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A Private Enterprise?

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Reporter: Todd Baucher, Erin Pulsanti

Erin Pulsanti Looks Into Potential Baseball Team for Parkersburg
Interview At Five - Mayor Newell - Pro Baseball In Parkersburg

Update 4/13/2012 6:20 P.M.

Paul Teters actually lived in Washington, Pennsylvania...when the Wild Things started playing ball there. He is unquestionably upbeat about a team like the one there being here.

"Building a stadium would be so economical for jobs for many people," he says. "Whatever Mayor Newell was doing, meeting with owners of the Wild Things, it's a very worthwhile effort for the community."

But while others would like to see professional ball here again, the experience of having the Redcoats here 15 years ago has them skeptical.

"I think it's a dream really, to build a separate stadium for them," says resident Jim Deem. "It would have its positives, such as being able to sell beer to subsidize some of it. But, otherwise, I don't see it being successful."

But the mayor says it has been done elsewhere. And the owners of the Wild Things have been among those who have owned their own ballpark.

"Some of the 14 teams in the Frontier League, their stadiums have been built by non-profit groups with private money," Mayor Bob Newell says. "Some of them have public money, some are fully funded by public money. But it certainly can be done."

One of the reasons the city is so confident about the business model for this ball field, if it happens, is that it would be a privately-owned facility. Not a publicly-owned one, like City Park's Bennett Stump field, which was the home of the Ohio Valley Redcoats in the 1990's.

And revenues could come from more than just baseball. Such events as concerts could be part of the mix. And then there are the naming rights, the same thing which brings revenue to major league stadiums and ballparks.

"The only thing the city would do is facilitate this process, through maybe some community development money or revenue bonds," Mayor Newell says. "And there's different ways we can be involved besides using taxpayer money, and solely based on revenue from the ballfield."

There is the issue of where it would be built. Fort Boreman Hill, once considered a potential site for an events center, might be a possibility.

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America's pastime may find a new home right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley and residents are excited to hear about the potential baseball endeavor.

"It's exciting because you see the minor league team in Charleston and see all the support people show them," says life long Parkersburg resident, Daniel Knapp. "I think it would get the same kind of support here. It's a small community and there's a lot of baseball fans."

Business owners are excited about the possibility of a team, too. Over at Zides Sport Shop, a new team could mean new business.

"It's going to be great for business because everybody is going to support the local team," explains retail manager, Mike Roberts. "You are going to get people who come in from out of town whether they are buying souvenirs or they're just stopping for food before they go to the game."

Roberts says he knows the community will support a minor league baseball team because local athletes are already supported so strongly.

"This is really a great community," Roberts adds. "All the centralized communities here support their local team. So, whether it's high school or the colleges we see lots of fans coming through."

For some fans it comes down to Parkersburg pride and root, root, rooting for the home team.

"I would support the team because this is Parkersburg and this is where I was raised at," adds Tylor Mosso. "All my family and friends are here."