Baseball in Fredericksburg? Sure. This Deal? No!

By the time City Council got to the issue of baseball, more than two hours had passed in the series of five public hearings.  The crowd had thinned, but emotions had not. 

A large group of supporters had gathered outside City Hall for the Suns' rally before the meeting, but the overwhelming number of the 37 speakers told City Council to kill the deal as presented.  

After midnight, City Council voted 5 to 1 -- Solley against and Devine absent -- to:

1. Adopt an Memorandum of Understanding which includes an exclusivity agreement with the Hagerstown Suns through the August 13 City Council meeting;
2. Direct City Manager Bev Cameron to select a baseball lease consultant;
3. Have the city work with the Hagerstown Suns on a draft deal to be completed by August 13.  The city's negotiating team is comprised of Vice Mayor Brad Ellis and Councilor Fred Howe.  All financing options are on the table.
   

Following is a collection of comments made during the two hour public hearing.  It went so long, City Council had to vote to suspend the rule that they don't meet past 11 p.m.

A Gentleman from 22401: "It [the proposed stadium] is expensive, unnecessary and will not perform as advertised," he said.  "Sports business is a fickle business, as the Suns have learned in Hagerstown," he said.  "It's not the role of city council to be venture capitalists." 

Ms. Kennedy:  "We want baseball in Fredericksburg.  But, I don't like this deal.  I do not want our city to be speculating on the success or failure of a baseball team."

City Resident: "This is a bad deal.  $105,000 stadium rent divided by a $30M investment equals 1/3 of 1 percent return on investment."

Celebrate Virginia Resident:  I love the businesses of Celebrate South, and if they're put out of business because of this deal, I am going to be very angry."

John: "This presents an unbalanced risk for the taxpayers of Fredericksburg."  "If this is a real good deal, where's the venture capital, the private investment?" 

Rita: "I am opposed to the City of Fredericksburg building a baseball stadium.
The city should take care of parks, schools and infrastructure, and let private enterprise pay for baseball."

Anne: Brought a disc with 80 names of 22401 residents opposed to the City of Fredericksburg building a stadium with tax dollars.  She read each name.

Enis Richardson (former city council member): I remember what former Mayor Cowan once told me: 'When a project comes before the council, you have to determine if it is something the city wants or city needs. If the city wants something, it's best to let it go by and let someone else do it.  If the city needs something, it's best to step up and do it for the city.'"

UMW Professor: "Consistent findings are that stadiums do not increase jobs, the tax base or overall revenues for businesses in the area.  Stadiums do not tend to generate new revenue but shift where we spend the entertainment dollars we would have spent anyway."

Owner of Funland in Central Park: "I'm only negative on the means in which it [baseball] is paid for.  The increase to property tax for my business [based on the plan] is between $30,000 and $35,000 a year.

Celebrate North Resident:  "I can hear the concerts in Central Park, even with my television on.  Please consider what can be done about the noise if baseball comes to Central Park."

A Non-Baseball Fan: "There are other things we need to do.  If the Suns love the city, let them come and pay for it."

A Real Estate Agent: "Check it out and see if you can make it work for both sides."  

Harry Tillman:  A former MVP of James Monroe baseball.  "We've got to figure out a way to get baseball here."

Tim:  "Let's hear the city's best offer. He [Bruce Quinn] came to us with an offer.  Let's vet it out."

Justin:  "I urge the council to get a consultant, to sit down at the table with the Suns, and work it out.  Bringing a minor league team to Fredericksburg will inspire the kids."

Related Stories:

• 5 Public Hearings Scheduled July 9
  
• Baseball Rally to Precede Public Hearing
  
• Hagerstown Suns to Fredericksburg: Do You Want Baseball Here?
  
• City Council, Hagerstown Sun Reps Meet Monday
  
• City Seeking Baseball Stadium Lease Consultant
  
• City Council to Discuss Baseball in Wednesday Closed Session
• City Council Approves $50K for Stadium Study
• Fredericksburg Baseball Negotiations with 'Specific Organization' According to City Manager
• City Conducting Study for $25M Stadium
• Group Wants Support For Pro Baseball Team in Fredericksburg Region