Charlotte Knights vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (7/24/12)

Charlotte Knights vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (7/24/12) - a set on Flickr

Yeah, I've been uber slack this year about going out to see the Knights (AAA White Sox team) this year, considering that they play only 10 mins. away from the casa . . . In light of the fact that the team will be playing at the new BB&T Ballpark in Uptown CLT in 2014, this might be one of the last times I head out to Knights Stadium to catch a game.

When it was built in 1990, there were grand dreams by then NBA Hornets & then AA Knights owner George Shinn to bring MLB & NFL to town. Of course we all know that Jerry Richardson ended up bringing the Panthers to town while the MLB dream fizzled. The Knights quickly moved up to AAA in 1993 and for a few years attendance jumped as well. But over time, the ballparks suburban location (Fort Mill, SC) became a huge deterrant. Outside of York County & South CLT residents, folks in the surrounding area didn't go out to the games anymore on a consistant basis (outside of Fireworks Night).

Though it will be further drive to go to the games starting in 2014 (though a quick drive to the nearest LYNX Park & Ride station to Uptown will save some time) in the long run having the Knights playing Uptown will help keep the team here and reboot interest in AAA baseball. Hopefully this will be a good 1st step to eventually bringing MLB to town in another 10 years or so !!!!!

FUTURE BB&T Ballpark (2014):

About BB&T Ballpark


PS: Yankees held off a late Knights rally and won 6-4 . . . . Reggie Jackson was at the game watching prospects near the SWB Yankees dugout . . . I was sitting over in that area but I never saw him . . . Would've loved to have met MR. OCTOBER in person (though it would've been odd wearing my Mets jersey !!!).

 

Was Renee (SdsPls) there with you? I think I saw the 2 of you at the Steele Creek Library a month or so ago

 

Holy shit, their attendance is that bad?

 

You should've said hi . . . Yeah, Rene was at the library on the WiFi talking to her boyfriend down in Lumberton (where she is at now) while I had to run up to work for an hour for a last minute meeting at the Firm . . . . . .

 

Knights Stadium was built at the end of the 'build it in the suburbs' era of ballpark/arena/stadium building . . . . Team attendance got a little bump for a few years when they went from AA to AAA ball in 1993, but it has gone down hill since. I still have the Observer article from 1990 stating George Shinn (then owner) thought attendance would zoom up to 7000 a season (with a lot of that being from York Co. residents). Obviously that never happened . . Even though its 10 mins. from the house, I really look forward to them playing Uptown in 2 years (which via LYNX Train to the 3rd Street LYNX Station and a 3 block walk wont be that far away)

 

Yeah. I've been to 5 or so games this year (not 4th of July) and I'd be surprised if they had 300 people at ANY game. Shame since these guys are a stones throw away from playing in the majors. I'm looking forward to the uptown stadium as well. If they do it like Durham did they will do well. The Bulls ballpark is very nice and restaurants and bars have been built all around the place there. I'm going up next weekend to catch a game.

 

I haven't seen the Knights in a couple of years, but I never saw it anywhere close to that bad. Man, how sad.

 

I'm just old enough to remember when they were the big sports attraction in the CLT area besides the Hornets. Back before the city became a transient queer bath.