http://www.mlive.com/forums/newstalk/index.ssf?artid=5593167

I think donating land would be a long term positive for the city of Boise if we could get a ball club downtown. The additional traffic downtown would be a boon for many businesses. However, nothing more than the land should be donated. If a privately owned baseball team can’t come up with the money to build their own stadium then I don’t think its worth it.

The property BG mentioned, the large tract of land addressed 2800 Fairview Avenue, is just large enough to house the existing Hawks Stadium fenced area — if the two smaller vacant lots fronting Main Street are included in the tract. The First Base line would run parallel to Fairview Avenue.

The downside is that there wouldn’t be any available parking space on this combined parcel. The existing Hawks stadium has a small paved parking area on its site, just outside its fenced area — and the dirt lot on the fairgrounds site accommodates overflow parking.

For Boise to make the 2800 Fairview site work, either the old Goodman Oil site or the former (proposed) private hospital site would have to be used for parking.

On the upside, if the rail line that runs down the bench from Orchard (and the existing steel truss bridge over the Boise River) were re-opened for light rail transit service — then fans could ride light rail all the way from Nampa (and Meridian) to the ballfield.

It should be noted though, the enlarged 2800 Fairview site could not accommodate any ballfield larger than the existing Hawks stadium’s footprint.

If only this website could support image attachments — I overlaid both the Hawks’ Stadium and the SF Giants’ AT&T Park on the existing parcel boundaries. It’s a good comparison between a Minor League Ballpark and the expectations placed upon a Major League Urban Ballpark.

All told, a professional Baseball Park Use is a pretty good fit with downtown urban parcels (if you can figure out parking). Compared to a football stadium, a baseball field brings a lot more activity to the surrounding area — just compare the number of home games between the two sports during a regular season.

EDITOR NOTE–Sure as heck is a Boise issue! Boise wants the team–probably along the river in the area of 2900 Fairview. If history is an indicator, they will go about their usual moves to subvert the will of the voters…whatever that will may be.
Meridian also wants a stadium. It all boils down to who will give away the most to the Hawks and any other potential users.

EDITOR NOTE–This site is run by the Boise Hawks prez and GM. He offers a different view than some and it is worth a read. But consider the source.

What happened to private companies carrying their own weight?

If a baseball team wants to build a $20 million stadium, on their own dime, great! Good luck and god speed. But, PLEASE, keep my taxes out of it.

Keep it in Boise. I’d rather have the Lifestyle Center.

GO PIRATES!

KTA (yes, too much coffee, but another stimulating blog topic!)

EDITOR NOTE–My guess is that Boise will pitch their white elephant land at 2900 Fairview. It was “perfect” for a police station and now it will be “perfect” for a ballpark. Perhaps they can have kayakers in the river to chase home runs like they do in San Francisco in the Bay.