Potomac Nationals Plan Move To Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, VA—The city has officially taken the first step in making its pursuit of the Potomac Nationals Class A professional baseball more than a mere flirtation, what with the city council's announcement Tuesday night it plans to vote July 10 on a non-binding letter of intent for the team to move from Woodbridge to Celebrate Virginia.

The new 5,000 seat ballpark would open in 2020, and the $35 million project would be financed by the Nationals. Since 1984, the team has played at Pfitzner Stadium, a facility deemed too out of date for Minor League Baseball's standards. Team owner Art Silber had hoped to build a new stadium in the Woodbridge area but 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."

Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw was quick to make it clear the city would not be on the hook for bills regarding the stadium's construction, as she pointed out in a news release.

"Instead, the baseball club will finance, build and maintain the stadium," she said. "The city will be able to use the multipurpose stadium for community events on non-baseball days for the next 30 years."

According to the team's release, if Council votes in the affirmative, a 120-day study period would begin, and "a Letter of Intent could be approved between Council and Potomac Baseball LLC, an affiliate of the Silber family, which has owned the Potomac Nationals Club for decades. If a final agreement is reached, the Club and the City will sign a definitive agreement that will guide their relations for the next 30 years."

Frederidcksburg would make annual payments of $1.05 million to the team for 30 years, with the payment projected "to be offset through new tax revenue earned at the stadium and events revenue from non-game days."

For years, as chronicled by the Free Lance-Star, the city has tried and failed to lure a minor league team.

Images via Fredericksburg Baseball and the Potomac Nationals