Jan 27, 2006 — The project manager for York's proposed baseball stadium said he could find out next week if organizers have solved the biggest obstacle in the acquisition of land for a downtown site.

A York Rail Co. line and its large freight-transload warehouse at 100 Hay St. need to be relocated before construction begins on a 5,260-seat park. Finding a suitable site for the warehouse has not been easy.

"There are only so many properties located along the rail," project manager Blanda Nace said, "but we think we found one."

Nace did not reveal the site, since he won't meet with York Rail management until next week. York Rail has final say on whether the site is suitable.

If the site is approved, Nace believes stadium construction could begin as early as this summer - and the stadium could house an Atlantic League team in 2007.

"That's our goal," Nace said.

If the location is not approved, the timetable for the start of construction could be delayed, and York would not have a minor-league franchise before 2008.

Whatever the situation, the Atlantic League appears prepared for either scenario.

The Nashua (N.H.) Pride announced it was moving to the smaller and short-season Can-Am League on Nov. 9. The move made sense for Nashua and the Atlantic League.

Nashua had struggled to attract fans in recent years, and last year a New Hampshire newspaper speculated the franchise would eventually be moved to York.

Advertisement
Despite advancing to the championship series, the Pride drew the fewest number of fans (87,645, or 1,270 per game) in the league. It was the only team in the Atlantic League to draw fewer than 100,000 fans.

By comparison, the Long Island Ducks topped Atlantic League attendance with 429,218 fans - or 6,132 per game.

Although Nashua's move rid the Atlantic League of its most financially troubled franchise, it created another problem. The league only had seven teams, and it needed an even number of teams for scheduling purposes.

The league has at least four possible expansion sites. York and Charles County, Md., appear to be the farthest along in stadium planning. Both teams would be run and operated by Maryland businessman Peter Kirk, but neither site would be ready before the 2007 season.

To prepare for expansion, the Atlantic League announced it will once again employ a league-operated, travel-only team called the Road Warriors in 2006. The addition of the Road Warriors allows the league flexibility.

If stadium construction for expansion teams in York or Charles County, Md., is delayed, the league can continue to function on an eight-team schedule with the Road Warriors.

If York or Charles County is ready to play in 2007, the Road Warriors could be eliminated.

And if York and Charles County begin play in 2007, the league could keep the Road Warriors in place to keep an even number of teams (10) on the schedule.

Construction usually takes about a year, but Kirk has overseen projects that were able to be completed in less time. It's all a matter of weather conditions and the ability of construction. Lancaster broke ground about 11 months before it hosted Opening Day.

Right now, it's all too soon to tell what will happen.

"I think what you'll see is that we will have a really firm idea which site is going to be ready by the holidays," Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein said.

Reach Jim Seip at 771-2025 or jseip@ydr.com.