City scopes sites for new Phillies park

Passage of a state funding bill for the Phillies and Eagles means a baseball stadium may be built near campus. With a new state financing plan for two new Philadelphia sports stadiums in place, one question still remains: Where will the complexes be located? Under the deal --Epassed last week by the Pennsylvania state legislature -- the commonwealth will provide $170 million to the city to build new stadiums for baseball's Phillies and football's Eagles, replacing the nearly 30-year-old Veterans Stadium. The total combined cost of the stadiums is estimated to be $600 million. The bill also provides funds for new Pittsburgh stadiums for the Pirates and Steelers. Now, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, City Council and the two teams themselves must figure out exactly where to place the teams' new ballparks. The possibilities include a baseball-only stadium at 30th and Walnut streets that is bitterly opposed by the University, as well as one in Center City. Rendell spokesperson David Yarkin stressed the invaluable effect of sports in any city, explaining that the stadium deal ensures the existence of professional football and baseball in Philadelphia for at least the next 30 years. "Sports can be a great unifying force in a city and the community," Yarkin said, applauding the state's decision to help fund the parks. "A lot of people follow the sports teams and the success of the sports franchises. It can have great impact on the morale of a city." In the days since the bill was passed, officials have debated the various potential locations for the stadiums. The one that Penn officials oppose is the suggestion to place the new Phillies' field at 30th and Walnut streets. The University has expressed its strong disapproval of the proposal since it was released two years ago. Last week, Executive Vice President John Fry said such a move would be an outright "disaster" for Penn. "We are unalterably opposed [to a stadium near 30th Street]," Fry said. "This campus would be completely shut down during baseball games." Fry described the 30th Street location as "simply too constrained," citing the severe parking problem that would result from a regular influx of fans. Construction of the stadium would also close down major nearby traffic arteries, forcing detours through campus. Proponents of using this site, though, say the stadium would have a nice view of the city and easy access via 30th Street Station. "I would love to see a stadium at 30th Street. The vista would be unbelievable," Rendell told The Philadelphia Inquirer last week. "But the problem with parking and congestion there and on the [Schuylkill] Expressway, those are difficult problems to surmount." The lack of cooperation from Penn doesn't bode well for the site, since the city usually accedes to requests from the University -- the largest private employer in the city. Rendell and Phillies Chairperson Bill Giles said last week that they would favor putting the field in Center City near the intersection of Broad and Spring Garden streets. Many comparisons have been drawn between this potential Phillies' site and Baltimore's seven-year-old Camden Yards -- a stadium that has become the model for several other urban ballparks because of the enormous positive financial growth it spurred in its city. But critics of the Broad and Spring Garden proposal point out that building a stadium in Center City would add to the cost. And the Eagles have expressed an interest in staying in the South Philadelphia area where they play now in the Vet. Ultimately, the location decisions will be made by the individual teams under the condition that they supply the money for any additional costs based on the stadium's location. Rendell has proposed several ways to raise the city's part of the tab, including an increased rental-car tax, a ticket surcharge and the money saved by no longer having to maintain Veterans Stadium. State, city and team representatives agree there is much work to be done, but the passing of the construction bill was a significant step in the right direction, continuing the nationally-acclaimed prosperity that has come during Rendell's tenure. Stephen Drachler, press secretary to House Majority Leader John Perzel (R-Philadelphia) -- who helped push the plan through Harrisburg -- said the stadiums would help Philadelphia continue its growth. "The result is that the stadiums will contribute to the continued renaissance of Philadelphia -- its growing image, nationally and internationally," Drachler said. "The stadiums will serve as a magnet for the rejuvenation of the city."

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