This past Tuesday, the Turk's Head Stadium Alliance (THSA) announced a verbal agreement with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and the Borough of West Chester (PA) for the purchase of a 30-acre plot of land that will lead to the building of a new 4,000 - 5,000 seat baseball stadium. The new park, located at the former site of Wyeth Laboratories and owned by Pfizer, ideally would be ready in time for the 2013 season.
There are, however, several hurdles to clear before the stadium becomes a reality. The cost of the project is expected to be around $40 million, with half coming from state funding and the other half from local sources. According to Al Kelly, a West Chester retiree involved with the project, the THSA has a local source who will match a State grant. As of yet, the State of Pennsylvania has not committed any monies to this endeavor.
In addition to the announcement of the possible purchase, the THSA stated that they have a verbal agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies to place a Class A team in the new stadium. The stadium, which would be owned by the West Chester Redevelopment Authority, would lease the park to the Phillies, who would run the facility and the franchise. Later that day, the Phillies denied any such commitment to this project. It was confirmed by a Phillies spokeswoman that team President, David Montgomery, met with representatives of the THSA, but did not promise anything other than general support.
If these large financial issues can be resolved and the Phillies actually have promised to buy and move a Class A team into a new West Chester stadium, which of its three Class A affiliates would it be? Their Advanced A (Florida State League) team, which is owned by the parent club, is located at the team's Spring Training Complex in Clearwater, Florida. A move away from its Southern home to Pennsylvania and a transfer to the Carolina League would be possible but not likely or necessary.
The Phillies Low A (South Atlantic League) team is located in nearby Lakewood, NJ, and is not owned by the team. The two-time defending SAL Champions, have been the top SAL draw in each of its 10 years. While the transfer would be an easier logistical move than the Clearwater Threshers, it would not seem likely that the Phillies would be able to convince the owners of this franchise to move such an economically successful team. It would also seem to be an expensive option for the team to buy out the Blue Claws ownership, as well.
This would leave the Short Season A (NYPL) affiliate in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which is not owned by the Phillies. According to MiLB's Benjamin Hill, "the Crosscutters play at 84-year-old Bowman Field, a charming but undeniably ancient ballpark that fits snugly into a residential section of small-market Williamsport". Since the Phillies would be able to keep a team within the NYPL, move from a small market to a much larger Philadelphia market, and reap the benefits of full franchise ownership, it would seem more likely for the Phillies to purchase either the Williamsport, Batavia, or Vermont franchises and move it into West Chester if the new stadium project becomes a reality.
As THSA member and former West Chester mayor Dick Yoder said, "There is a lot of work that has to be done. This is just the beginning." However, this is something, for NYPL fans including those in the smaller markets, to keep their eyes on in the months and years ahead.
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