WSTB Winston-Salem

[Fourth and Main]

Workers are installing seats today. I noticed the fence installation around the pit last week.

I noticed ballpark lovers who travel the country and write about ballparks are already commenting on Winston-Salem's ballpark being unique, because it's not downtown. It's a residential neighborhood ballpark and those were common in the early days of ballparks (Southside Park in Winston-Salem as an example, War Memorial Stadium in Greensboro, Clark Griffith Park in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood as other examples), but aren't as common today. Since seeing this, it should be interesting to see what the expert reviewers think next month. I've long had the concern it wouldn't do much for downtown. Ballparks are best for bringing crowds to existing storefronts and this ballpark is surrounded by parking, houses and the nearest storefronts are outside downtown in West End. Winston-Salem does have the best ballpark in the Carolina League though. It's beautiful! I've seen other ballparks in the state and Winston-Salem's is the only ballpark I really love architecturally. It should be interesting to see what extras Prim paid for that we haven't seen. I've heard he spent extra to dramatically upgrade the concession areas.
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Fourth and Main: The skyscraper canyon.

[Seth 84]

new bp picz!!

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/gen/clubs/t580/photogallery/standard/year_2010/month_03/day_06/cf8698204.html

[yadkinv]

It's still downtown enough to suit me, and hopefully it will spur development all the way between it to downtown, which ain't too far.

[Fourth and Main]

Ballparks aren't known for attracting development. Look to New Bridge Bank Park for an example. Thankfully, Prim proposed and will likely build a village around it and that could generate additional development. I'm hoping West End Village pre-sales enough to break ground on Fourth & Green this summer (from baseball fans). The retail village, hotel, One Ballpark Center and a tower at West End Village will help give the area around it an urban feel (maybe attracting more mid-rises?), but it is similar to the older residential neighborhood ballparks. Often, they had seats on the roofs of rowhouses and this inspired the rooftop seating seen in some new ballparks. It's not a bad thing, but I wouldn't depend on the ballpark to revitalize Fourth Street. It will become an interesting attraction to West End and West Salem. Those reviewing the ballpark may like this location over the usual downtown ballpark? West End is the state's oldest streetcar neighborhood and an architectural treasure.

Does anyone know if the LED screen on the outfield wall is padded? I noticed an interesting structure above it, along the top of the wall. I would like to know what this is. It looks like a Wrigley Field style homerun net or an interesting architectural feature we haven't heard about? I'm constantly finding great surprises. This is an amazing ballpark.
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Fourth and Main: The skyscraper canyon.

[The Brain]

Countdown to baseball and fireworks 34 days 18 hours 5 minutes.

Buy your tickets now.
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"So long as they don't get violent, I want to let everyone say what they wish, for I myself have always said exactly what pleased me." - Albert Einstein

[mikeyhy]

[Fourth and Main]

The LED screen idea is from Fifth Third Field and they do appear to have a metal structure attached both under and above them, but the metal structure in Winston-Salem's ballpark is maybe three feet above the screen and appears to be further from the wall than the screen. The padding is due for installation on Friday, so we will likely know more next week. I'm hoping it's an interesting design feature, like a homerun net for the berm seating section. 360 is known for taking ideas from some of the most popular ballparks in the nation and using them like this.

It's not easy finding a photo of these LED screens. My search did find one good photo.



The best feature taken from Fifth Third Field for use in Winston-Salem is the two section club level Seating. It gives the false appearance of a third seating level. I'm sure many remember Prim speaking on wanting a third seating level in 2007. The luxury boxes in Dayton have two rows of seats and a tall wall separates these seats from four or five more rows below on the same level. If you look at BB&T Ballpark's club level, you will see the same tall wall, with what appears to be two seating rows for the luxury suites and maybe four rows below the wall, but all are on the same level, creating the false appearance of a third seating level. I'm excited about this idea and since this level appears to be sold out, it should look impressive.
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Fourth and Main: The skyscraper canyon.

[Soulshine17]

Just drove by and saw the LED scoreboard is on.

And WOW does it look good

[The Brain]

One month to opening day, construction is almost done and work will be completed April 9. The building for all intents and purposes is finished. Improvements to Broad Street won't be finished by opening day. Construction crews have to paint walls and doors, installing rails, lay the sod, install seats and put in the stadium's audiovisual system. The grass will go in March 23. The sponsorship and naming rights are exceeding expectations. Ticket sales jumped after the team announced BB&T will buy naming rights.

Countdown to opening day 31 days 15 hours 43 minutes.
26 workdays.
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"So long as they don't get violent, I want to let everyone say what they wish, for I myself have always said exactly what pleased me." - Albert Einstein

[Fourth and Main]

I still think Prim should allow a reporter to look into the revenue of the team. I still hear people question the ability to repay the loans, when the ballpark will generate around $6-7 million in revenue (conservative estimate). Ernie Shore Field only generated $500,000-600,000 in ad revenue and didn't have any luxury boxes, naming rights or clubs. There is a reason teams want new ballparks and demand luxury boxes, private clubs, etc.

I noticed the workers are now at the site in the rain and sometimes on Sunday. Still, night work is rare. Unfortunately, the batter's eye was installed yesterday. I was hoping they would wait until April, because it blocks the view. I also noticed seat installation at the home run porch, all-weather carpeting in the batting cages and the installation of the temporary ticket booth. Still no seats at the club level, some lower bowl seats are missing, some don't have numbers and no padding on the outfield wall. The next four weeks should be interesting to watch. The grass has no time to establish itself. I was hoping they would install it this week.
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Fourth and Main: The skyscraper canyon.

[Jeffrey NC]

I see chicken sandwiches and buy cars on the sign.

[Fourth and Main]

I wish they would install a second camera on the roof over the Founder's Club. I can't see the video board testing from this angle. Also the batter's eye is now covering the field installation. The deep field bowl also hides much of this work. I was hoping they would wait until April to install the batter's eye. They should have two cameras. In the future, when the ballpark opens, a camera on the Founder's Club roof can become the main camera for the ballpark and the current camera can follow work on Phase II and One Ballpark Center. If anyone talks to someone at The Dash, please suggest the second camera idea. Even if it's not operational until game day, it's a good idea to have a camera with a great view of the field and crowds. It can help encourage more people to buy tickets (they like what they see and want to go).

I can tell from the outlines, the field will look great. For me, seat installation and field installation are the two most exciting things to watch for any ballpark. They are what makes it ballpark. I noticed the batting cages are under construction under the concourse bridge.
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Fourth and Main: The skyscraper canyon.

[The Brain]

Charles Leesman will be part of the starting rotation with the Dash but his Major League arrival might not be far away. Don Cooper said he believes Leesman is going to pitch in the big leagues. His velocity increased from 94 mph to 96 mph. Leesman looks at himself as a power lefty pitcher with a good breaking ball and he's working on the change and has a cutter. Leesman had a 9-1 record with a 2.91 ERA in his last 15 starts. He pitched two scoreless innings in Spring Training at HoHoKam Park on March 6.
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"So long as they don't get violent, I want to let everyone say what they wish, for I myself have always said exactly what pleased me." - Albert Einstein

[Seth 84]

watch new vid @wxii

http://www.wxii12.com/news/22846445/detail.html

95% complete!!

[Jeffrey NC]

All you can eat for 3 innings what a rip off! Did you buy tickets? I got in on a group package for $25 each.