Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for the ‘Weighing in on Harrison Square’ Category

From the Fort Wayne Wizards Newsletter:

Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne Wizards, along with Barry Real Estate Companies, White Lodging Services and the City of Fort Wayne hosted a community open house on February 21st to update the Harrison Square project currently underway in downtown Fort Wayne.

Portions of a new digital fly through were shown at the open house, however, on the heels of that event, even more information is now available. HOK recently completed several more renderings and an updated full-length fly through.

“We’re extremely happy with the latest visions of what Harrison Square is going to look like,” Wizards General Manager Mike Nutter said. “At the same time, we’re still looking for feedback from our fans on these new features and how else we can improve the park to maximize the fan experience.”

Video Fly Through | Latest shot renderings | Oxblue Web Cam

[tags]Fort Wayne Wizards, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Harrison Square[/tags]

Fort Wayne, IN – Preparations for the Fort Wayne Wizards 2009 season have begun! The official ground breaking ceremony for the Wizards’ new downtown ballpark and the entire mixed-use Harrison Square project will take place Thursday, November 29th. The team will begin taking reservations for 2009 season ticket packages the following morning, November 30th, at 10 AM.

Fans can reserve their place on the priority list for 2009 season tickets by calling the Wizards office at (260) 482-6400 beginning on November 30th at 10:00 AM.

Season ticket reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, although priority will be granted to 2008 season ticket holders and major corporate sponsors, then to ticket holders of weekender and mini-packs and smaller corporate partners (within these groups, priority will also be determined on a first-come, first-served basis). All reservations will require a $50 per seat deposit.

Click here to download the complete press release
Click here for Harrison Square news and photos

[tags]baseball in fort wayne, wizards, Harrison Square, stadiums, ballparks[/tags]

In a 6-3 vote, the Harrison Square project has passed. Construction is expected to begin this September with the ballpark to be ready for play for the 2009 season.

Indiana’s News Center: “Harrison Square: PASSES”
Downtown Fort Wayne Baseball: “Harrison Square Vote Passes 6-3”
WaneTV: “Harrison Square Project Gets the Nod”
FortWayne.com: “Harrison Square Passes 6-3”

Harrison Square: Today and Tomorrow (an interactive look via FortWayne.com)

FWDailyNews has an interesting look at the Harrison Square development from a youth standpoint (I think I may the oldest of those who are included – but don’t quote me on it).

From the article:

Harrison Square may have opened a generation gap, but he thinks the project, if built, could close that gap.

“I think there’s a huge generational divide there, and you think about it and baseball is kind of that one link between the generations,” he said.

[tags]Harrison Square, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Generational Divide[/tags]

Note: This is the third in a series of my thoughts on the Harrison Square project. They are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of any other individual or entity.

I have heard it said that the Wizards are little more than a “glorified little league team” and that most people in the area would rather drive to Chicago or Detroit or Cleveland for baseball. Perhaps we should remember that the higher the level of play, the higher the price of tickets. I have been to 8 big league parks and one Triple-A park. Tickets are substantially more – plus I have to drive two hours minimum. Dollar-for-dollar, minor league baseball is one of the best family entertainment values you will ever be able to find.

Additionally, if you call the likes of Torii Hunter, Jake Peavy, Josh Barfield, LaTroy Hawkins, Michael Cuddyer, Matt Lawton, AJ Pierzynski and Matt Lecroy little leaguers, you obviously don’t watch baseball. The Wizards have produced over 50 players who have prospered into Major League Baseball players. Countless others have come through town as opponents.

And let’s not forget the coaches. This summer, we’ll welcome former big leaguers, Doug Dascenzo and Wally Whitehurst to the Summit City. I’ve gotten to see other former big leaguers, like Jody Davis, Andy Van Slyke and Mike Harkey . . . looking forward to seeing one of my all-time favorites – Ryne Sandberg – this summer.

Finally, this summer, the Midwest League All-Star game will be proudly hosted by the Kane County Cougars and be played in Geneva, IL. Is there any reason why it shouldn’t be played in Fort Wayne? While the current Memorial Stadium could probably be “adequate” to host such an event, I doubt the site would ever be selected because there are other, more attractive parks that are MORE than adequate. The Cougars have a wonderful tour of their stadium on their website. I encourage you to check it out.

I will be in Geneva this summer for the game . . . though would love to not have to travel. What a boon it would be for the city and its proprietors if we were to host such an event!!!

[tags]Harrison Square, baseball, Fort Wayne, minor leagues, ball parks, Kane County Cougars, Torii Hunter, Jake Peavy, Josh Barfield, LaTroy Hawkins, Michael Cuddyer, Matt Lawton, AJ Pierzynski, Matt Lecroy, Ryne Sandberg, Jody Davis, Andy Van Slyke, Mike Harkey[/tags]

Joel Dinda (AKA “Jowo”) over at the MidWest League Guide offers his thoughts on Harrison Square. soem good points. I’ll wrap up my perspectives tomorrow with part 3 of my series.

Harrison Square, a city-sponsored downtown redevelopment project which would necessarily include substantial public and privately funding, is an apparently-serious effort. The project would include a new ($30 million) ballyard for the Wizards, who would participate in the entire project, including a $5 million portion of the stadium (the owners are Atlanta-based real estate developers). While the Wizards would like to have the new ballpark in place by the start of the 2008 season, I’m skeptical about the feasibility of that timeline; the apparent need for a hotel chain’s endorsement is certainly a potential holdup, if not a deal-breaker. And the project’s a bit too ambitious to believe it will be implemented exactly as planned. [Source: MWLguide.com]

I’d be interested to hear any other thoughts you have on the project Joel.

Note: This is the second in a series of my thoughts on the Harrison Square project. They are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of any other individual or entity.

The objections are many. But I have yet to hear any that are not based upon misconceptions or falsities.

• HS is not going to be funded through property taxes. If it were, I would probably be against it.
• HS is more than a ballpark. That’s a fact.
• The Wizards have been an outstanding community partner during their tenure. To think otherwise is pure and utter ignorance.
• A ballpark has limited use. This is probably the best argument I have heard and I can tend to side with it. But what would NOT have limited use?

Aside from that, the idea is to encourage more activity downtown. Most such activity will occur during warmer months. The Wizards will play 41 regular season home games this summer. When the Wizards qualify for the postseason, a few more games will also be played. In 2006, Memorial Stadium welcomed 253,564 baseball fans; placing them fifth of 14 teams in the Midwest League. I can think of no other use for the area (which would probably happen with or without a ballpark) that would draw similar crowds. I suspect that an improved park with greater amenities – combined with the outstanding on and off field work of the Wizards staff – will increase that number considerably.

Tomorrow: Let’s look at the possibilities that are available.

[tags]Harrison Square, baseball, Fort Wayne, Wizards, minor leagues, ball parks, Midwest League[/tags]

Note: This is the first in a series of my thoughts on the Harrison Square project. They are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of any other individual or entity.

Growing up in Auburn, I have mainly stuck to the north side of Fort Wayne. It’s where I am most comfortable due to the familiarity. Then, I interned at the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne while in college. I realized that downtown Fort Wayne was not the monster I thought it was (though I did get a traffic ticket because I got very confused during five-o-clock rush hour on my way home, but that’s a different story).

Today, I have a much better comfort level with the area. That said, I still wonder what reasons there are to travel downtown after 5PM during the week . . . unless it is to pass through. Sure, the Embassy Theatre and some limited night life spots are there. But other than that, it’s pretty eerie for me to drive through . . . because it just doesn’t seem like a vibrant area.

Harrison Square would change all that.

When I refer to Harrison Square, I am referring to the project in totality . . . not just a ball park, as is often inferred. What HS represents is an outstanding opportunity to transform Fort Wayne to a desirable entertainment destination that has plenty of reasons to inhabit.

Tomorrow: Part 2

[tags]Harrison Square, baseball, Fort Wayne, FWCVB, minor leagues, ball parks[/tags]