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Post by 3lackThorne on Dec 13, 2004 20:59:01 GMT -5
We have a AAA-quality ballpark that doesn't house a AAA baseball team. (CanWest Global Park)
If the NHL doesn't return, we'll have an NHL-quality facility that doesn't house an NHL team. (MTS Centre)
That's Winnipeg for ya.
Our city motto should be: "Winnipeg: capable of so much more."
________________________________________________________________ Winnipeg deserves better than AHL hockey!
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Post by Ari G on Dec 13, 2004 22:23:44 GMT -5
Technically, you're incorrect on the ballpark thing. AAA minor league baseball has a requirement that all its parks must seat at least 10,000. But don't get me wrong, Canwest Global Park (as well as Newman Outdoor Field, which CGP was designed after) are both certainly good enough to be AA parks, and are both superb places to watch a game. I've seen games at both, BTW, (Go RedHawks!!;D)
Sometimes I REALLY wish that the Northern League was a AA league.
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Post by Ari G on Dec 13, 2004 22:24:48 GMT -5
BTW, Canwest Global seats around 7,500 if I'm not mistaken?
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Post by 3lackThorne on Dec 13, 2004 22:28:51 GMT -5
Are you sure AAA ballparks *have* to seat at least 10,000? I highly doubt that.
Besides, we could squeeze 10,000 in there easily, utilizing temporary bleachers.
The park holds around 7,800 incl. the "grass berm" seating.
IMO we'd be great as the AAA affiliate of the Twins or Jays.
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Post by Ari G on Dec 13, 2004 22:39:38 GMT -5
Yes, I'm very sure of the 10,000 rule. I saw it on a minor league ballpark site, though I forget which one.
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Post by Ari G on Dec 13, 2004 22:43:04 GMT -5
Here's the thing though: CGP could easily have a second deck (15 rows?) built on the top, making it seat (I'm guessing) around 13,000. There's enough "structure" going back from the back row (the suite level is wide), that supports could be built on the front facade wall, and a new concourse could be built on the roof. Rampways could then be built on the ends.
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Post by jets4ever on Dec 14, 2004 12:56:18 GMT -5
IMO we'd be great as the AAA affiliate of the Twins or Jays. That'd be very cool!!
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Post by Big Chris in Japan on Dec 14, 2004 21:18:19 GMT -5
Everyone knows that Katz has coveted AAA ball here for decades, since he was a kid. (We have all read about his stories of sneaking into Whips s in the early 70`s...) He has attempted to bring AAA ball here in the past but has always lost to a larger city or the league in question was way too far away from Winnipeg to be worthwhile. (the biggest reason why the Whips left town in 1972.) The Goldeyes` best bet is to move up to AA or for Katz to buy an existing AAA team and move them to the Peg.
As for our MLB affiliate: We are never getting the Jays` AAA team. Dunedan and Syracuse have been with the Jays since Day One and that arrangement has been very good to Toronto. Don`t expect this to change anytime soon.
The Twins would be the logical choice but they too have their AAA affiliates locked for sometime to come. Our best bet in hooking up with the Twins is to try to secure one of their AA affiliates. It may not be AAA but it is another step up the major league ladder.
Rest assured, we WILL have AAA ball back in Winnipeg but it is going to take some time and the right minor league.
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Post by jets4life on Dec 15, 2004 0:28:40 GMT -5
Yes, I'm very sure of the 10,000 rule. I saw it on a minor league ballpark site, though I forget which one. Actually, there are Six AAA teams with capacity under 10,000. Two of those teams have less seating than the Goldeyes. No only that, but NO AAA TEAM AVERAGED OVER 10000 FANS PER GAME. Here is the link: www.ballparksofbaseball.com/aaaballparks.htm
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Post by 3lackThorne on Dec 15, 2004 0:30:42 GMT -5
(screaming) "I Knew it!!"
The only bad things about being in AAA are dealing with callups.. having NO rivalries.... and starting the season in April....
Hm... when I look at it that way, being in the Northern League is pretty good...
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Post by hatrick007 on Dec 15, 2004 1:24:46 GMT -5
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but how come the Edmonton Trappers no longer exist?
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Post by TytotheG on Dec 15, 2004 14:19:15 GMT -5
I love it when someone gets proved wrong. When they were all sure about it, or even very sure! Nice find jets4life!
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Post by KillerBrew on Dec 15, 2004 22:05:41 GMT -5
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but how come the Edmonton Trappers no longer exist? Trappers used to be affiliated with the Twins till last year and then the Twins didn't extend the affiliation contract so then the Trappers signed with..hmm..I can't recall..but that team decided they were gonna move the team closer to their own. I'm pretty sure that was the reason.
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Post by sputnik on Dec 18, 2004 23:42:35 GMT -5
Trappers used to be affiliated with the Twins till last year and then the Twins didn't extend the affiliation contract so then the Trappers signed with..hmm..I can't recall..but that team decided they were gonna move the team closer to their own. I'm pretty sure that was the reason. The Trappers were affiliated with the Expos in their final years. Most of the PCL teams are located in the US these days, and the Trappers were no longer viable as a sole northern outpost. Their owners (the Edmonton Eskimos) sold them for a tidy profit. Winnipeg will never have a AAA team. Why would Katz trade in a league where the players earn peanuts and travel is cheap (but the games sell out every night) for a league where travel is way more expensive, and you have a bunch of April games that nobody would turn up for. No chance. Besides, most fans in Wpg couldn't tell the difference between the Northern League and AAA.
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Post by Ari G on Dec 19, 2004 2:52:13 GMT -5
The Northern League is no different from AA ball, IMO. The quality of play is almost exactly the same as AA. The only difference is that the players don't have contracts with major league teams.
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Post by KillerBrew on Dec 19, 2004 3:02:02 GMT -5
The Trappers were affiliated with the Expos in their final years. Most of the PCL teams are located in the US these days, and the Trappers were no longer viable as a sole northern outpost. Their owners (the Edmonton Eskimos) sold them for a tidy profit. Winnipeg will never have a AAA team. Why would Katz trade in a league where the players earn peanuts and travel is cheap (but the games sell out every night) for a league where travel is way more expensive, and you have a bunch of April games that nobody would turn up for. No chance. Besides, most fans in Wpg couldn't tell the difference between the Northern League and AAA. Ahhhhhh yes. You are correct, I forgot that the Trappers and Expos had an affiliation in their last years. It's such a shame that most Canadian cities can't hold on to their teams. Toronto seems to be losing interest more and more each year. Could be because they are in such a tough division and no one at home gives them a chance. I wish there was more interest in baseball from Canada. I was at the last ever Montréal-Toronto season series at the Skydome. I didn't expect much people to come out to the first couple of games, but I expected alot more at the last seeing that this will most likly be the last ever all Canadian matchup in Toronto...I got there very early with some friends expecting a lineup for tickets. Nope. Attendence was maybe around 22,000-25,000. I like to think that Winnipeg is Canada's baseball capital ;D because we care much for our Goldeyes and they are such a success.
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