Even with the Wichita Wranglers’ days numbered, the gloom about the future of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is lifting. Representatives of three independent baseball leagues have reacted positively to the facility and community, as city officials court a new team for the stadium and manager for the National Baseball Congress World Series in advance of a July 13 proposal deadline. It sounds like Wichita could fit easily into the 10-team American Association, the eight-team Northern League or the six-team United League. But Eagle columnist Bob Lutz may be right that the American Association is the best fit of all, given the involvement of Wichita Thunder hockey team owner Horn Chen and general manager Chris Presson. And the city is rightly looking out for the future of the NBC series. City Council member Paul Gray, who has met with the interested league officials in the past, is now on the sidelines as part of the proposal process. But Gray told The Eagle editorial board he’s optimistic about the prospects: “I think people are going to be very pleased with what happens.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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19 Comments
Let’s hope they don’t botch this like they did the Bowling Tournament.
Because of continuing rains, the main contest at Wrangler games at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium last night was … would the number of fans exceed the number of baseball players on the field! Last night, a double-header was played evidently because of rain-out the night before. Wranglers won the second game 3-2, as I recall.
We’ve still got two months of baseball at Lawrence-Dumont including the annual National Baseball Congress tournament (NBC) during the first two weeks of August.
As a long-time baseball fan, I hope we continue to field a Wichita professional baseball team of some kind plus our semi-pro National Baseball Tournament started by Hap Dumont back in the 1930’s … a great Wichita tradition.
A different minor league club with a few former WSU, KU, or KSU players could work.
Players would stay around longer.
Fans comfort at L-D is most important. Chair back seats for all. Could there be less seats but wider more comfortable ones?
A person hired to determine qualities of L-D told the City that. Bench seating is terrible and can’t be used any longer.
The NBC tournament should stay at L-D forever. City purchasing the event is great.
I don’t know the best minor league would be. The Thunder owner and staff?
What’s the best league for the next 5 seasons. Don’t sign forever contracts.
I hope Wichita is successful with a baseball team. I have fond memories of “shagging baseballs” for the Wichita Indians and being hired by Hap to work during the NBC games 55-57 as a young man. He was a fine gentleman.
The NBC is a great Wichita tradition and community event. Where else can you go watch a team from Alaska play a team from Texas at midnight on a weeknight? And still draw hundreds of fans?
As bright as the future of the NBC is, I’m don’t have much optimism for the minor league side. The fact is that Wichita already has a baseball franchise in town — the Shocks. It’s hard to find enough support for both teams — plus the majority of casual fans feel a lot more connected with WSU than some pro team.
I know, I know, the seasons don’t overlap much — but fans need a reason to care about the team, and they get that with WSU.
On the other hand, improving the stadium seating is sorely needed at LD — and the owners of whatever independent team ends up there should consider practically giving tickets away to get people in the seats and try to build some fan loyalty. Going to be a tough sell.
Back in mid-1990’s when I began spending time in Wichita, I started attending baseball games at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. It seems like the stadium was full almost every night. I don’t know if attendance statistics would bear me out on this.
Some thanks goes to Stadium Manager Steve Shaad and his enthusiastic staff at those games. Steve and staff organized a lot of fun promotions for the fans: rolling dice, races around bases, etc.
I remember evenings when rains would temporarily stall the games, rainy evenings such as tonight. Steve went out front, in the rain, microphone in hand, to lead the crowd in songs, games, contests, etc. to retain the fans, huddled under the overhead stadium canopy, until the game could resume.
I do agree with MRage’s comments above that we should somehow recruit some former WSU Shockers baseball players into whatever minor league team comes to Wichita. Getting the fans acquainted with and rooting for individual players will be crucial to success of a new minor league team in Wichita.
That personal acquaintance with some players is part of the mistique of the younger players in the National Baseball Congress games in August. Plus of course the games around the clock and other NBC promotions.
Back to the Wranglers, I recall in the late 1990’s at the end of games, the Wranglers players would line up along third base line to sign autographs for young fans. And games generally concluded with a race around the bases by young people and fireworks on weekend nights.
Wichita people do seem to love fireworks exploding over the Arkansas River. But are they overdone and are they a crutch to get attendance? What do you think?
Good points JWink. I remember taking my small son to NBC games; he could actually talk to players over the fence near the dugout. Shadd definitely knew how to promote baseball here.
Wichita people do seem to love fireworks exploding over the Arkansas River. But are they overdone and are they a crutch to get attendance? What do you think?Posted by: JWink | June 29, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Way overdone. I used to live in Old Town. Every Saturday night home game, ’round about 10:20PM, fireworks from L-D way.
Every Saturday night. Did I mention there were fireworks EVERY Saturday home game, usually just past 10PM. You could set your clock to it, it was so regular. Regular as a metronome, in fact. Back, forth, back…….>snore<.
In sum: after you’ve sat through your tenth or fifteenth fireworks show, you’ve sat through ‘em all. I’d bet a house that lots of Wranglers’ season ticket holders agree.
JWink — there were some better days in the 90’s, certainly better than the last 5. But sellouts have been few and far between for the Wranglers.
They sometimes did well on the weekends, but LD was usually a ghost town during the week, and especially for playoff games. I remember going to some playoff games where it was me and the beer vendor guys, and that was about it.
I did a little Googling on Wrangler’s attendance, and found a telling quote from the Northwest Arkansas Morning News:
“The factor that led the Wrangler organization consider moving was a lack of a fan base. The Wranglers were last in attendance in the Texas League every year since the franchise moved from Beaumont, Texas, 18 years ago.”
Ouch.
I wonder … with such a fan base what can we expect with other minor league sports in Wichita? Like basketball?
Ben — Great question. I think many fans consider the Shockers to be their minor league team. They relate to them better and have a lot more invested in them.
Minor league teams will just never have that same “it” that the Shockers have with their fans, and will probably always be second fiddle to WSU.
That is, unless the Shockers completely tank for the long term in one of those sports, and people start looking for an alternative.
But, with the right atmosphere to draw some fans in, and a reasonable cost structure, maybe a minor league operation can make a go of it.
What do you think?
Didn’t we hate the Royals more than watching the Wranglers.
Feared players being called up to KC and lose 100 games. Johnny Damon made it, but many others didn’t.
Didn’t know the players. Maybe fans will get to know this kind of minor league baseball player.
It’s a beer and fun league right. Will guys still be trying to play Major League ball, impress a scout?
Maybe a girl wants to play short or second. Who cares! She could have a interesting story why she’s trying to play baseball.
People didn’t like bench seating or the parking lot when it was full. Concession area was junky to me. I rarely got food at Wranglers games, that’s wrong.
Concerts should be held at L-D so its place to hear music.
A small rock band should play music during inning changes. Riff on the guitar when hits and runs happen. Bass thump when strikeouts.
It’s a stadium where events happen, plus baseball games.
I’m not a fan of every weekend fireworks. That was overdone.
Ben,
Minor league basketball…depends where they would play. The arena downtown?
I do hate to see former basketball players from WSU, KU or KSU playing on those kinds of teams.
It’s different than former WSU, KU, KSU baseball players.
The Arena should try to get WSU, KSU and KU games before counting on a minor league basketball team.
Hartman wants to try a basketball team in his arena, that’s for him to try.
Maybe SMG has ideas of minor league basketball. Some guy in Salina with that league, is that professional enough?
Part of the NBA development league, who knows.
Seattle Sonics could be moving to Oklahoma City in the 2008 season.KC is still shopping the Sprint Center free rent to a NBA team.
LA Clippers need their own arena.
Kings in Sacramento can’t afford a new arena. Community may not want to help pay for it. Kings came from KC, could go back.
If Wichita is suddenly surrounded by NBA teams in Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado, we should have a NBA development team in Wichita.
That’s why 18,000 seats in the arena, make us ready for any future event to happen, can’t be shortsighted.
The corp guys I’m harassing aren’t saying no, they can’t help the arena. I’m still hopeful.
—–
TR – I don’t think they can succeed. The reason: the demographic we are trying to attract are the so-called ‘knowledge workers’ to fuel out economy. We tend to be college graduates and we have not spent our entire lives in Sedgwich County. As a result, our sports interests tend toward our alma maters and perhaps other institutions we have been connected to.
So, I follow UCLA, Michigan State, and to a lesser extent a few others. This is great for the sports bars; put together a dozen fellow fans and Dave will have the game tuned off the bird. I loved watching UCLA-KU in the NCAAs – especially being outnumbered 100-to-1 or worse!
Many also follow pro teams from former hometowns – the Bears, Steelers, Cubs and Red Sox (MIT). If I can watch them at Players why would I go watch a minor league team?
Mrage makes a decent point if some sort of team could be created with WSU/KU/KSU players. But, I don’t see that happening. Even if it did I don’t see 18,000 fans; mure like 5,000. As I recall we once had a basketball team; it drew a few HUNDRED.
Mrage:
“The Arena should try to get WSU, KSU and KU games before counting on a minor league basketball team.” GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN ARENAS THAT ARE SUPERIOR.
“The corp guys I’m harassing aren’t saying no, they can’t help the arena. I’m still hopeful.” HAHAHAHAHA! WHEN DO YOU MAKE YOUR BIG ANNOUNCEMENT? BEFORE OR AFTER YOU RENAME WSU?
Ben,
Why would I announce it? I don’t expect to. I only continue to put forth messages why we need the increased seats. Every couple of days. Today, I gave sorta gave a ultimatium.
Executives find directors that could make the decesion or tell me it’s not possible. I’ve provided enough data.
I gave them the HOK person to discuss the arena with.
Today I heard Ron Holt on the radio give a arena timeline.
Any day, change in the arena can happen or it won’t.
WSU name change is always a choice. Who says I’ll rename it. Let people vote on campus.
What’s the incentive to change? The right process could help WSU make the decision. It’s all about marketing.
After the arena is constructed, the push will be on.
It won’t be coming from me alone, but from a process to improve WSU for our long term community growth.
Isn’t it ironic that an illiterate like Mrage offers advice to a univesity?
I doubt that Mrage could pass the entrance exam to wSU, if such a thing exists.
Mage, what interest or concern could you possibly have in the affairs of a university? That’s something for educated people to concern themselves with.
The NBA D league just expanded this year, I understand they’re not interested in further expansions for awhile. Wichita would probably have to get a franchise to move if they wanted a team.
Otherwise, the league average for attendance was about 2000/game in 2006. Des Moines just got a D League team, they looking to average 3000/game. They’ll be playing in the new Wells Fargo Arena there, but the capacity of the facility is not an issue for the D League.
“Today, I gave sorta gave a ultimatium.” BOY, THAT IS REALLY FUNNY. I BET THEY ALL GOT A GOOD LAUGH OUT OF IT!
By the way, I have a couple of degrees from WSU and keep track of things there. It ain’t gonna happen. Not any more that 18,000 seats! I’ll lay Benjamans on the table on that!
“Any day, change in the arena can happen or it won’t.” IT WON’T. I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD THAT BY THE COUNTY. BUT, I AM STILL KEEPING MY PDF’S
“After the arena is constructed, the push will be on.” FOR WHAT?! YEA, THEY BETTER HAVE SOMETHING GOOD IN MIND!
TR – Sounds like Hartman’s place would be best if they do anything. A couple thousand there would at least seem like a crowd. That is why I am thinking the Thunder might go fot it too. Cheaper rent, able to fill it and create the craziness you want at a game.
http://www.nba.com/dleague/
Tulsa has one.
D clubs are tied to certain NBA teams.
They would have introduce themselves or SMG goes hunting for one of those teams.
Maybe Bakersfield could relocate with their poor record. They need a new outlook, or a different gym.
If so few fans are necessary for that league, Hartman’s proposed 5,000 seat arena in Park City could be the place to play.
It wouldn’t seem right on the WSU campus in Koch Arena.
Downtown arena with 15,000 seats could be too large.
Ben,
Your degrees from WSU gives you one vote.
“Downtown arena with 15,000 seats could be too large.” THAT WAS MY POINT!
“Your degrees from WSU gives you one vote.” AND I HAVE YET TO MEET A FELLOW ALUM WHO WANTS YOUR NAME CHANGE.