next »

[disnut8]

It was announced this week that Gwinnett County in Georgia is finally getting a minor league baseball team.  It's sad that the closest we can get to any minor league team is to either go across the state or travel to South Carolina.  Back in September, the results of a year long study were announced that supported baseball in Gwinnett.  Things happened fairly fast after that.

The Atlanta Braves can veto any minor league team moving within 75 miles of them.  We're well within that limit so everyone figured we'd get some rookie league team or an A level team.  Someday.  We don't even have a stadium.

I guess the Atlanta Braves liked the idea of another farm team close to them.  Their AAA team is located in Richmond, Virginia but that stadium needs repairs.  So beginning in 2009, the Gwinnett Braves, an AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, will begin play.  In a brand new $45 million stadium that is being built - get this, I can't believe it.  Less than 10 miles from our house!!!

It is not a fun time trying to get down to Turner Field to watch the Braves.  And it's damn near impossible to get there on any weeknight.  Our subway, Metro doesn't service Turner Field so you have to get to Five Points and then transfer to a bus.  And Metro doesn't even run ito Gwinnett County at all.  You have to drive to a station and then go from there.  The only times we've ever been to Turner Field for a Braves game is when the Orioles are in town for interleague play.  Otherwise, we don't bother.

When we were in Omaha, we used to go to Rosenblatt to see the Omaha Royals (Golden Spikes for a time) all the time.  Our favorite was to go on Tuesdays.  4 for $2.  Not four tickets for $2 each but four tickets for $2 or 50 cents each.  We went so often that one beer vendor in the stands knew us by name!

With the Gwinnett Braves, we will be able to go to games at any time and not have to plan a complete evening or weekend day to it.

This might make me start to think about being an Atlanta Braves fan.  I hate them right now.

*doing the happy dance!*

[elmono311]

Don't be so excited about the team moving just yet, there's a big movement by the Richmond fans to keep the AAA Braves there.

[disnut8]

The deal has been done.  I don't blame the Richmond fans for starting a protest - the team was really blindsided by the Braves.  But this is a win-win situation for the Atlanta Braves.  When they need a quick call up from the farm team, all they have to do is have the guy drive down I85.  Current major leaguers who need a tune-up in the minors won't have to do anything except switch directions for how they get to work.

I guess we will know for sure in April when the ground is broken for the new stadium.

[elmono311]

Still waiting for the Florida Marlins to move.