New P-Nats stadium may be along I-66

Chances of a new Potomac Nationals stadium being built along I-95 in Prince William County now seem unlikely.

Nationals owner Art Silber said during Sunday’s Hot Stove Banquet at the Hyatt at Fair Lakes that the site along the I-66 corridor seems better suited for the team’s future home.

Silber said an environmental issue where a stream that would run beneath home plate would create an issue for the team’s stadium off I-95.

“There are some environmental issues,” Silber said. “This could be a problem.”

Silber was hoping to announce the stadium’s site at the banquet, but another issue that came up regarding the I-95 site concerned the building of a parking garage figured to delay the announcement further.

Silber said the I-66 corridor site, which is in Prince William County, is appealing because it could bring in fans from Loudoun County to the stadium.

“Sixty-six is a better location for all of Northern Virginia,” Silber said. “It really divides the area in half.

“Traffic on I-95 is backed up against the Potomac River. It’s far from Loudoun County.

“Whereas if you’re on 66, the Prince William Parkway is very accessible if you’re getting westbound on 95. A big section of 95 is westbound. We want to have fans coming from Loudoun County and Fairfax County.”

For now, the Nationals remain in Pfitzner Stadium, a place they have called home since 1984.

Pfitzner was given a mini-makeover in 2011 with the expansion to the home clubhouse.

Pfitzner’s field, however, experienced several problems due to the inclement weather that came through the area.

A three-game series was moved to Frederick, Md. during April and a July game was postponed despite a sunny day.

A new field surface is expected to be ready for opening day on April 13.

“The field was completely rebuilt,” Silber said. “The old field was torn out at the end of the season.

“The field was lowered by 14 inches. A new subsurface of sand was put in as was a new drainage system. There is a new elevation system and new sod.”

Prince William County board of supervisors chairman Corey Stewart and members Mike May (Occoquan District) and Martin Nohe (Coles District) attended the banquet.

May favors the Nationals remaining in the county.

“The entire board supports having the Nationals in Prince William,” May said. “We want to work with them to keep them in the county.”

Washington Nationals director of player development Doug Harris is for Silber’s attempt to build a new stadium in Prince William County.

Harris said Washington will remain affiliated with Potomac after Potomac’s Player Development Contract expires with Washington after the 2012 season.

No discussion is needed because the contract has an automatic renewal clause.

“Our agreement is very unique,” Harris said. “There really isn’t a need for a discussion because of the original contract. The original PDC that was put in place when the Nationals came to D.C. [in 2005] laid out an extended PDC.

“So it’s really a non-issue.”