Developer wants to put in a baseball field at Morgantown's University Town Center (Charleston: school, tax) - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

aeros71 · 02-22-2012, 09:13 AM

I know that Morgantown and the north central part of the state is growing, but is there enough population and interest to support a minor league baseball team in Northern-Central WV? Perhaps a summer college wood bat league would be a better option.

The WV Power is lucky to average 3,000 in attendance in the Charleston metro area, which was around 305,000 in population at the 2010 census. The combined popuation of the cities in the north central part of WV is probably around 165,000. I would have doubts that a full season minor league team could survive in Morgantown. Maybe a short season team, like on the rookie level NY-Penn league.

Also, the team in State College PA is the rookie affliate for the Pirates and I don't see them moving that affliation anytime soon.

Nightman_Cometh · 02-22-2012, 10:57 AM

3,000 a game is great attendence for minor league, especially single-A. Alot of AAA teams are lucky to get that. I used to work for the Jacksonville Suns,.they are a AA affiliate of the Marlins. Metro area population is like 1.5 million and they would average 5-7,000 a game but there were plenty of games that only had a few hundred,max, and Jacksonville every year is one of the higher drawing teams in the minors, attendence wise.

Are the teams in Bluefield and Princeton still around?

aeros71 · 02-22-2012, 11:09 AM

I was wrong. I looked up the 2011 attendance numbers, the WV Power averaged 2,500. Which was 9th best out of 14 total teams in the South Atlantic League.

Yes they are still around. Princeton is affliated with the Tampa Rays and Bluefield is with Toronto.

aeros71 · 02-22-2012, 11:24 AM

Plan for WVU baseball stadium hits snag* - Statehouse News - Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports -

Story from today's Charleston Daily Mail. The proposed TIF idea to finance this project has hit some significant snags. Sounds like some people didn't do enough homework on the situation yet.

elewis7 · 02-22-2012, 03:46 PM

The TIF plan will likely be passed eventually, but as stated, they didn't turn in their paperwork. I wouldn't characterize it as a significant snag in terms of issues with the project itself, just the paperwork. This will just serve as a delay as the bill won't be considered during this legislative session.

GustavoFring · 02-22-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTMountaineer

I agree 100%. In fact, I flew over southern WV a few weeks 7 miles high and could see the devastation there from mountaintop removal. It seemed every other mountain had this hideous scar across the entire face of it. They need to stop that practice. If they can't get to the coal in the usual underground manner, it should be left right where it's located.

But, my point is that land will be there in any case and it will be level. I suspect they will put it to use since it is in the right location. The coal company would probably give it to a developer just to rid itself of an obligation.

They can get the coal in the usual manner, they just choose to do it this way because it's cheaper and small localities in WV have never been able to put up a fight to out of state coal companies there to take advantage.

On the plus side, it is safer for those involved in mining. However, it employs less people as well.

CTMountaineer · 02-22-2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elewis7

The TIF plan will likely be passed eventually, but as stated, they didn't turn in their paperwork. I wouldn't characterize it as a significant snag in terms of issues with the project itself, just the paperwork. This will just serve as a delay as the bill won't be considered during this legislative session.

This thing is going to go through the Legislature "like crap through a goose", as the late George Patton once said. They are just waiting for the developer to submit the proper paperwork.

CTMountaineer · 02-22-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeros71

I know that Morgantown and the north central part of the state is growing, but is there enough population and interest to support a minor league baseball team in Northern-Central WV? Perhaps a summer college wood bat league would be a better option.

The WV Power is lucky to average 3,000 in attendance in the Charleston metro area, which was around 305,000 in population at the 2010 census. The combined popuation of the cities in the north central part of WV is probably around 165,000. I would have doubts that a full season minor league team could survive in Morgantown. Maybe a short season team, like on the rookie level NY-Penn league.

Also, the team in State College PA is the rookie affliate for the Pirates and I don't see them moving that affliation anytime soon.

Things in general are better attended in Morgantown than they are in Charleston. Don't believe it, just ask Larry Groce of Mountain Stage. We easily draw crowds from not only all of NCWV (which has about the same population base as the Charleston area), but we pull folks from nearby PA and some from MD too. Trust me, if folks will come to a game from Pond Gap (which you included in your population figures whether you know it or not) they will come from Clarksburg, Uniontown, Waynesburg, Kingwood and Friendsville, MD.

You are using faulty statistics. You are using what they call the entire Charleston "metro" area on the one hand, and on the other hand you are only using the populations of a few towns. Our area is comprised of the entire region, and if you only consider counties (that would be faulty too, but just for the sake of example) the geographic area of Kanawha is about the same as the geographic area of Monongalia, Marion, and Harrison. The populations are about the same too. You see, the "metro" statistics are skewed for Charleston because there is no other substantial town near it, so they include everything within a half day's drive (just kidding, but you get the point). We have the Pittsburgh "metro" located just 5 miles from the edge of town here with Fayette County, PA.

I know, you could make the argument that there is a lot more to do here so the Power would draw better because of fewer entertainment options, but I just don't agree there. We had 6,520 for a womens basketball game here the other day. We regularly get more than 1,000 for soccer matches. This is just a very active place. I am not saying a minor league team would necessarily draw better here. I am saying population density is not a factor in deciding whether it does or not.

In fact, if you want an idea about how active is this place, take a drive on 705 any night of the week, note the time, then take a drive on the same night of the week on Kanawha Blvd. and get back to us. This whole state is comprised of small towns... we don't have any large ones. But activities and events here draw as well or better than any other place.

I have no idea where the State College affiliate would be moved. I just know the owner of the Pirates (and many other things) has strong WVU ties, and his banks do business in Morgantown. Take that for what it's worth. Maybe the Pirates have more than one affiliate?

Chriscross309 · 02-23-2012, 07:41 AM

How are events normally more attended in Morgantown? WVU football and basketball are one thing, but that would be about it. I don't see how you can say that when Morgantown doesn't have anywhere near the amount of events.

Silkdashocker · 02-23-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriscross309

How are events normally more attended in Morgantown? WVU football and basketball are one thing, but that would be about it. I don't see how you can say that when Morgantown doesn't have anywhere near the amount of events.

Charleston has the Clay Center and it draws national events and is very well attended. Disney on Ice is coming to Charleston Civic Center this weekend and all 7 shows are pretty much sold out. At least that's what i was told by a rep with the City of Charleston that watches the attendance figures for these events. Granted, the settup for these shows isn't full civic center capacity like for basketball per se.

Saying that Charleston doesn't draw well to events is absurd. Have you ever been to the Car Shows in the Civic Center or Boulevard? Better yet, have you been to the Civic Center the 2nd and 3rd weeks in March for the Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournement? Charleston has better infrastructure to host big events than Morgantown.