Comments on: Why Move the Triple-A Braves to Gwinnett County?

By: Joe Brooks

Joe Brooks — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:31:18 +0000

I live in a home 1.5 miles from where the new stadium is being built and I am like a kid in a candy store!!

We get to see the site being developed every day!

My wife and I sell real estate in the North Metro Atlanta. Any thing that brings jobs and paying customers to our neck of the woods is a good thing for all of us here in Gwinnett County.

I applaud our leaders and as always Gwinnett Is Great!

By: tim in new england

tim in new england — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:38:54 +0000

The short hop from Gwinett to Atlanta will prove to be a huge benefit in the long run. The Red Sox have had the same situation between their AAA club (Pawtucket, RI) for years now — they’ve also added their AA club in Portland, Maine and a A club 20 miles from Boston — by doing this they’ve solidified themselves as New England’s team. The Braves are smart to pull the AAA team close to home.

By: mraver

mraver — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:11:27 +0000

JC- You mentioned that the Rome Braves would be an easier trip for you, even with a AAA club in Gwinett. I just wanted to point out that next year at least, it’s also going to have many more of the Braves’ top-teir prospects. Nearly every pitcher in the Rome rotation is a top 10 or top 20 guy on their prospect list, and the middle of the lineup will feature 2006 and 2007 1st-round picks Cody Johnson and Jason Heyward. That team is going to be stacked!

By: JC

JC — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:19:16 +0000

It’s not much of a wrench. In fact, if people see that this is the type of “science” behind these claims they might become more skeptical.

By: dan

dan — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:44:50 +0000

I’m sorry this is irrelevant, you can delete this post without complaint from me, I just want you to see this…

This is the book Donald Fehr had at congress today, according to TangoTiger (I didn’t see the whole thing)
http://tinyurl.com/2bur6n

It’s old and might be false for all I know, but it throws a wrench into your “HGH isn’t a PED” campaign, if you will.

By: Gwinnettian

Gwinnettian — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:35:58 +0000

Just heard the good news. I live less than three miles from the new park location. A few years back I was in Richmond and went to several of the games. I loved it. I have been a Braves fan all my life but due to the drive downtown and the ticket prices I do not go to the games. I will however go to the Gwinnett Braves. I can’t wait. I think many other fans in this area will also do the same.

By: soccer dad

soccer dad — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:13:26 +0000

I wrote about the recent realignment of some major league clubs. The term used is "clustering." It appears to be a good thing. The Yankees were thrilled to get Scranton-Wilkes Barre and they sold out season tickets, I think, in hours. (I believe that Columbus only signed with Washington for two years in hopes that Cleveland would consider it after 2008.) Being able to sell your up and coming players to your fan base, is valuable. From a marketing standpoint, it's a great idea.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:42:56 +0000

I live here in Richmond and LOVE the braves!!! Basil is right, we are pissed at Doug Wilder because he acted as though we were doing the Braves a favor by letting them stay here……I know I hate to see them go, but will always be a braves fan……hey, maybe we will get another AAA Team, before the braves we had the Yankees with the Richmond Virginians, (I do not want the yankees) but I know I will miss the braves…….good job Gwinnett, you are gettin a hell of a ball club

By: Basil

Basil — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:45:14 +0000

One, I used to live in Richmond, and it was amazing to me how many of the people there were Braves fans. Braves fans were the clear majority. Admittedly, this was right before the Nationals came to DC, two hours to the north of Richmond, so I don’t know if there has been a sea-change or not

There hasn’t been, at least not yet. And, judging by the reaction in the media and at work, lots of Braves fans are pissed at the city and at the mayor (Doug Wilder). I’d soured on the Braves’ treatment of Richmond several years ago, but it’s undeniable the process dragged on and on, and it appears time is up.

It’s probably unrealistic to put a Triple-A affiliate for the Nats (or anyone else) here in the foreseeable future, but I’d gather it would not be surprising to see the Nats move their Carolina League affiliate here. The Nats have already tried some inroads here (they’re on local radio now, not the A-Braves), and in time they might win a large section of the baseball fans here. But not yet; it’s still Braves country. Forty years of affiliation does that.

By: Max

Max — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:24:39 +0000

I think moves like this are a trend in baseball. Look at the Mets for example. They have their low class A in Brooklyn, ie, the same city as the big club, but more importantly there are some rumors that they want to move the AAA affiliate into NJ. The Yankees have also had a history of keeping affiliates close their former affiliates the Navigators were in Connecticut, they have an affiliate in Staten Island, they also have a team in Trenton, NJ (i dunno if i should mention the team in PA, some parts of PA are very very close to NYC). I guess my point is if teams are doing or entertaining the idea of keeping minor league teams close, its probably not bad for business. Its actually probably better for business. For example, the Mets would probably convert more people into fans by moving a team to the NJ area then by having a team thousands of miles from shea. the proximity, i believe plays a role here.