Phoenixville Baseball Committee Formed

Fresh on the heels of his proposal to develop Lot O of the Steel Site, Manny DeMutis has taken another step towards reviving the now dormant land. He, along with Barry Cassidy, have formed the Phoenixville Baseball Committee, a group 'of civic leaders determined to build a 3,800-seat ballpark on a portion of the 120-acre tract that was once home to the former Phoenix Iron Works company.'

From today's Inquirer:

DeMutis has enlisted the help of 20 local business owners, residents, and borough officials to assess the feasibility of reinvigorating the old steel site with a ballpark.

They hope to be more successful than a similar group that tried to bring a ballpark to West Chester. That effort came to naught earlier this month when West Chester Borough Council rejected the project as too costly.

There remain many hurdles to cross before the Phoenixville project is more than a developer's dream, but the work begins Wednesday when the committee meets for the first time. It will lay the groundwork for costing out and planning the project. DeMutis says the committee will also focus on finding a team to call the park home.

Among the unresolved questions is who will foot the bill - the public, corporate sponsors, or a combination?

There is also the issue of competition. Just a 45-minute drive along Route 422 in Berks County is First Energy Stadium, home of the Reading Phillies. The Phillies farm club attracts 450,000 patrons a year, according to Tommy Viola, director of public and media relations.

Read the full article at Philly.com.