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I dont agree. The City has a parks and rec department that knows its needs. Asking for these studies is an antiquated way or "proving" to the public that the expenditure is justified.
If the Parks and rec department, City Managers office and Economic Development office are all in agreement with this, they just need to move forward with plans and proposals. Studies just waste time. Pretty much the same thing for parking studies in an area that has seen a ton of new businesses...we don't need to waste time and money on "proving" it.
The reason I say its antiquated is that it has been used in Greenville for decades but many larger municipalities are just using staff recommendation to move forward because their staff is just as equipped to make the recommendation. Many municipalities that have used studies previously have stopped using them because of the waste of time and money.
Studies have also been utilized to sway the public when Bond referendums are put out...which doesn't necessarily mean it will get approved just because the study says its a good idea. Again it becomes a waste of time and money.
The Council needs to just make a decision.
Full disclosure, I'm naive to accepted operating procedures on this. If studies and consultants are indeed antiquated I'm all for moving forward on the recommendation of the staff we already pay.
And not solely considering a stadium..... Insert whatever significant project you prefer (Performing arts, events arena, etc)
That may be true but if Wake County owns 85% of Five County Stadium, I am betting the City of Wilson is actually shooting blanks on this one. No way Wake County gets outbid by Wilson.
The market for a minor league baseball team is not in Wilson, its in Wake County.
That may be true but if Wake County owns 85% of Five County Stadium, I am betting the City of Wilson is actually shooting blanks on this one. No way Wake County gets outbid by Wilson.
The market for a minor league baseball team is not in Wilson, its in Wake County.
You have to keep in mind what MLB wants on the players side of the minor league facilities. Their requirements for clubhouses, trainers rooms, etc. have changed and have a 2025 deadline. MLB doesn't care about minor league attendance. That's a local problem, as far as their concerned. These new standards are why the Brewers are looking to move (and why Kinston is losing their team before their 2031 lease is up). So far Wake/Zebulon haven't shown the willingness to pony up the $15M needed for the new stadium standards. MLB, of course, isn't chipping in to help make upgrades that directly benefit their players. I can see why Wake/Zebulon are hesitant to commit to making upgrades that only benefit the MLB team, plus there's certain to be another league contraction in five years. Why spend that kind of money on behalf of a wealthy entity that won't chip in nor guarantee longevity. It's a safer and cheaper bet to let the Mudcats leave and get an independent or summer league team to play in FCC. Is this a power play by the Brewers, pitting Wake against Wilson? Yes. Yes it is. What market the team is in is not really relevant for MLB. Spartanburg isn't much better than Wilson, but since they'll have a brand new facility, as a new stadium - it'll likely survive the impending cuts from not only contraction, but also the suddenly "substandard" stadiums that lack the 2025 requirements. Whatever town commits to providing a facility that accommodates the players needs as required by MLB will get the team, no matter the market. If MLB was concerned with marketing itself at the minor league level, they wouldn't have contracted dozens of teams with an eye towards eliminating many more.
You have to keep in mind what MLB wants on the players side of the minor league facilities. Their requirements for clubhouses, trainers rooms, etc. have changed and have a 2025 deadline. MLB doesn't care about minor league attendance. That's a local problem, as far as their concerned. These new standards are why the Brewers are looking to move (and why Kinston is losing their team before their 2031 lease is up). So far Wake/Zebulon haven't shown the willingness to pony up the $15M needed for the new stadium standards. MLB, of course, isn't chipping in to help make upgrades that directly benefit their players. I can see why Wake/Zebulon are hesitant to commit to making upgrades that only benefit the MLB team, plus there's certain to be another league contraction in five years. Why spend that kind of money on behalf of a wealthy entity that won't chip in nor guarantee longevity. It's a safer and cheaper bet to let the Mudcats leave and get an independent or summer league team to play in FCC. Is this a power play by the Brewers, pitting Wake against Wilson? Yes. Yes it is. What market the team is in is not really relevant for MLB. Spartanburg isn't much better than Wilson, but since they'll have a brand new facility, as a new stadium - it'll likely survive the impending cuts from not only contraction, but also the suddenly "substandard" stadiums that lack the 2025 requirements. Whatever town commits to providing a facility that accommodates the players needs as required by MLB will get the team, no matter the market. If MLB was concerned with marketing itself at the minor league level, they wouldn't have contracted dozens of teams with an eye towards eliminating many more.
Maybe Wake doesn't do something...just seems odd that they would have a facility that they are part owner in and let the team walk.
I'm all for Wilson getting the team. Wilson is closer to Goldsboro, Greenville, Rocky Mount and Tarboro in terms of access to affiliated minor league baseball. A brand new facility might do well. I don't expect anyone to come from Wake County, but maybe I'm wrong.
In terms of Greenville, Wilson "needs" a team more than Greenville does. It is home to the NC Baseball Museum and has a long history of minor league ball. It also has Fleming Stadium to host while a new stadium is being built. I see this as a "desire" for Wilson more than I see this as a "should of" for Greenville.
I noticed that Jonathan Bowling has vacated his "Hobby Horse" studio on Dickinson. Does anybody know where he's going, or what's going to happen in that spot?
If he's leaving the neighborhood, that's sad -- he's really the soul of the place.
Don't know what's going on with Bowling's studio, but there's a sign in front of all those sculptures at the corner of Dickinson and Atlantic advertising that the sculptures are for sale. Maybe the city is trying to get that land cleared of all those sculptures so it'll be available for development?
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