Tides GM ‘thrilled’ with clean-up Harbor Park efforts

By Debbie Messina
Rainer Sabin
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 3, 2009
NORFOLK

Light rail construction will be moving out of Harbor Park about the time the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals move in for what’s expected to be a sold-out exhibition game today.

Crews have been digging into the parking lot and roads for months, preparing the way for a $288 million train that will help ferry baseball fans to and from games beginning in mid- to late-2010.

But as of Thursday, they were clearing debris and paving over access points to the lots surrounding the Tides’ home stadium.

“It’s going to be perfectly fine,” Norfolk Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said. “I am thrilled.”

Earlier this week, the area around Harbor Park was choked with debris, and some roads in the stadium parking lot were blocked. But by the time thousands of fans file in today, the clutter should be cleared.

“They even filled the elephant trap in the corner,” Rosenfield joked.

One of the largest crowds to attend a game at Harbor Park this season is anticipated. More than 12,000 tickets have been sold, and another 500 remain available. They can be purchased at Ticketmaster online or at the Harbor Park offices beginning at 10 a.m. Gates open three hours later.

Although light rail construction at Harbor Park is not complete, contractors have promised to work around Tides home dates this season, light rail project manager Paul Filion said.

“The majority of it is done,” he said. “The track still has to be laid. But there will be minimal disruption from this point forward. We have been committed to make (the deadline).”

Now that they have, “holes will be filled; streets will be reopened,” Hampton Roads Transit spokesman James Toscano said. “We will be ensuring the site is safe and reasonably neat considering it’s the largest public works project in the history of the city.”

As of today, East Main Street will continue to have only one travel lane. East Main has been open only to eastbound traffic. Two hours before the game, traffic will be reversed and can only go west heading out of Harbor Park.

The contractor will return during the Tides’ first road trip to complete some work before a five-month month hiatus on light rail construction there, Toscano said.

“We have been assured by all concerned that everything down here will be finished by Friday,” Rosenfield said. “All of our lots will be available and everyone will be able to get in and out.”

But there will be fewer parking spaces. The rail line has consumed about 11 of the 2,000 parking spaces, Toscano said.

Rosenfield, though, said the number of spaces lost is closer to 100, because the city and Hampton Roads Transit didn’t count the unmarked ones along the perimeter of the inner lot.

“That’s significant; but progress means pain,” he said.

Still, there never has been adequate parking for near sellout events at the stadium, which seats 12,067 and will feature a new party deck in right field that be open to those attending the game.

Nearby garages include MacArthur Center, Dominion Tower, Waterside and the City Hall South garages. Normal rates will apply, except at City Hall, which will charge $4 at entry, city spokesman Bob Batcher said.

Downtown Norfolk’s free NET buses go to the stadium.

Batcher and Rosenfield are urging fans to arrive early and stay late. In an effort to keep fans from rushing out of downtown after the final pitch, ticket holders who attend the exhibition will get a free ticket to to night’s Admirals game for each hockey ticket purchased.

When asked if he is worried about any problems arising today, Rosenfield shook his head.

“Am I nervous about it?” Rosenfield said. “No. It is going to be ready. I have been assured.”

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com

Rainer Sabin, (757) 446-2376, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/tides-gm-thrilled-cleanup-harbor-park-efforts