Loudoun eyes P-Nats as ballpark tenant

The Potomac Nationals might get a new stadium -- in Loudoun County.

A pre-application has been submitted by a representative of Comstock Loudoun Station L.C. in Reston to build a stadium in Loudoun for the P-Nats.

The request would put the new stadium in Loudoun Station, a community in the Dulles District.

"The application has to be reviewed by the staff and reviewed by the planning commission and reviewed by the board of supervisors," said Valerie Suzdak, aide to Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Dulles District representative Stevens Miller. "It is somewhat of a lengthy process."

Suzdak said the application calls for the purchase of property near a Metro station. Morefield Station is set to be a future Metro Silver Line site near the proposed stadium.

The Carolina League franchise has called Pfitzner Stadium home since 1984, but has sought an upgraded facility for many years.

"The Potomac Nationals are dedicated to trying to create the best possible environment for its fan base in Northern Virginia to watch baseball," Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber said. "We're pretty proud that our fan base is throughout Northern Virginia."

Silber said P-Nats ownership has enjoyed positive relationships to either improve Pfitzner or put together a deal for a new stadium. He would not comment "on any individual area" where the team could build a new stadium.

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart said the board could not do anything to prevent Silber from moving the team. But Stewart does want the team to remain in Prince William.

"The team is very important to the families of Prince William County who love baseball," Stewart said. "It's a great family past time. I think the community would be very saddened to see the team leave."

Stewart said county officials have explored sites to build a new stadium in the county.

"We've looked at sites off of I-95 and Prince William Parkway," Stewart said. "We've looked at sites at Davis Ford Road and Prince William Parkway and we're looking at sites on Innovation at [Va.] 28 and the [Va.] 234 bypass. [We want the stadium to have] more visibility and easier access. It has to have visibility and has to be located on a major roadway."

Stewart also said the economic downturn has put plans for a new stadium on hold. He said it will be unlikely a stadium will be built in 2011.

"The county has been working with the team over the past few years to get a new site," Stewart said.

"The team has been working to find financing for a new stadium. If there's anything we can do without a significant expenditure of taxpayer dollars to find a new location to help obtain financing for a new stadium, the board would be very interested in that."

Stewart said the county government cannot fund a new stadium while cutting back on every county service.

"Mr. Silber understands that," Stewart said. "He understands the situation the county is in. He's committed to Prince William county. He loves this county, but he's got a team to look af-ter."

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-878-8049.