Ballpark Village? Nothing but Parking Lot and Softball Field

[E.J.]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/DC328FD535D869598625757D0058C5B3?OpenDocument

 

The Cardinals today announced their plans for the Ballpark Village site during this summer's All-Star Game: a parking lot and a softball field.

 

The move is far less ambitious than their original plan to have a $365 million entertainment district greeting fans from around the country who visit St. Louis in July to see baseball's best play at Busch Stadium.

 

The Cardinals made a point in a news release to call the the lot and field only "temporary" changes. It's still unclear, though, when, or if, the larger development plans will become reality.

 

The team described the additions as "fan-friendly enhancements" that will occupy the property as the team continues its long push to finance Ballpark Village. The site -- directly north of Busch Stadium -- was supposed to feature office space, stores and a Cardinals museum.

 

"The softball field and parking lot are temporary but welcomed improvements designed to provide additional amenities to our fans as we wait for final approvals on the larger Ballpark Village plan," said Bill DeWitt, president of the St. Louis Cardinals.

 

Haha. I'm sure that parking lot will really add to the atmosphere.

[Tarver]

Their plan was too ambitious, but this isn't entirely the Cardinal's fault. A majer corporate partner backed out, and downtown StL is absolutely flooded with condos no one wants and will take years to sell existing stock. There simply isn't any market for more living space, and probably won't be for quite awhile.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/DC328FD535D869598625757D0058C5B3?OpenDocument

 

The Cardinals today announced their plans for the Ballpark Village site during this summer's All-Star Game: a parking lot and a softball field.

 

The move is far less ambitious than their original plan to have a $365 million entertainment district greeting fans from around the country who visit St. Louis in July to see baseball's best play at Busch Stadium.

 

The Cardinals made a point in a news release to call the the lot and field only "temporary" changes. It's still unclear, though, when, or if, the larger development plans will become reality.

 

The team described the additions as "fan-friendly enhancements" that will occupy the property as the team continues its long push to finance Ballpark Village. The site -- directly north of Busch Stadium -- was supposed to feature office space, stores and a Cardinals museum.

 

"The softball field and parking lot are temporary but welcomed improvements designed to provide additional amenities to our fans as we wait for final approvals on the larger Ballpark Village plan," said Bill DeWitt, president of the St. Louis Cardinals.

 

Haha. I'm sure that parking lot will really add to the atmosphere.

 

Yeah...and I'm sure there's huge demand for a softball field in downtown St. Louis.

[NonProfitCow]

This really pisses me off. They could at least hold off on this until after the All Star game. Set up a big fan zone type thing like they do at the College WS every year. Just really stupid.

[Bixby]

I haven't been to Busch since 2007... is that massive hole left by Busch II still there?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I haven't been to Busch since 2007... is that massive hole left by Busch II still there?

 

They filled it in, so now it's just a big dirt lot next to Busch instead of a big dirt sinkhole next to Busch. Well, until they do this I guess.

[Cubswin11]

This really pisses me off. They could at least hold off on this until after the All Star game. Set up a big fan zone type thing like they do at the College WS every year. Just really stupid.

Yeah what they're doing doesn't make sense. I don't see why they wouldn't put up food/beverage stands, a beer garden, get some live music and bands playing with some interactive baseball stuff like batting cages and what not. They could bring in some extra revenue with that stuff and they won't be making any money off a [expletive] softball field.

[PrimeTime]

I suggest putting a Jack in The Box there. :)

[kujay]

Their plan was too ambitious, but this isn't entirely the Cardinal's fault. A majer corporate partner backed out, and downtown StL is absolutely flooded with condos no one wants and will take years to sell existing stock. There simply isn't any market for more living space, and probably won't be for quite awhile.

 

I completely disagree with any suggestion that the current economic conditions have anything to do with this.

 

What really happened is that the Cardinals' ownership is ridiculously cheap and was trying to get this done without much of any capital investment of its own. That meant involving City Hall, which has always been skeptical, and it also meant a lack of leverage over its "corporate partner."

 

MLB should have taken the All-Star game from St. Louis. Not only have the Cardinals done nothing with the site, their new plan is simply a money grab. Parking and a softball field people can rent. Brilliant.

[Tarver]

Busch III was funded almost completely with private money. DeWitt is paying close to $17 million every year in debt service alone.

 

While he can be cheap, this is not entirely his fault. Had Centene not backed out, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. But the condos were always a bad idea. They can't give away the ones down there already.

[mjohnson71]

At least the city of St. Louis stood tall and didn't agree to cover Cordish's financing.

 

Kansas City is going to get hosed for millions more dollars than they already threw into the Power and Light District. Cordish can't cover the debt payment, but KC is stuck footing the bill. Plus the P&L District is already faltering as some places have closed and other slots left open. They need badly to get a sports team into the Sprint Center.

[The Voice of Reason]

They should have put in something that would get a lot use - like a square dance arena.

[Outshined_One]

They should have put in something that would get a lot use - like a square dance arena.

 

A barn would have been apropos.

[BCVM22]

A barn would have been apropos.

 

Somewhere for all the female Cardinals fans to congregate? Great idea.

[radarluv1]

They should have put in something that would get a lot use - like a square dance arena.

 

A barn would have been apropos.

those would not be useful. the space would better be used for the homeless, or for some maximum security prison. maybe more public housing. then it could be used all year round, not just by some rednecks in the summer.

[cubbinalltheway]

They should have put in something that would get a lot use - like a square dance arena.

 

A barn would have been apropos.

well, there is al hrabosky's bar... which is basically a barn.

[Soul]

It kind of sounds like what the Brewers did, only worse.

[mjohnson71]

It kind of sounds like what the Brewers did, only worse.

 

The Texas Rangers did the same thing during the period where President Bush (Dabya) was one of the owners.

[Soul]

It kind of sounds like what the Brewers did, only worse.

 

The Texas Rangers did the same thing during the period where President Bush (Dabya) was one of the owners.

 

LOL, at least the Crew took a look at it and said, "umm...this needs some sausage and beer."

 

Doesn't sound like the Cards are even going to do that. I'm not sure if Texas did anything with their setup. BBQ in the parking lot?