The current stadium would continue to be used for baseball and other entertainment events, while the GreenJackets would maintain practice facilities there.  We are working with Augusta State, Paine College and area High Schools and clubs who would have access to the stadium and this would help guarantee that it would continue to remain an important part of the community.

Likewise, having two stadiums puts Augusta in a very competitive position to vie for major NCAA and other large tournaments, which would provide tremendous economic opportunity for Augusta.   

YES.  Without a doubt, downtown Augusta offers sufficient on-street parking, covered and surface lots to handle parking needs for a downtown stadium.  Currently there are 2,150 on-street spaces and 11,792 off-street spaces for a total of 13,942 available spaces.  (The stadium will seat less than this number.)

A parking study conducted by Carl Walker in 2006 states “parking is not a concern in downtown Augusta because with few exceptions, available space far exceeds the need.”   Furthermore, downtown Augusta hosts many annual events that include Border Bash (estimated attendance 10,000) and First Friday (estimated attendance 5000) and parking is readily available.  The perception that there is a lack of parking downtown is a myth that is not supported by facts.

According to Sheriff Ronnie Strength, District 1 (downtown) is one of the safest districts in Augusta.  During evening hours there are six (6) officers on duty; four (4) in patrol cars, one (1) on foot on the Riverwalk and one (1) golf cart patrolman.  In the past year, no felony offences have occurred in downtown Augusta.

In addition, A Business Improvement District, locally known as CADI (Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative) will be implemented in March 2008 raising $400,000 in additional funds to pay for clean and safe activities.  Four safety ambassadors have been hired and trained on bicycles and segways and will be out in full force during daytime and evening hours and special events as needed.

Yes.    Since the inception of the Riverwalk, the Savannah Riverfront has served as the primary public park for the City of Augusta.  The new stadium, with proper design that incorporates the Riverwalk experience into this beautiful new mixed-use facility, would ensure that this portion of the riverfront remains in the public domain for all to enjoy.   A significant portion of the stadium, however, can be used for its prime commercial (and possibly residential) riverfront potential.  Thus, we would be seeking to have the best of both worlds (public and private). 

The intent is to provide a master plan for a critical space along the City’s riverfront that balances a sustainable real estate opportunity along with the City’s overall civic responsibilities.  From the City’s perspective, “Highest and Best Use” must be considered as the highest and best use for the City’s long term investment and for the public at large, versus the “highest and best use” that a single private real estate developer would apply to a short term investment on this land.  

The key to having a wonderful attraction like Riverwalk is to surround it with attractions that bring even greater attention and, as a result, greater traffic and more visitors, to our city.  A downtown stadium at that location not only anchors Riverwalk on one end it will aid in fulfilling the Riverwalk’s intended vision, attracting hundred of thousands of visitors a year.  

The results of the study performed by Rosser confirm that the highest and best use of the property along the river is a public feature such as the contemplated baseball and mixed-use stadium.

The new facility would serve much more than just a baseball stadium.  The city would host numerous special events year-round.  Ripken Baseball has unmatched experience in managing these types of stadiums in other U.S. Cities (smaller than Augusta) that host events up to 250 days per year. Consequently, this new facility provides the opportunity for people to enjoy Augusta’s riverfront even more than they do at the present time.

This stadium would be an entertainment center that would take the city to a new level and would benefit the entire community.    By referring to the ballpark as a baseball stadium only tells half the story.    It will serve as an entertainment hub: from outdoor concerts, home & garden shows, wine-tastings, food festivals, charitable events, company outings, job fairs, festivals, holiday event programming, weddings, reunions, Border Bash and much, much more.  The riverfront stadium will be a true destination that will not only unite the community but bring thousands of visitors from out of town yearly.

The beauty of the current stadium concept is that the new facility would incorporate the Golf  & Gardens into the design of the overall stadium plan in a manner which serves as both an appropriate gateway to Augusta as well as a beautiful place for visitors to meet before and after games (in addition to typical garden activities). 

The stadium’s turf management crew will maintain the gardens as part of the stadium’s operating responsibilities.   Additionally, the stadium itself can incorporate the vertical construction elements necessary to finally complete the physical home of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.

The Downtown Stadium Finance Committee is conducting the next phase that will determine the best alternatives to finance the construction of the finest possible facility with little if any impact to the property tax base in Richmond County.   There are a number of financing alternatives that have been used successfully in other downtown areas (Greenville, Durham, Chattanooga, etc.).  The Finance Committee will help narrow down which alternatives are available and will work best for Augusta.  The Finance Committee will meet with city leaders and members of the community to lay out the options and determine the best route to take.