Hagerstown Suns Set To Move To Winchester, Virginia
By: Dana Chicklas
Updated: February 10, 2012
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Hagerstown Suns have been revealed as the team that wants to move to Winchester, Virginia.
Municipal stadium has quite a history in Hagerstown as the third oldest in the country. The Suns are currently in an extended contract to play the 2012 season, But could this season be the last?
"I was terribly disappointed.. because I would love for my grandson to grow up around the stadium and get to know the baseball players", Linda Hensell says.
Hagerstown Mayor.. Robert Bruchey says his phone is ringing off the hook since news broke that Suns owner Bruce Quinn had signed a letter of intent to possibly move the team to Wincherter, Virginia.
Robert Bruchey, Hagerstown Mayor says, "I really believe that Mr. Quinn would like to stay in Hagerstown. He'd like to play in a new stadium in Hagerstown, and it's the goal of this council to tie a new Multi-Use facility to an economic development project."
Bruchey says the City of Hagerstown is closer than ever to building this Multi-Use stadium downtown, and that owner Quinn is excited.
"On a conservative year.. the Suns bring in between 3 1/2 to 5 million dollars. If they leave town we'll take quite a hit", Bruchey says.
"They're a contributor to our economics, and if we just forget about them and we think it's okay to lose 3 million dollars a year? Then we're just not thinking right", Bruchey adds.
Many locals agree with the mayor. They believe losing the suns would be a tremendous loss.
Jeffrey Johnston says, "I think it'd be a big loss for the community, and I think there's money that's been ill spent than keeping the Suns in town."
Bruchey says, "We pull from all 4 states around us you know, how do you say that's not important?"
Mayor Bruchey says.. the City of Winchester must come up with $18 million dollars by April 21st to seal this deal, So there may still be hope the suns will play to stay. Leaving would be a tremendous loss.
Municipal stadium has quite a history in Hagerstown as the third oldest in the country. The Suns are currently in an extended contract to play the 2012 season, But could this season be the last?
"I was terribly disappointed.. because I would love for my grandson to grow up around the stadium and get to know the baseball players", Linda Hensell says.
Hagerstown Mayor.. Robert Bruchey says his phone is ringing off the hook since news broke that Suns owner Bruce Quinn had signed a letter of intent to possibly move the team to Wincherter, Virginia.
Robert Bruchey, Hagerstown Mayor says, "I really believe that Mr. Quinn would like to stay in Hagerstown. He'd like to play in a new stadium in Hagerstown, and it's the goal of this council to tie a new Multi-Use facility to an economic development project."
Bruchey says the City of Hagerstown is closer than ever to building this Multi-Use stadium downtown, and that owner Quinn is excited.
"On a conservative year.. the Suns bring in between 3 1/2 to 5 million dollars. If they leave town we'll take quite a hit", Bruchey says.
"They're a contributor to our economics, and if we just forget about them and we think it's okay to lose 3 million dollars a year? Then we're just not thinking right", Bruchey adds.
Many locals agree with the mayor. They believe losing the suns would be a tremendous loss.
Jeffrey Johnston says, "I think it'd be a big loss for the community, and I think there's money that's been ill spent than keeping the Suns in town."
Bruchey says, "We pull from all 4 states around us you know, how do you say that's not important?"
Mayor Bruchey says.. the City of Winchester must come up with $18 million dollars by April 21st to seal this deal, So there may still be hope the suns will play to stay. Leaving would be a tremendous loss.
Comments
Chk that ... it's $15million
Jeff M.
February 10, 2012 at 6:22 pm
...and the Hagerstown death bell continues to toll...
Shawn B.
February 10, 2012 at 5:58 pm
