Written by Scott Wharton
THE GOOD NEWS
FINALLY, sports are coming to Fredericksburg, in the form of a minor league baseball club located next to the Fredericksburg Expo Center in Celebrate Virginia South!
I've always been a sports fanatic, and even remember participating in youth athletics with the County Parks and Recreation department as a kid. Although I enjoy other sports like Football and Basketball more than I enjoy Baseball, the news of a new minor league baseball stadium being built in Fredericksburg is electrifying!
I'm excited to see our national pastime come to my beloved hometown and recognize the important role that a new Minor League Baseball stadium will play in our community. As a kid, I remember going with my father to see the Richmond Braves (now the Richmond Flying Squirrels) play. I have fond childhood memories chomping on peanuts and catching foul balls… and it’s so exciting that a new generation of families will be able to bond over the sport as well. Imagine how many happy families will be able to enjoy a day out at the ballgame in The Burg!
Photo courtesy via unsplash.com
This stadium is a pretty big project! According to the Free Lance-Star, the Baseball Stadium cost $35 million dollars to construct and had to be funded by several groups and persons who organized a Founder’s Club to finance the project.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the new Baseball stadium is that it may offer more regional unification. I’ve long felt that people from Fredericksburg are unsure of which region they belong to or not… we have always kind have been stuck in the middle of Washington D.C and Richmond. However, now with a stadium of our OWN, we can truly represent our unique region and the diverse culture, heritage, and legacy that we cherish as residents of the ‘Burg.
Not only will the stadium house a minor league baseball team it will play host to high school, college, and amateur athletics along with concerts and other major events too! Yet all this exciting new recreational opportunity comes at a cost- nearly $1.05 million a year that the City of Fredericksburg has to pay the Stadium Owners with a lease commitment of 30 years. In the grand scheme of things, I see this being a fair deal and beneficial to the economic growth of Fredericksburg. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money, and this is a perfect example. As long as the venue is utilized to its fullest potential, I don't see this project backfiring on a city already on the rise!
WHAT EFFECT WILL THE NEW BASEBALL STADIUM HAVE ON FREDERICKSBURG?
Many residents, including myself, are interested to see what potential effect the stadium and baseball team will have on local economic growth and tourism. It’s likely that it will draw people from out of town to visit Fredericksburg and spend their money here at local restaurants, bars, businesses, and other local establishments during game days. Perhaps the team’s players will live and work here, helping make Fredericksburg a popular travel & living destination for families around the country. The stadium will create jobs as well as provide an opportunity for local businesses to be vendors, advertise, and grow.
In order for all this to work out, the stadium should be constantly in use bringing in revenue whether that’s from the Minor League Baseball club, concerts, or local sports and community events. The stadium could also be the start of a training facility… imagine when Washington D.C Nationals players are rehabbing an injury, you could very well see them in Fredericksburg recouping and practicing. The fact the stadium will be open for concerts also means that we can bet on famous and well-known artists and bands coming into town more frequently! This will add so much buzz and energy to the artistic revolution and Renaissance that is creeping on the area. The stadium is a stepping stone to making Fredericksburg the next Richmond or Atlanta.
THE REAL POSSIBILITIES:
A baseball team and stadium in FXBG will inspire many youths to pursue baseball or other sports dreams and learn the importance of teamwork and community. By having a stadium locally available, youth from all over Fredericksburg should be able to engage their athletic passions, talents, and dreams! It will allow our area’s children a chance to see what potential opportunities can be there if you work hard at chasing your dreams and accomplishing your goals. ESPN can be great for inspiration, but there's NOTHING like meeting athletic heroes in real life and watching them perform in person!
Photo Courtesy via Unsplash.com
Hosting sporting events, concerts and other large community events will help unify the community in another way. Sports are an important part of a city's culture. Bringing Baseball to The Burg helps complete the circle of leisure and entertainment options that the area continues to provide and offer. Now both the city and the club will grow together… It is perfect timing for our city on the rise!
For More Information on the Baseball Stadium, please visit the official website at http://www.fredericksburgbaseball.com/
Location: Carl D Silver Parkway next to Fredericksburg Expo Center in Celebrate Virginia! South
FB: https://www.facebook.com/FredericksburgBaseball/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fxbgbaseball20
IG: https://www.instagram.com/fredericksburgbaseball/
Scott Wharton is a stand-up comedian from Fredericksburg Virginia. Scott is our new writer for Hoodie Goodies and contributes articles each month on local developments within the scene in FXBG. When he is not busy doing comedy or writing, Scott prefers to explore the country on a Greyhound bus or exploring his mind. He is always accompanied by his dog BO.
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FB:https://www.facebook.com/ComedianScottWharton/
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