Rick's Blog

The views bouncing around in the stadium at Maritime Park are brilliant. Sunlit diamonds swim in the bay and green grass covers the infield.

“They’ve started laying the sod,” said Tommy Thrall. “It should be done early next week, if not over the weekend.”

As media relations coordinator for the Blue Wahoos, Thrall blocked off some time this afternoon to show off the coming-alongs at the stadium to the local press. He handed out hardhats in the Crab Trap parking lot and made small talk—he’s new in town, fresh from Davenport, Iowa, where it’s considerably colder.

“It’s a little warmer here,” Thrall said, as he led the way toward the stadium.

There’s still a lot of dirt and machinery on site, but the stadium is up and enjoying life under the Florida sunshine. As Wahoos President Bruce Baldwin put it in a few minutes, the “heavy duty exterior stuff is in place.”

Sprinklers busily watered the infield’s grass, but the outfield still waits bare. The view from anywhere is pretty good.

Up the first base line, overlooking the bay, Baldwin stood ready to give an update on the facility. Games begin in April and he was happy to report everything is humming along right on schedule. Most of what remains he chalked up to finishing touches.

“It’s the minutia,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin gives a brief update, before directing attention to the main event. Beyond the centerfield wall, a large crane lifted the Blue-Wahoos signage into place. It took a few moments and the sign was in place, immediately adding blue and pink pizzazz to the waterfront skyline.

“I’ve been to Pittsburgh, San Francisco—I think this is just so uniquely different,” Baldwin said.

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