While the city of Columbus and Franklin County are content to host their minor league franchise in the confines of Cooper Stadium on the city’s west side, every other Ohio city with a team has erected a new ballpark in the last decade – all of which are downtown.
Columbus resident and baseball fan Mike Nagel has been to several Columbus Clippers games over the last few years. Nagel sees a need for the move of the team into a new downtown stadium.
“I like going to games in the summer. It’s a fun, cheap way to watch pro baseball,” Nagel said, “But the stadium is getting old, and the location is not so great. A new stadium nearer to the Arena District would be sweet.”
A new stadium would most likely require a sales-tax hike. Columbus has a history of saying “no” to such proposals, voting against the use of public money for sports facilities five times since 1978.
The city of Dayton used a sales-tax increase to fund its new Dragons’ ballpark, Fifth Third Field. Its facility is part of a downtown revitalization project, which also included a performing arts center.
“The city was in dire need of revival and the stadium started it all,” said Mike Wardley, a New Carlisle resident and Dragons fan.
Wardley has attended over 40 games in the team’s three-plus seasons and finds the games very entertaining. Bringing a minor league franchise to Dayton and building the new ballpark is a success, he said.
“The experience is very fan-friendly. In the minor leagues, the level of play is lower, so the games have to be more entertaining,” Wardley said.
Another factor in attracting fans to games is the thought of being able to see the stars of tomorrow, especially for the hometown team. The Dragons are the Single-A team of the Cincinnati Reds. There is just an hour between the two cities.
“A couple of years ago, I watched (current Red stars) Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns play here in Dayton,” Wardley said. “Now they play up the road in Cincy. It’s kind of cool to watch them here and then one day be able to see them on TV.”
Toledo opened up a new stadium last season, also called Fifth Third Field. The ballpark is also part of a downtown revival going on in Toledo, according to Jason Griffin, director of public relations for the Toledo Mud Hens.
“There are four new restaurants and several condominiums being built around the stadium,” Griffin said.
Toledo’s field was named Minor League Ballpark of the Year by Newsweek.
The Mud Hens are the Triple-A team of the Detroit Tigers. Griffin agrees with the idea that proximity to the major league team affects fan interest.
“With Detroit being just 45 minutes away, many Tiger fans come to see up-and-coming prospects play before they make it,” Griffin said.
Ben Renner, a University of Toledo student, enjoys going to games in Toledo’s new stadium.
“The ballpark is great. There’s not much to do in Toledo, so the games are a big deal,” Renner said. “The beer and food are cheap. My friends and I go to the games to watch, but more so to party.”
The Cleveland Indians Double-A team is located in Akron. Canal Park, home of the Akron Aeros, was opened in 1997. Other than Cooper Stadium, it is the oldest ballpark in Ohio, as it enters its seventh season.
Like the ballparks in Dayton and Toledo, Akron put its stadium downtown to inspire economic growth in the city. Canal Park was funded in part by a $5.5 million grant from the State of Ohio and $28 million in borrowed money, according to Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth.
“The stadium was put downtown right on Main Street to stimulate economic growth there and it has done just that,” Lieberth said. “Nine new restaurants have moved within two blocks of the stadium.”
James Carpenter, spokesman for the Aeros, echoes the sentiment of others about fan interest being spurred on by having the major league team located nearby.
“Being a farm team of the Indians does nothing but help us,” said Carpenter. “Folks can watch players in Akron that can be sent to Buffalo (the Indians’ Triple-A team) or Cleveland before you know it. The Tribe’s minor league system is thriving right now.”
