Kristi King, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals are hot leading the National League. Now, one of their farm teams is getting a boost. The Potomac Nationals are getting a new ballpark.
The deal includes plans for a parking garage that would double as a commuter parking lot. Virginia’s Department of Transportation will pay for the garage that is expected to have more than 1,000 spaces. The Potomac Nationals will build the stadium.
Located in Woodbridge at Interstate 95 and Dale Boulevard, the new park would be part of a new mixed use development called Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center.
Contracts sealing all the deals aren’t inked yet. Prince William County Supervisor Frank Principi tells WTOP public hearings and engineering studies still have to be conducted. He says county residents will have ample time to weigh in.
Team owner Art Silber tells WTOP his new Single-A minor league park will have the look and feel of a smaller version of a major league ballpark.
He says more than 6,000 seats will have perfect sightlines. There will be suites, skyboxes and a club level. An entertainment deck will include a crab house that will let fans crack crabs while watching the game.
Players will have better training facilities, such as underground batting cages and pitching tunnels, along with a club house Silber says is worthy of professional baseball players.
Silber expects the park to be busy year-round with putt putt golf, ice skating in the winter and plans for a Christmas light show.
Naming rights to help fund the $25 million stadium are still in the works.
Silber says he doesn’t expect to raise ticket or concession prices. But even if tickets end up costing a dollar more, he says it’s still very reasonably priced family entertainment and less expensive than going to the movies.
The plan is for the ballpark to be ready by spring 2014.
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