Nationals Uniforms to be Unveiled

[yh]

It appears as if the Minnesota Legislature will approve 2 stadium deals, for the Twins and Gophers, not the Vikings though. So hopefully the Twins get that stadium, and there should be no need for contraction talk anymore, like there shouldnt have been in the first place.

Pioneer Press

I thought the plan was for the Vikings and Gophers to share a new stadium.

No, my understanding was that the stadium for the Gophers was going to be on campus or immediately adjacent to campus. I remember seeing the promotional film for the stadium and the main point of the presentation was bringing football back to campus like it was during the program's glory days.

[Grandmaster C]

Oh just be happy you got the team 

arent you from toronto?

No I'm not actually... but people here seem to root for their fellow Canadian teams, we're not a hateful nation (except those in the West )

[JamesCraven]

"Has anyone considered temporarily moving the team to a city/area that already has a team, but another stadium?

"Examples:

"Houston/Astrodome.

"Detroit/Silverdome.

"New Jersey/Giants Stadium.

"Denver/Mile High Stadium.

"St. Louis/Edward Jones Dome.

"Atlanta/Georgia Dome.

"I know this is very unlikely, but as long as we're throwing around ideas, why not?"

Several things wrong with those ideas, my fellow Philadelphia sports fan:

• [1] The Astrodome was vacated because there were so many things wrong (Rats, trash, AstroTurf, et al.) with the place, and that's why the 'Stros moved to a more lucrative site downtown with real grass.
  [2] Mile High Stadium is no longer there. It's part of Invesco Field's parking lot.
  [3] The Silverdome, Giants Stadium, Edward Jones Dome and Georgia Dome are not configured for multi-purpose use other than football and the occasional mega concert, and with Giants Stadium, soccer, as well as the occasional NCAA Final Four, except The Silverdome.
  

In addition to that, there would be very strong opposition from the teams in those areas for a second team from the same league (National, except Detroit, which has been an American League charter member since 1901) in those cities. And I doubt the Tigers would support a National League team in their backyard.

[CJR]

The Silverdome, Giants Stadium, Edward Jones Dome and Georgia Dome are not configured for multi-purpose use other than football and the occasional mega concert, and with Giants Stadium, soccer.

The Silverdome can do soccer, too, not just Giants Stadium. IIRC, it was the first venue to host an indoor World Cup game.

If there were plans to configure the Silverdome for hockey, I'm sure they could come up with something odd for baseball. Even if they couldn't, Detroit has Tiger Stadium sitting vacant right now and that's configured for baseball pretty well (even if the grass and the seats are pretty much gone, from what I hear). But it won't matter, 'cause while Ilitch probably would fight it, no one's talking about bringing the Nats to Detroit anyway.

[FiddySicks]

They wouldn't support the Oilers because they knew they were in town for two years max (it ended up being for one year, and then to Vanderbilt Stadium for year two) and then off to Nashville.

Raley Field in Sacramento is ready to go. It would take about a year and a half for the expansion to complete (also Sacramento has the money in the bank to do so), it depends if Selig wants to be a third team in Northern California.

i could be wrong bit i thought i read somewhere memphis didnt support the oilers because they were so upset that they didnt get a permanent franchise. sort of like a boycott

[FiddySicks]

I'm not sure about Sacramento getting a team. I think it's still a growing city and I'm not sure what the whether is like there (although I've been to Davis)

you talk about near perfect baseball weather sacto is the place

[FiddySicks]

if any team relocates to Sacto it would be the parent club of the triple A team that plays there, the A's

even though thats true for now, the A's the bought rights to raley field knowing that there could be a possibility that they loose the stadium. the A's have an alternate plan worked out with sacramento state to use their field if that were to ever happen

[CubsFanBudMan]

Of all the outrageous ideas, I like the Silverdome one for some of the reasons listed above... it's in suburban Detroit, it's an NL team in an AL suburb, and it's big enough to be configured temporarily for baseball. If they need a temporary facility in a big city, that would do the trick.

I think MLB would be more likely to use a small minor league ballpark like Portland or Vegas or even Puerto Rico before doing something that radical, though.

Also, sorry to hear Tiger Stadium is falling into disrepair...

[The_Admiral]

Is there a site in Alexandria they can move to? That doesn't solve the interim dilemma though.

[tp49]

I'm not sure about Sacramento getting a team. I think it's still a growing city and I'm not sure what the whether is like there (although I've been to Davis)

you talk about near perfect baseball weather sacto is the place

I don't think you'd be saying that for a day game in August when it's 103. Though I would love to see an MLB team here I figure if it's anyone it would be the A's.

[LMU]

It appears as if the Minnesota Legislature will approve 2 stadium deals, for the Twins and Gophers, not the Vikings though. So hopefully the Twins get that stadium, and there should be no need for contraction talk anymore, like there shouldnt have been in the first place.

Pioneer Press

I thought the plan was for the Vikings and Gophers to share a new stadium.

No, my understanding was that the stadium for the Gophers was going to be on campus or immediately adjacent to campus. I remember seeing the promotional film for the stadium and the main point of the presentation was bringing football back to campus like it was during the program's glory days.

Yeah, and from what I heard, the Vikings would share an on-campus stadium.

[DEAD!]

Is there a site in Alexandria they can move to? That doesn't solve the interim dilemma though.

If there are pyramids in the backdrop then I would choose that location.......

Oh wait, you're talking about Alexandria, Virginia.......

[OnWis97]

It appears as if the Minnesota Legislature will approve 2 stadium deals, for the Twins and Gophers, not the Vikings though. So hopefully the Twins get that stadium, and there should be no need for contraction talk anymore, like there shouldnt have been in the first place.

Pioneer Press

I thought the plan was for the Vikings and Gophers to share a new stadium.

No, my understanding was that the stadium for the Gophers was going to be on campus or immediately adjacent to campus. I remember seeing the promotional film for the stadium and the main point of the presentation was bringing football back to campus like it was during the program's glory days.

Yeah, and from what I heard, the Vikings would share an on-campus stadium.

I have heard that too. I think it would be good if the Vikings would put up about $100 million. If they want a free ride, then tell them to stick it.

[shiznit1083]

I think Boston would bring in killer attendence if the Nats were to play in Boston for 1 year. It's almost impossible to buy Sox tickets, and considering how baseball trumps all else here, there would be a ton of people going to NL games if they were at fenway. I'm sure they could work out some schedule. I know it was an idea brought up the first time around,

[gbasalmon]

Well, if they add another level of seats, which was the plan all along, the Expos/Nationals are welcome in Buffalo...

[shiznit1083]

Well, if they add another level of seats, which was the plan all along, the Expos/Nationals are welcome in Buffalo...

Now that you metion it, I wonder why Buffalo isn't in the running. They support their minor-league franchise very well and they're an excellent sports town.

[gbasalmon]

hmmmm....east coast town, the only ones I can think of this late at night are Norfolk, Buffalo, Charlotte, and maybe Memphis (but that ones a stretch)

Raleigh'll get picked before Charlotte if it came down to it. Raleigh has a history of supporting minor league teams, while the Charlotte Knights allegedly can't draw flies, losing millions of dollars a year since the Panthers were born.

accually memphis would be a very good choice for a team, because as far as i know, memphis and sacramento are the only two cities that have minor league baseball parks that are designed to be "officially" expanded in case they ever got a major league park. and although other parks have the possibility to be expanded, these two were built specifically for this purpose,and both memphis and sacramento are big enough to support major sports franchises. look at the grizzlies and kings.

I believe the field in Buffalo is configured in the same way. Whether it would be up to MLB standards, however, is another story.

I seem to remember when the then-Pilot Field opened, there was significant talk of its ability to be expanded, especially seeing as though the Marlins and Rockies franchises hadn't been awarded yet back in 1988. Plus, this would help out the Buffalo economy a lot, seeing as though the Sabres have left a gaping hole in downtown Buffalo. Well, downtown is a gaping hole anyway.

And, additionally, they wouldn't have to change their name from Expos. It could be made to refer to the Pan-American Exposition of 1901 and have a turn of the century feel to it, although I know how many of you people would appreciate such a faux retro approach.

[yh]

I seem to remember when the then-Pilot Field opened, there was significant talk of its ability to be expanded, especially seeing as though the Marlins and Rockies franchises hadn't been awarded yet back in 1988.

I remember this as well. The stadium was built in such a way that it would support an upper deck and get the overall seating capacity to around 35,000 - 40,000 if I'm not mistaken. However, "MLB grade" stadium specs have changed substantially in 16 years, and unless there is adequate ability to construct a sufficient number of luxury boxes, the stadium may no longer be truly convertible.

[Gothamite]

Problem is that MLB is a game for large markets.

Buffalo doesn't have the corporate base to support a Major League team.

[CC97]

Well, if they add another level of seats, which was the plan all along, the Expos/Nationals are welcome in Buffalo...

Now that you metion it, I wonder why Buffalo isn't in the running. They support their minor-league franchise very well and they're an excellent sports town.

My only guess would be because Toronto is so close