Loudoun Baseball

Just curious, but what do my fellow residents think of a minor league baseball team in the Sterling/Ashburn area? I, for one, think it would great to draw a AA affiliate of the Nats here to Northern VA. Comments?

 

I'll say this - if they run the place like the stadium up in MD is run - it'll be great. They have to keep it family oriented. And Flying Elvises.

I think it would be a wonderful addition.

 

I am all for keeping it family friendly. I think it would be a great role model for our Little Leaguers

 

I think we should have a AA team. I'll say this, I don't think Washington DC deserved a baseball team, It should have been put someplace else. But that is just my opinion.

 

I am strongly in favor of this, kids and parents alike generally have more fun and enjoy minor league baseball over the upper deck of a 40,000 seat MLB stadium. Not to mention the $7.00 seats and concession stands that you can afford! I grew up in a town with a minor league team, and they can be very successful if promoted properly. As was pointed out earlier, everything must be kid and family friendly, the between inning stunts and games can be hilarious.

 

I'm not for a sub-par non-affiliated team that is being proposed in Loudoun. Given that there is an excellent Minor League choice only 30-40 minutes away in Frederick (Orioles affiliate), I would still go there over what is being proposed. It's a great operation up there plus part of the fun is watching Orioles prospects move up the ladder.

In order to be successful, the team would have to have some draw other than being closer to home. Kids love to root for the home team -- A Nats affiliate would be great.

 

That is assuming that they follow that business model. I am afraid that if a stadium is built/modified the business model will be "how much can we screw out of the Cashburn residents?"

I expect to see $50 seats, $25 parking and a second mortgage for a dog and a beer.

 

plus, baseball is boring to watch... that's why you need beer. 8)

 

Baseball is only boring when you don't understand the game. I used to think the same thing...but the best games are when it's a pitcher's dual, low scoring. I love watching baseball.

 

A low scoring pitching duel doesn't sound very exciting. I prefer real-time sports like hockey.

 

Baseball is more of a mental game. Guess because my son plays baseball and is a pitcher, I'm totally into baseball and the understanding of it. Hockey is only exciting if you go to a game in person, but not a real fan of...so to each his own.

 

But that's one of the draws of minor league ball (class A) -- you think the level of play would be close to the majors, but its not. Routine throws to first go into the stands or the outfield, bunts are a major scramble, its awesome.

 

I love minor league baseball.....the players actually enjoy playing the game...once you get into the majors they turned into whiners......that make too much money.

 

i wonder how many peeps here in Ashburn/Leesburg actually go to see the Keys or the Cannons play now? we go now and then and love it- we just forget about it sometimes because it's not in our faces as something to do.

 

While I won't get into the debate about baseball being the most boring sport to watch and the one that provides the least amount of exercise to its players, I will say that I'm in favor of a minor league team, although I doubt it will ever happen.

Unfortunately, people in this area are spoiled by major league sports and other major league attractions and most just don't understand the draw of minor league sports -- or even college or high school sports for that matter. It's not about the quality of play, but the quality of the game experience.

And forget about this area getting a AA or even A team with a major league affiliation. They just don't give those away to an area that has yet to prove it can even draw. Just because you build a 5,000 seat stadium doesn't mean you can fill it.

The best (and only) bet for the area would be an independent league team. But what do you name it? Like the Prince William Cannons, do you think people will identify with and take pride in a regional name like the Loudoun Lions or whatever? You can't call the team Sterling or Ashburn and when you take away the city or town name, people tend to care a bit less.

In the 1990s, minor league hockey was hot. They had teams all over the South before the novelty wore out. Baltimore had several teams that failed and they even had a team in Upper Marlboro, MD, just across the Wilson Bridge. They were also looking at putting a team in George Mason's arena in Fairfax but that didn't pan out.

What's that have to do with baseball? Viability, baby. Studies have probably been done already on the area. And there is probably a good reason why there isn't already a minor league team of some kind around here.