The Winston-Salem Journal reviewing the new taxpayer-funded downtown stadium:
The roar of the crowds at Winston-Salem’s new downtown ballpark is drowning out the carping of critics. The attendance figures are signaling that the park, ridiculed during its construction lull last year, will be a success, one that will bring in money, draw city residents together and spur more economic development.
Halfway through the season, the park’s tenant, the Winston-Salem Dash baseball team, is leading the Carolina League in attendance, averaging more than 4,500 a night, a sharp increase over what the team averaged at its old home, Ernie Shore field. More than 145,000 people have taken in games at the stadium since it opened in April, the Journal ‘s Laura Graff reported Sunday.
If the Greensboro Grasshoppers’ experience in their new stadium is any indication, attendance at the Dash games is likely to grow in the years ahead.
The Journal at least expresses skepticism at the number of tickets sold, which the Dash isn’t releasing just yet. But otherwise they lay it on pretty thick, yet another newspaper of record cheerleading for downtown, or Uptown, whichever the case. I tell ya, it’s all part of the New Urbanist conspiracy.
