Potomac Nationals Announce New Stadium Plans
The stadium will be located at Potomac Town Center, which has easy access from both Route 1 and I-95. With the wide array of quality shopping, office and residential opportunities, this will be a unique setting not found at many minor-league stadiums in this country. The stadium will offer year-round events to both residents and tourists alike while offering fans the opportunity to see a championship level minor league team that is an affiliate of the first place National League East Washington Nationals. When completed, the project will bring more than $200 million in private sector investment and $15 million in investment from the Commonwealth.
"Not only will this be one of the nicest stadiums in the country," says Potomac VP/General Manager Josh Olerud, "this is a community facility that will increase the lifestyle of all residents in Prince William County."
The stadium will feature all of the amenities of a modern ballpark for the best fan experience. The park is set to have an open concourse that will allow fans to watch the game from any point in the stadium. The current state-of-the-art Daktronics video board at the Pfitz will be transferred over to the new site along with plans for LED ribbon boards around the ballpark. The stadium also will feature picnic areas and party decks.
There will be hospitality opportunities for any sized business. Private suites will be available to entertain clients or reward employees year-round. There are also plans for a club level that will be enclosed above home plate.
"From a baseball standpoint, we want a facility, clubhouse, playing surface and workout area that would be equivalent the Major Leagues," says Olerud. "We want to build a facility that can better the develop the skills and the future players of the Washington Nationals."
Art Silber, the owner of the Potomac Nationals will fund construction of the new stadium, announcing his intent to invest over $25 million. "We couldn't be happier about this partnership and that Prince William will continue to be the home for the Potomac Nationals," said Silber. "This new, state-of-the art stadium on the I-95 corridor will offer our players and fans a great venue for professional baseball."
The stadium will host more than the 70 Carolina League home games the P-Nats play. Other events planned for the area include concerts, community functions and year-round access to the suite facilities for banquets and wedding.
An important amenity in the project would be a new commuter garage built using state transportation funds, land dedicated to public use and constructed by the Prince William County Transportation Department. The garage will be offer commuter parking to Prince William residents who use the transit serving the garage or carpool using HOV or Express Lanes.
Roadside Development will build on the success of their town center project with additional office space and the associated residential units. The proposal to be vetted by the community would include 125,000 square feet of space, which is expected to provide new jobs particularly for medical and other industries, and 300 homes to support the retail and office uses in the Center. "Our investment in this project will be more than $30 million and will assist in funding the infrastructure necessary for the partnership," said Todd Weiss, a partner with Roadside Development. "Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center has become a destination along the I-95 corridor and Prince William County has been a great place to do business. This will be another great amenity for our tenants and for the thousands of people who visit the Center each day."
"We have worked diligently with the folks in Richmond and with the private sector to bring this opportunity to Prince William County. The Potomac Nationals and Roadside Development are important corporate citizens and we are happy to see their continued commitment to our community," said Corey Stewart, Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. "We are also grateful for the Commonwealth's decision to build the much-needed commuter parking here in Prince William. Our goal is to enhance the opportunities and quality of life of our residents with minimal burden to Prince William County taxpayers. The framework we have established accomplishes that goal and makes this project feasible for all parties. The County, Roadside, and the Potomac Nationals still need to come to a final agreement on the details of terms to move this forward to the next stage, which is to have a proposed project to be vetted by the citizens of Prince William County."
The Potomac Nationals have been located in Prince William County since 1984 at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium. They are currently in their 35th year as a Carolina League franchise.