Minor league baseball is helping cities hit a revitalization home run

It’s that time of year again—the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd when the home team hits a home run, not to mention the peanuts, Cracker Jacks and hot dogs! Nothing compares to the fun of gameday at the stadium, enjoying the national pastime of baseball. Some mid-sized cities have taken the celebration and excitement of opening day and turned it into a year-round return on investment by building hometown baseball stadiums, creating a focal point for downtown revitalization.

Turning parking into pop flies
In 2015, Fayetteville, N.C.’s downtown needed a boost, and the City Council was optimistic that baseball could be a kick start to a further revitalization of the area. According to current City Manager Doug Hewett, studies were commissioned to show it was feasible to build a minor league stadium in downtown Fayetteville. They showed the population and surrounding areas were interested enough and vibrant enough that it would support it.

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