Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Why Baseball?
When doing my research paper at the beginning of the year, this subject was brought up several times throughout my research progress. People questioned why baseball for downtown? What about something else, was there anything else besides baseball that could draw people to the downtown area. Well during a Q & A session with the media those on the Harrison Square project were asked that question. There response was "Because it works!" The Fort Wayne wizards will draw people to the downtown area. But only during the summer months. Will the new stadium be of use for anything during the winter months? Hopefully it will, if not, what will bring people to downtown Fort Wayne?
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3 comments:
I beleive the new stadium will draw people, but i don't know what they would use if for in the winter months. I believe our schools in Fort wayne will draw people to live hear. Colleges around Fort Wayne are getting more recognition each and everyday, which i believe will increase Fort Waynes awareness
Many people ignore the fact that this project is more than a ballpark. It is a major development that includes housing, recreational areas and more. In doing so, Fort Wayne is creating an open living environment that many young professionals and retired empty nester's seek. Hopefully, the WHOLE project will make residency AFTER college a desired option. With young professionals staying in lieu of darting to more progressive cities; and with a mature workforce remaining in the suburbs or downsizing to condos as their lifestyle needs change in preparation for retirement, there will be a solid and diverse workforce. That will entice more employers to the area - and they won't all be manufacturing. The ballpark, as I understanding it, will be multi-use. The concourse will perhaps be enclosed so it can be used as a banquet facility for receptions, proms, charitable dinners and more. The field might host concerts and other outdoor events. The versatility is what makes it work. Once you throw up a water park, museum or some other closed building, the aesthetics and functionality become limited.
From my research on the topic, I found that Fort Wayne has had a baseball field downtown before. Also, in May 1871, the Fort Wayne Keekionga baseball team won the first game of professional baseball ever played. I wonder what this baseball field will do to traffic! Focus groups have been conducted and found that people do not choose a city based on professional sports teams there and we need to attract younger people to live and work in Fort Wayne to increase economic activity.
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