Fredericksburg Moves Closer In Bid To Snag Potomac Nationals

FREDERICKSBURG, VA—With proponents far-outnumbering naysayers, Fredericksburg's city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a non-binding letter of intent to build a swanky new baseball stadium in the Celebrate Virginia project. As such, the Potomac Nationals' future in Woodbridge grew dimmer still; the aging Pfitzner Stadium's primary tenant looking more and more like a soon-to-be memory.

Now, the Class A professional team will be watching a four-month study period during which area residents and other entities which might be impacted to study the relocation to a 5,000-seat facility set to open in time for the 2020 season.

The cost would be $35 million, and it would be financed by the Nationals, who would receive an annual payment of $1.05 million for 30 years as the park's anchor tenant. As reported by the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, Bill Freehling, the city's tourism chief, said the city would cover its commitment through proceeds such as property taxes, admissions, sales, meals and business license taxes.

In all, the proceeds would include about $700,000 in annual revenue. The Celebrate Virginia After Hours concert series would move to the new stadium. The move was announced last month after efforts to build a new home in the Woodbridge area failed. The P-Nats have played at Pfitzner since 1984.

Team owner Art Silber couldn't come to an agreement with the Prince William County board of supervisors for a new 6,000-seat stadium.

"Our objective is to provide the finest Minor League baseball experience for the millions of people that have come to our games since we started as the Alexandria Dukes in 1978," Silber said in a statement. "The design and amenities of the new ballpark will provide you, your friends, families and businesses the finest opportunity to take advantage of baseball, a unique family experience and the opportunity to partner with us as we jointly grow together.

". . .In the meantime, we will continue to play at Pfitzner Stadium through 2019, and hope you will continue to enjoy the experience we've brought you at The Pfitz since 1984."

Image via Potomac Nationals