Power Baseball Park an Economic Success

Phil Kabler reports in today's Charleston Gazette that the attendance at the Power Park is consistent and higher than expected. The Power Park, geographically located near the center of Charleston, has indeed be an economic success. Thanks to all those who made this project happen and to the WV Economic Development Grant Committee.

Please read Phil's commentary below:

Finally, baseball poets often refer to ballparks as the living rooms of cities, and with three consecutive standing-room-only crowds of 6,406, 5,537 and 6,337 for a homestand earlier this month, it is evident Appalachian Power Park is fulfilling that role in Charleston.

That brings season-to-date attendance to 153,879, on pace to smash last year’s record attendance of 233,143, in spite of several rainouts and generally wet and dreary weather in April and May. (So much for the naysayers who said attendance would sag after the novelty of the new park wore off.)

Perhaps the park is truly most like the city’s living room on non-game Thursday “buck nights,” which draw a smaller, but more representative cross-section of the neighboring East End communities. It gives neighbors from north and south of Washington Street an all-too-rare opportunity to come together, to listen to local bands and enjoy movies on the park’s video board.

More and more, it appears the civic leaders who stood up to severe criticism to build the park have provided the city with an amenity that will serve it well for years to come.

To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, e-mail philk@wvgazette.com or call 348-1220.