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Baseball Committee Press Release

Phoenixville Real Estate Developer Manny DeMutis has assembled a committee of people interested bring minor league baseball to Phoenixville. The Committee will examine the feasibility of locating a minor league baseball team in Phoenixville. “We will move forward through this committee to see if it is possible to locate minor league baseball in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania”, DeMutis stated.

The members of the Phoenixville Committee are as follows:
Joe Altomonte, Dave Chawaga, Connor Cummins, Manny DeMutis, Adam Deveney, Dave Gautreau, Fred Hubler, Kevin Johnson, Richard Kardon, Ron Knabb, Jim Kovaleski, Dick Kunsch, Julian McCracken, Dave Moskowitz, Marian Moskowitz, Kevin Negandhi, Jim Northcott, Christa Peers, Jim Redding, Steve Welch. Barry Cassidy and Kim Cooley will serve as staff for the committee.

The committee will break down into subcommittees to analyze the physical placement of the stadium, financing, ownership and grant pass through vehicles as well as exploring stadium uses. Many of the committee members have areas of expertise, which will help in determining the right direction for the proposed Phoenixville team. Ron Knabb was the architect for Veterans Stadium and will bring expertise in determining what the physical plant of the stadium could look like and cost. Richard Kardon from Point Entertainment will be able to advise on the potential for concerts and other events at the stadium.

There will need to be an analysis to determine the kind of team that would call the stadium home. There is a possibility of an independent team or perhaps a short season rookie league team, which could be affiliated with a major league team. The committee will seek to hold all options open and investigate the possibilities with potential investors for the team.

Over the past six years Phoenixville has grown at a rate of 20.25% in assessed real estate value and added approximately one hundred and fifty million dollars in increased real estate value. The increase in assessed value has helped Phoenixville amass the most assessed value of any borough or city in Chester County. The white-hot real estate market in Phoenixville has not cooled as DeMutis has submitted plans to the Phoenixville Planning Commission for infill construction on the abandoned Phoenix Iron and Steel brownfield.

Over the years Phoenixville has been a hotbed for baseball enthusiasts and is the home to notable professional baseball players including Andre Thornton, Mike Piazza, and John Smiley. “We have a great baseball heritage to build upon. If we do our homework correctly and involve the community in the planning, when this plan comes to fruition it will be a home run for not only the Borough of Phoenixville but also the region.”

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