On April 18, 2007 Mayor Chip Clancy told the Gloucester Times a baseball team should move to Gloucester because the Spirit is so good for Lynn. On July 15, 2007 Vic Davilla told the Boston Globe the team wants to stay in Lynn.
SO WHY CAN’T WE MAKE THIS WORK? Everyone just needs to work together and bring the North Shore Spirit back year.
Both stories are below. BE SURE TO READ THEM!
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/pusports/local_story_108093918?keyword=secondarystory+page=0
This is what Clancy said.
Whether it be Plan A, B, or C, the city would benefit from having a baseball team in the city, Lynn Mayor Edward "Chip" Clancy said.
Lynn faced a similar situation early this decade when Boxford businessman Nick Lopardo pitched a similar idea. Lopardo purchased the Waterbury Spirit Independent baseball team and wanted to move it to the North Shore.
To make this idea work, Lopardo spent over $2.5 million to renovate Fraser Field. He added new seating, dugouts, concession stands, restrooms and clubhouses at the field. Lopardo also renovated an adjacent building into ticket offices, a retail 'Pro Shop' and a media area. He also added parking spaces, a play area for children, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard.
More importantly, Lopardo also created jobs for Lynn residents, while also bringing in added revenue to retail stores and restaurants. The players on the Sprit also moved into homes and apartments in the city, adding increased tax dollars.
Clancy also said that the neighborhood where Evans Field is located saw its crime rate decrease since the Spirit moved there, as additional police presence was added. There has not been a major incident at Fraser Field since the Sprit moved in. Lopardo has also helped neighboring cities, donating money to area high schools to support its athletic programs.
"This has been a win-win situation for the both of us," Clancy said. "The attendance has increased each year and the games have been competitive. We've also had no problems whatsoever. It has been all positive and a great success."
Clancy said that adding a baseball team in Gloucester would give families wholesome, affordable entertainment, while also creating new jobs.
"The North Shore Sprit brought affordable entertainment into an older urban area," Clancy said. "They have given residents something to look forward to each summer and have supported the city in many ways. This is a perfect situation for us and it can be a positive situation for Gloucester. I hope it works out."
THEN ON JULY 15, 2007 Vic Davilla told The Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/07/15/in_the_family_spirit/?page=1
When the Spirit first arrived in Lynn, the team drew 100,000 spectators and lost $1.8 million in the first season, Connolly said. The team lost $1.7 million in its second season, $700,000 the next, and $600,000 last year. This summer, Connolly said, the team is averaging about 2,300 fans, compared with 2,500 last season, and is looking to break even.
But it's still a long way from being Lynn's team rather than just another team that plays in Lynn.
"I would like to see the city more involved," said manager Vic Davilla, a Georgetown native. "I think this could be a great thing if they came together and said, 'You know what, what Nick Lopardo's doing here is not a joke, it's a great thing.' Hopefully in the near future the city can say let's re evaluate the situation because we want this team to stay here."
