Dream LARGE and Good Luck!!

The following letter is from a citizen that does not want to be characterized as a Naysayer, yet has concerns about the Maritime Park as it is proposed.

I want to offer some clarification and answers to the public about the proposed Park and Multi Use Stadium.


Citizen Letter: ( Editorial Note- I have edited to condense the citizen's comments to capture major points of his letter)

In the months leading up to the Maritime Park referendum, opponents were continuously characterized as “naysayers”. I wanted to vote for the park, but as a life-long baseball fan, the “multi-use” stadium was a deal breaker for me. I had always hoped to see minor league baseball return to Pensacola.

* Class AA Southern League would have been a much better fit for Pensacola than the independent Pelicans.

* After the 2004 season, the Atlanta Braves moved their Southern League affiliate from Greenville, SC to Pearl, MS, a suburb of Jackson and upgraded their stadium to Class AA standards. The relocated Mississippi Braves opened play in a new 8,000 seat stadium in April of 2005.

* A Southern League team would bring a number of significant benefits to Pensacola.

* Fans would be treated to quality baseball and the opportunity to watch future major leaguers field.

* Four of last season’s playoff teams - the Cubs, Dodgers, Brewers and Rays - have affiliates in the Southern League.

* Pensacola would have an instant rivalry with the Mobile Bay Bears.

* The community’s profile in the Southeast would be raised, joining a league with teams in Jacksonville, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, Raleigh, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Jackson, MS.

* Fans of other league teams might look at Pensacola as a possible vacation destination, giving them the opportunity to visit our beaches and catch their team on the road.

* Over time, a minor league club would provide a sense of identity for the community. As players made their way to the major leagues, locals would begin to feel a part of something larger.

* Some major leaguers might vacation in Pensacola, or decide to retire here after their major league careers ended.

* The idea of minor league baseball in Pensacola is certainly not out of the question. At the very least, the possibility should have been a point of discussion during the run-up to the Maritime Park referendum.

* The stadium at the Maritime Park will be too small for a Class AA team and the location is not ideal for expanding the stadium at a later date.

No, I am not against change, but I believe that Pensacola needs more activity-based enterprises that would bring people downtown on a daily basis. Special events several nights a year might help businesses survive, but it will not help them thrive. Businesses need more incentive to locate downtown. Foot traffic would help.

As newly elected officials, you have the opportunity to help create a new vision for Pensacola, a vision that encourages activity, fosters a vibrant community and provides jobs in the process. In the past, some have confused change with progress, creating a patchwork of disjointed development. You are now in a position to oversee the development of a master plan for our community and show us what Pensacola can become.
Dream large and good luck!

My Response and clarification.

The Multi-Use stadium is being built to be just that ...able to accommodate many different events with numerous configurations. If we build now to AA Baseball standards then the entire plan shifts and profitability throughout the year is drastically changed. A Multi-Use venue is the vehicle we need to have diversification and year round access & use of the waterfront park. IE: profitability.

It is my understanding that expansion for extra seating is possible within the current plans, with an upper deck and outfield seating...should that become a need in the future.

Current plans have the stadium built above the Flood Line from Hurricane Ivan. The center area of the Maritime Park will stand between 13 and 14 feet above sea level. More than enough height to weather even the most serious of storms.

I agree with the advantages of having a AA Baseball Team in Pensacola and see it as yet another opportunity that will be available to us once the Maritime Park and Museum are built. This proposed project will spur private investment in all of downtown and bring vacationers and Pensacolians downtown and create an environment we have only dreamed of until now.

We have an opportunity, within our reach as a community, to make Pensacola a thriving and vibrant place to live, work and play... Let's get started.

I invite your comments, concerns and input to foster open discussion and help us all learn what the many options and opinions are about the future of our city.