Originally printed in Spring '05 West Ends Best
By Steve Cook
It’s been said that if you can sell it in Richmond, you can sell it anywhere. It’s also been said (not by us, of course) that some Richmonders would complain if you hung ‘em with a new rope. The proposal to build a ballpark in Shockoe Bottom is no exception.
Now, you may have thought the “ballpark in the Bottom” idea was rained out by Gaston. But not so.
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| Bruce Baldwin |
In early February, Bruce Baldwin, general manager of the Richmond Braves baseball club, announced in the Richmond Times Dispatch that the Braves, in partnership with Global Development, a commercial development firm with offices in D.C. and London, were working on a $330 million plan that would “change the face of the city.” A village-style ballpark would be constructed as part of an ambitious plan that would include housing and retail development in Shockoe Bottom as well.
While this latest proposal may have come as a surprise to many, what isn’t a surprise is that the Atlanta Braves organization, which owns and operates the Richmond AAA franchise, wants a new ballpark in Richmond. In an interview with John Schuerholz, GM for the parent club, last year, Schuerholz told us, “When the Diamond was built, it was regarded as the finest minor league facility in all of baseball.”
“But,” Schuerholz continued, “it no longer enjoys that stature.”
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| John Schuerholz |
Regarding the Braves relationship with the city (and city officials, many of whom have been rather outspoken in their opposition to building a ballpark in the Bottom), Schuerholz said, “We’ve had a longstanding, wonderful relationship with the city of Richmond. Part of that relationship is the great facility we enjoyed at the Diamond.”
But, of the ballpark on the Boulevard, Schuerholz went on to say, “It has grown old. It has grown in need of repair”.
The most recent proposal, which has the money for a new stadium coming from private funds, has had a more favorable reception, but there are still many detractors. Are they in the majority? Mac Watson, host of the afternoon talk show on WRVA 1140 AM, says he doesn’t think so. Watson, who has made the new ballpark a frequent topic of conversation on his program says, “I think its fairly divided.” He does agree with a sentiment expressed by others, that the neigh-sayers are far more vocal.
Watson is rather vocal, himself, in expressing his dismay for those who would oppose a ballpark, out of hand, simply because it’s a new idea. “If it ain’t from 1865, they don’t want it.”
There are those, Watson says, who would “rather see regression than progression. They’d rather see boarded up buildings...”
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| Mac Watson |
Watson says he’s not a particularly big baseball fan, but is in favor of anything that involves an investment in the city. With regards to getting West Enders and those from the other outlying regions to go downtown, he says, “You have to have some sort of destination attraction, you can’t do it with a mom and pop museum.”
Watson is exactly right. Unless you want to eat and drink (and admittedly, there are some fine restaurants), there’s not much reason to head to Shockoe (or anywhere else downtown) in the evenings.
Some of the opposers of a downtown ballpark say the development will hurt the historical nature of the area. The truth is, with the Braves not only bringing thousands into Shockoe Bottom, but also, given their offer to spend their own money in helping to preserve and promote the history of Shockoe, the proposed development should be viewed as a blessing by history lovers. Actually, the Braves’ proposal takes into consideration the needs of so many and varied special interest groups, we’re surprised they haven’t offered to convert the dugout into a homeless shelter during the off-season.
The truth is, history is not now, nor will it ever be the primary inducement for any large numbers of people to go downtown. Mac Watson says you can’t bring people downtown with an historical event...even the Civil War.
He stresses the need for a major entertainment attraction. “Look at Cleveland,” he says. “It was a dump before the Rock and Roll Museum.”
Richmond Braves general manager, Bruce Baldwin agrees with Watson that the proposal is an investment in the city. “It’s not about a baseball team,” he says, “it’s about an economic opportunity for our community.
Regarding the Braves offer to co-develop the sports/residential/retail complex in Shockoe, Baldwin says, “Nowhere in history, that we can find, has a baseball team brought this sort of opportunity to a city, and then say, ‘Oh by the way, we can finance it too.’”
Baldwin cites other cities, including Sacramento, Toledo, and Norfolk, which have thrived after building downtown ballparks. “The poster boy for downtown development is Memphis, Tennessee,” he says, pointing to $2 billion in private development centering around their downtown ball field.
“They (Memphis) have taken a blighted area and turned it into a wonderful place,” he says.
We asked Baldwin, in view of what, at times, must feel like a veritable barrage of negative response to an exceptionally generous offer, why the Braves are seemingly bending over backwards to keep the team in town.
“Why not?” he asks. “This is our home. We’ve been here for forty years.”
Baldwin says the ongoing efforts to keep the Braves here is part of the organization’s mission statement. “First, we’re here to develop players for the Atlanta organization,” he says.
“Next, is to be fiscally responsible.”
After that, Baldwin says the mission is to “be respectful and responsible citizens of the community.”
So, has the city been respectful of the Braves?
“That’s not for me to guess,” Baldwin answers. “I can only do what I can do.”
And, for the time being, that’s focusing on keeping one of the most successful sports franchises ever to play in the city...in the city. When asked what happens if the proposal is rejected, Baldwin will only say, “Our focus is to get this done. And we’re not focusing on anything else.
Baldwin may not be focusing beyond the Shockoe plan, but, not totally unlike the parents of an unappreciated wife, the Atlanta Braves have made it public that there are other cities in the Southeast who’d love to have their daughter. In this case, however, the parent of the bride can initiate divorce proceedings and arrange another marriage.
Mike Plant, the executive vice president of business operations for the A-Braves says, “We have people interested in our team.” Last year during the damp Diamond fiasco, Plant told West End’s Best that the Braves first priority in Richmond was looking at a new park, rather than renovating the old one.
 Plant, who lived in Richmond for six years, said regarding the idea of building a ballpark in Shockoe Bottom, “The site seems to offer the most for our fans, certainly for us as a team, and I think it can do a lot for the development of the Bottom.
Mac Watson says if Richmond rejects the Braves proposal to build the new park, “This town is on the road to being a dead town.” He says the message the city will be sending is that Richmond does not support sports franchises. “Good luck getting any minor league franchise here,” he says.
Does baseball in the Bottom make sense? Apparently Bruce Baldwin and the Atlanta/Richmond Braves organization think it does. In response to suggestions that building in the Bottom is not going to spearhead economic growth, Baldwin says his organization has done its homework on this for the past several months. “I am not going to risk the financial health and future of our business by just willy-nilly saying ‘Let’s go to the Bottom.’”
And, in a totally unscientific survey of those who live, work, and/or play in the area, the general consensus we heard was ‘go for it.’
Patrick M., who has lived in the area for the past two years, and who also works for a club in Shockoe Bottom says, “I think it would be great for this area. Personally, I think it would bring a higher class of people into the area.
Acknowledging the crime problems in Shockoe Bottom, he says, “I think a ballpark down here would only bring up the area.”
When asked if he was worried about the issue of parking, Patrick says, “I’m sure that’s easy enough to be worked out.”
Eric A., who is employed for a professional firm located in Shockoe Bottom, says he also plays in the bottom. Regarding the proposal to build a ballpark, he acknowledges that increased traffic is an issue that has to be considered. “Other than that,” he says, “I think it’s an upgrade.” Would he come to the Bottom to watch a ballgame? “Absolutely.”
Admittedly, not everyone with whom we spoke was for the new ballpark. Debbie G. works and plays in the Bottom. She says, “I enjoy going to the other ballpark. I would hate not to be able to go there.”
But the opinion of the vast majority whom we surveyed was very much in line with that of Rick F., who also both works and plays in the Bottom. He says of the ballpark controversy, “Richmond is too conservative. Let’s build something here.”
We agree. Build it. Some will complain. But we’re betting a whole lot more will come and enjoy, and perhaps discover that there’s much more to Shockoe Bottom than they had ever imagined. |
