Downtown ballpark proposed by Rockford Construction

[blueradon]

As good as the vacant lot of market and fulton would be a wonderful spot for a ball field...

there's two words you will probably be hearing from DeVos on this idea

fat. chance.

[wingbert]

As good as the vacant lot of market and fulton would be a wonderful spot for a ball field...

there's two words you will probably be hearing from DeVos on this idea

fat. chance.

[snoogit]

You're probably right. Either that or he'd require the team name to be changed to the West Michigan DeVoses.

[jas49503]

And what of pedestrian traffic? Are we to expect people to walk all the way around these two places just to reach the other side? This is my biggest concern. If you were at DeVos place and wanted to go to the Calder sculpture, yet let's say the rather hidden stairway did NOT exist, would you do it?

I don't think we can expect people to walk along an underground road. The underground pathways along 131 and the underground streets in Chicago I think have shown people would rather avoid them.

[jas49503]

I like it. Although I believe a home run would entail either:

a) river fisherman getting whacked and possibly killed by drowning or

b) drivers along Market recieving a momento without having to actually go to the game.

[ironyisadeadscene]

I like it. Although I believe a home run would entail either:

a) river fisherman getting whacked and possibly killed by drowning or

b) drivers along Market recieving a momento without having to actually go to the game.

[tobias]

Most Professional Ball Parks are usually oriented with the batter facing north so that the ball being pitched to him never gets lost with the sun shinning directly in his eyes.

[snoogit]

not trying to go OT, but it looks like 1.5 million is being pumped into 5/3rd:

http://www.whitecaps-baseball.com/BLOGS/?p=713

not saying this kills the idea, but it doesn't help.

[ironyisadeadscene]

thats like putting a band-aide on a gunshot. yeah, it makes the park nicer, but its just a temporary stop gap. now, if they put in a new, 5 million dollar scoreboard, and a new roof, ect, then it would be different.

[Gorath]

Wouldn't bringing in a minor league basketball team have the same effect on downtown business as moving the Whitecaps? We already have the arena, just need a team. I'd rather see the movie theater at lot 5. It would get year round use and bring a much more steady flow of customers to downtown.

[ironyisadeadscene]

minor league baseball is alot bigger then minor league basketball. van andel already had a minor league basketball team and it folded after 1 season.

[NorthCoast]

Most Professional Ball Parks are usually oriented with the batter facing north so that the ball being pitched to him never gets lost with the sun shinning directly in his eyes.

[Khorasaurus]

minor league baseball is alot bigger then minor league basketball. van andel already had a minor league basketball team and it folded after 1 season.

[ironyisadeadscene]

i believe they only played one season at VAA. either way, minor league basketball isnt in the same league as minor league baseball and minor league hockey. not saying i wouldnt like it.

[Par75]

i believe they only played one season at VAA. either way, minor league basketball isnt in the same league as minor league baseball and minor league hockey. not saying i wouldnt like it.

[Allison Slater]

Didn't the Hoops disappear for a while and then come back when the arena was built? I think I remember something about there being a basketball team before the arena.

[droonus2000]

the hoops weren't the most exciting either, i went to a few games, and have been to a NBDL game, it's just a better experience over all, minor league baseball is really the best minors.

[GR Jackson]

Maybe this would free up the DeVos family to bring a big time team here.Possible Magic Deal?

[droonus2000]

i wish, i would love to go see a NBA Gr home team, sadly it would probably require a bigger arena. I've pondered before if a new arena would be worth it, if we got a NBA/NHL team, if the AFL keeps growing the Rampage will probably start selling out every game, and need more seats.

The Magic are building a beautiful new arena right now. expansion could happen though. Doesn't someone from Michigan own the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, their lagging in attendance, so if things get bad enough they could move, hopefully to somewhere where lots of people play Hockey.

[ironyisadeadscene]

funny you mention the hurricanes. when they first were leaving hartford, they were originally gonna move to the palace, so metro detroit would have had 2 teams. karmonos owns the hurricanes as well as the plymouth whalers. now you get the hartford whalers/plymouth whalers alliance.

[NorthEnder]

Hoops failed because the CBA failed.

Isiah Thomas ran the CBA in the ground, and left when it was barely on life support.

The Hoops were a moderate success as far as the CBA is concerned. They used to sell out the Welsh, before moving to the van andel.

[GRDadof3]

This downtown ballpark idea is gaining steam. Some interesting additional ideas talked about:

) Might include a couple of floors of mixed use on two sides

) A "promenade" that could be closed during game times to provide a festival atmosphere

) Multi-use, with the intention to have this replace the Millennium Park amphitheater project

More people have come on board to help get this going too.

[d8alterego]

This is really gaining speed? I thought this was his "dream" and nothing more. As much as I'd like to see it happen, I just don't think it will; especially in this economy. Who are these supporting "people?" Anyone creditable?

[GRDadof3]

This is really gaining speed? I thought this was his "dream" and nothing more. As much as I'd like to see it happen, I just don't think it will; especially in this economy. Who are these supporting "people?" Anyone creditable?

[Rizzo]

This isn't a surprise. If I remember correctly, Wheeler offered to pay down any debt on the field. That should have been the first flag. I don't think people go around making those kinds of comments in front of their peers without some serious commitment. The "dream" I'm betting is a ball park on 4/5, but something tells me that a field will go in a more doable downtown location.