Inside the editorial page

What's on the minds of TNT editorial writers

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Posted by Kim Bradford @ 10:40:32 am

Local officials' dreams of remaking the Cheney Stadium area in Tacoma can look to some impressive projects in other communities.

The minor league baseball stadiums in Frisco, Texas, (pictured right) and Dayton, Ohio, have been mentioned as inspirations.

In Dayton, the baseball team's owner is trying to come to terms with the city for a $230 million Ballpark Village that would include retail, housing and entertainment. Sounds a whole lot like what Pierce County officials are eyeing.

But there is one significant difference: Dayton's Ballpark Village would be built in the city's dying downtown. If you check out this run-down of recent and coming changes to minor league baseball parks, you'll notice there's a common thread: Nearly all these minor league stadiums are located in downtowns.

Maybe "pika" who posted this comment on Jason Hagey's story is on to something (not about tearing down the Tacoma Dome, but about rethinking the location of the Rainiers stadium).

I'd like to see the Tacoma Dome torn down and a nice new minor league ballpark for the Rainiers built in its place. Maybe it could be combined with some transit-friendly condos or apts. and retail. Downtown stadiums are great for a city, and the T-Dome seems to be on the verge of becoming a liability rather than an asset if it isn't already. This would allow Cheney to be torn down and that land could be redeveloped for parks, retail, housing, playfields, whatever.

Categories: Editorial outtakes • 4 comments

COMMENTS:

Comment by RJ @ 15:58 - Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Before the city of Tacoma builds a 230 million dollar baseball stadium they need to use the money to fix the roads

Comment by BonnieW @ 23:26 - Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Why doesn't "Pika" get quoted under their real name, which many of the commenters claim is Ladenburg.

Comment by tuddo @ 07:22 - Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Cheney in its present location is close enough to downtown if a streetcar was built to service it. Its not like its in Lakewood or some place far away from the core.

Comment by pika @ 11:03 - Thursday, February 14th, 2008

If my real name was Ladenburg, I wouldn't have to waste my time posting random thoughts on blogs!

Being fairly new to town, I am curious about how much of an asset or liability the Dome is and is projected to be for Tacoma in the future. Seattle sports and events have thrived without the Kingdome ... does it makes sense for Tacoma to follow their lead, or does the Puget Sound still need one big indoor facility like that? If it's only for monster truck shows, it's just not worth the upkeep!

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Inside the editorial page

Inside the editorial page

This blog is designed to give readers a glimpse of our editorial-page operation and how we make our decisions. We’ll let you know who we’re meeting with, what they’re telling us, what events and issues we’re looking at. We’ll also pass on information and observations that may not make our print editions. In addition to the editorial board members who post on this blog, the board includes Publisher David Zeeck and Executive Editor Karen Peterson.

Contributing bloggers

Chief editorial writer Patrick O’Callahan oversees the online and printed opinion sections of The News Tribune. He came to The News Tribune in 1987 and has worked at Washington newspapers since 1979. E-mail him at patrick.ocallahan@thenewstribune.com

Editorial writer Cheryl Tucker, in addition to writing commentary, manages the daily production of the editorial and op-ed pages and edits letters to the editor. She began her journalism career in 1974 at a Virginia newspaper and came to The News Tribune in 1978. E-mail her at cheryl.tucker@thenewstribune.com.

Editorial writer Kim Bradford manages the online opinion section of The News Tribune and writes commentary. She joined The News Tribune in 2005 after working 11 years at newspapers in Washington and Maryland. E-mail her at kim.bradford@thenewstribune.com.

Editor emeritus David Seago retired from The News Tribune in July after 41 years at The News Tribune. E-mail him at sds99@harbornet.com.