move cause they wont be able to support both.

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I just dont understand how the Rbraves are going to go to Gwinett county GA and people support the braves when they cant support the Atlanta Braves that well. I have to end up saying either the Atlanta Braves or the "Gwinett Braves" will end up moving out of the Atlanta area. I say this because the AAA team tickets and cost will be more affordable then the MLB level. I say this also because if the gwinett braves are within the atlanta area and have the atlanta braves wouldnt you rather see the atlanta braves than the gwinett braves? I just dont see both teams staying in Atlanta and you can look at it either way you'd like, but at the end one of the teams will end up leaving Atlanta. Atlanta is gonna get kicked in the butt in a few years after they have completed this move cause they wont be able to support both.

That's a good point, I hadn't thought of that. I'm sure someone somewhere has had that cross their mind, but I don't know. Maybe because they're a larger metro area? Maybe there'll be those who'll rather go to the AAA games to avoid the hustle & expense of going to see the A-Braves. I bet taking a family of four to a MLB Game can be expensive.

But in the end the Braves organization gets the money whether they go to the AAA team or the MLB team. So really they probably don't care what team one goes to see.

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Hell when I went to Atlanta in 2003 to see the Braves it was close to $200 for the seats we got in Atlanta. But I just heard on the news that one of the Nationals farm teams could possibly come to Richmond. There is no clear details about it but they said that on the news that the city has been talking to two different teams including the nationals. I really want to know who the other teams is and I hope they are from the Pacific Coast League just to come closer to even out the leagues. So I am really excited now for the future.

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Wilder was quoted as saying, "One thing is certain, Richmond will have baseball."

Yeah. VCU baseball. I, for one, don't want to see some stinking-arse A or AA team drift in here. There is nothing more pathetic than being a capital city with some low-level, scrub team. If anything, we should throw whole-hearted support behind the VCU Rams. I mean, it's not like they are national champions or anything.

As for everyone blaming Doug Wilder, I think this goes far beyond him. This probably stems from the fact that the residents of this area just plain did NOT support this team. I remember when Parker Field would be packed with people wanting to see the Braves. It can't be the stadium. A whole lot of dumb-arses rant that the place is a dump. I go multiple times a year and I think the facility is nice. I just don't see where people get off calling it a dump. What makes it a dump? Someone please explain. The field was an issue a couple of years back but so was my yard at home. We had a butt-load of rain that summer. Duh! Improvements rendered a flawless field last year. The surrounding area is an issue to some. I like it. It's easy to park for free, the interstate access is easy, it's quiet, there are no immediate neighbors to complain about noise. What's the big freakin' deal? So it comes to one issue. The whiney-assss Braves management couldn't get their little yuppie ballpark crammed into Shockoe Bottom where it would stand out like a turd in a punchbowl.

I stand by my first thoughts on this; Carry your arses! If you like, I will load up your balls and bats in my truck and drop them off at the bus station across the street for you. And as for bringing some A or AA team in here, I say; Save the effort. It won't be supported at all. No one will go, it will be a huge waste of money and ultimately we will look worse than we already look. Think of the reputation we will have when we have a no-name bunch of scrubs leaving Richmond because we couldn't muster a few hundred people a night to watch them stink up the field.

Bring in the office buildings, bring in the residential infill, bring in the retail, just don't bring in a Wal-Mart for God's sake. Forget the Richmond Braves and don't settle for something on a lower level. It's just plain embarrassing.

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The last few years several of the rookies who have done well and continue to put up good numbers in the big leagues have come from AA and skipped AAA.

Don't disqualify AA just yet. But I wouldn't want to see a AA team play at the Diamond. Now there's a great excuse to tear the Diamond down. AA probably only needs no more than 5000 seats if that.

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I saw this news pop up in one of the other UP forums, so as a former Richmonder I thought I'd add my two cents...

First and foremost it stinks that the RBraves are leaving. They've been a mainstay for such a long time. What 40 years? I lived there through a couple years of bickering about the new stadium when it all started. I knew this day would come if the city didn't find a way to work with the A-Braves. There's blame to placed all around, but in the end it all comes down to what the parent organization wanted to do. I honestly don't think they had an intention of staying. I thought when the plans for the stadium downtown fell through, they started looking (or thinking) else where. But what do I know.

Some people on here noted that it makes no sense for them to put their minor league club near the same city as the MLB team. This has actually started to become a trend in MLB. Off the top of my head I know Seattle, Boston and Philly all have their minor league teams (if not AAA it's AA) nearby. That way if they need to they can call up Joe Ballplayer at 4pm and he can be in the lineup that night. It definitely makes it easier on the parent club to manage their rosters. That being said, it definitely opens the door for the Nationals to move their AAA club to Richmond from Columbus. If I was a betting man, I say you will probably see them in the next few years. After all, the Indians would probably like their AAA team to be in Columbus. Just hope that Wilder or whomever is in charge gets it together and provides a good incentive for them to come. Like it or not, baseball is a good thing for Richmond.

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Yeah heres the cities that are part of that growing trend

Seattle Mariners AAA Tacoma Raiders (Part of the Greater Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan)

Boston Redsox AAA Pawtucket Red Sox (Pawtucket RI-Boston MA) AA Portland isnt too far either

Philadelphia Phillies AAA Lehigh Valley iron Pigs ( Allentown PA-Philadelphia PA) AA Reading isnt to far either about an hour and a half away

I could probably name more if I researched it enough.

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Hell when I went to Atlanta in 2003 to see the Braves it was close to $200 for the seats we got in Atlanta. But I just heard on the news that one of the Nationals farm teams could possibly come to Richmond. There is no clear details about it but they said that on the news that the city has been talking to two different teams including the nationals. I really want to know who the other teams is and I hope they are from the Pacific Coast League just to come closer to even out the leagues. So I am really excited now for the future.

Truly sad loosing the Braves!

Since it will be the Brave's last season playing in Richmond, I tend to wonder how ticket sales will be for the games?

Also, I do not think it will be a problem for the Atlanta Metro area to support 2 baseball teams. The population for Atlanta and the surrounding counties is significantly larger than Richmond and surrounding counties.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/b...eswhy_0116.html

IMO, I do not believe any minor league team will move to Richmond until a new stadium is built......... And I do not believe a new stadium will be built until a team has committed to moving to Richmond. Simple Economics!!!

Forgot to mention, Richmond badly needs a "Progressive Mayor and City Council"!

Edited by MicoMiles
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According to NBC12, the Nationals reached out to Richmond on the proposition of being home to one of their minor league teams two months ago, but the city administration chose to continue negotiations with the Braves in good faith. I'd be curious as to which level the Nationals would suggest locating in Richmond. I think I read that their AAA affiliate in Columbus only has about 2 more years remaining on its lease there.... Sounds like just enough time for us to build a new stadium and welcome a new team :thumbsup:

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Have any of you been reading the reactions to this on the Times Dispatch website? Some people just disgust me. I've only been here around 6 or 7 years now but I've frequently noticed this ugly attitude among county residents where they practically celebrate when things go wrong in the City. Does anyone have any idea why this is? Is this a local phenomenon or is it just a normal suburb vs. city battle? Seems like some people have a looooong way to go before they would agree to any kind of regional approach to moving the area forward.

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Have any of you been reading the reactions to this on the Times Dispatch website? Some people just disgust me. I've only been here around 6 or 7 years now but I've frequently noticed this ugly attitude among county residents where they practically celebrate when things go wrong in the City. Does anyone have any idea why this is? Is this a local phenomenon or is it just a normal suburb vs. city battle? Seems like some people have a looooong way to go before they would agree to any kind of regional approach to moving the area forward.

Having lived here all my life and in a family that's been here 100+ years, I'd have to say there is a kind of disdain for the city. Especially in the last 25-30 years. I just remember watching City Council Meetings back when Tim Kaine was Mayor. What a circus! When they (City Council) wanted to discuss something serious, you'd get just random off the wall people saying incredibly stupid things. I don't agree with his politics but I'll give Tim Kaine this, he's an incredibly patient man.

And the city has had one failure after another and inspite of the successes you know the old saying "the evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones" well for Richmond it's "the failures of the city government lives on and the successes are largely ignored". Maybe that's because success is few and far between.

Growing up in Chesterfield and now living in Hanover, I would not want the City to have jurisdicition over me. Not that the counties are utopian realms of civil government, but there's a clear difference in how the counties are run and how the city's run. I think that's the big handicap when it comes to regionalism...the counties don't want to be taking orders from the city. I don't blame them for that. There's this mindset that regionalism means that City Council calls the shots and people in the counties don't like that.

Another interesting point is I think a lot of the people who speak so down on the city do so because they can remember when the city was a thriving, bustling place. Then when the read or see what's transpired in the last three decades they become a bit resentful and blame the city government.

Perhaps our independent cities & counties form of governments in VA is cause to the hard times at forming regional government. But then again, it could be a problem across the nation and we just don't hear about it.

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Thanks for the reply. This is going to stray off-topic but now that we've started it I have to wonder if people in the burbs are aware of or willing to acknowledge all the positive developments that have occurred in the City just in the last 5 years or so? I've seen a ton of improvement in the short amount of time that I've been here and am really excited about the direction we are going... then again I'm not tainted by past perceptions and thats one thing the City has to work on. I don't think public perception matches current reality. The reality is downtown is becoming a bustling place again, with great cultural offerings and distinct, quality restaurants and shops. But I guess with an antagonistic Wilder at the helm and generating the headlines, it's just concreting the opinions of those hard to reach folks who stay out in the counties. I think a true leader could find a way to bridge these gaps but as we've unfortunately discovered, Doug Wilder is not that person.

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