Our view: Rally this week for ‘the Wade’
April 2, 2012 at 7:00 pm in Duluth News Tribune
More than 70 years after Works Progress Administration crews put up a ballpark using bricks tossed aside when nearby Grand Avenue was paved, that stadium Wade Stadium, named for Duluth Dukes Manager Frank Wade after he died in 1953 could be nearing the end of its useful life.
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If Republicans would quit being so ridiculous with their “cut, slash, and burn” rhetoric and actually sat down to have a legitimate discussion about priorities, then maybe they would merit some respect, skidoodlund. As it stands, Republicans don’t seem satisfied until everything the public owns (including Wade) is either privatized or demolished.
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Just don’t let JCI get their hands in it.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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If only Duluth had voted people down to St. Paul who were the best candidates, NOT bought & paid for DFL members, then perhaps a lot would be different, including power over bonding dollars.
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Wade Stadium for concerts? Then what is Bayfront Park for????
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This is a good point. How many venues does Duluth need for concerts. The city barely uses the venues they have at their disposal.
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I think Wade Stadium is “Pretty Cool” just the way it is now!!
Loseing the Duluth Dukes was a HUGE mistake on Duluth’s part.
Too much enffecinse on Hockey!!
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and not enough emphasis on spelling.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Please use spell check. BTW – Duluth lost the Dukes, in large part, because another city built them a brand new stadium. The decline of the Wade can be directly linked to the decline of the quality of baseball played at the Wade. The Wade may be “cool” but the field is not even level. Not to mention the quality of the stands, concourse, etc.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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1st, a baseball field by design is not level. The parts that are supposed to be level – are.
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Josiah – you obviously have never played at the Wade or don’t know what a “stadium quality” baseball playing field should be like. If you think the Wade should be maintained to the same level of the grade shool playground ballfield then you shouldn’t be weighing in on this conversation.
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Just a correction. The Duluth Huskies are a summer College Wood Bat League team. They play a schedule very mush like a low minor league team in the number of games but are not professional players yet. Its very good baseball and family entertainment and a redo of Wade Stadium would very much help them and all the other teams that use Wade Stadium.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I don’t know if the Husky’s league is on Par with the Northern League (which the Dukes played in), but I do know the quality of the baseball is the same.
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Yes, the Huskies are not a minor league team and Mayor Ness undoubtedly is comparing professional minor league stadiums to Wade when that is not an accurate comparison. Look at the teams in the NWL and see how much they paid for their new ballparks. $15-$50 million for professional teams and not NWL teams. Could build a new one in a much better location that would better serve the community and the Huskies for slightly more than money sought to repair the Wade.
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I understand your point Tim. But the Wade is in the class of Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. I used to take vendors from across the country to the Wade and they just loved it and felt we were lucky to still have an old time ball park. I have to agree, there was nothing like watching a game at the Wade, provided the weather was decent. I still think it’s a political battle, the funding of improvements, and the Duluth DFL delegation needs to learn you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar, especially when you are in the minority in the legislature.
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To lose Wade Stadium would be a great loss of a peice of Duluth History, and yes the losing of the Dukes another great loss of a peice of Duluth history, the sad part is the continued lack for vision this city has, it always cries foul when they know well in advance that things are spinning out of control and wait till the last bell has rung to try to do anything about it. this city has no grasp on the future and leaves fate to control its destiny, and more often than not fate decides against them. This city once known as the zenith city is nothing more than a fading comet, a mere shadow of its once beautiful past and will continue to be that way unless it realizes it has control of its own destiny, if it so desires, its not politics, just very poor leadership and a city not caring for its past enough to take pride in its future.
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Well said.
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They want to spend how much?? I do think Wade should be maintained. But 8 Million?? Fiscally responsible?? The city spent big money on wade back in the 90’s when the Duke’s were reborn. After pouring all that money into Wade the Dukes left. They are going to use “park money” for this? I know it’s a ballpark….I have no problem if they want to give it a face lift. Yes, the Wade has a great history. I enjoyed taking in a game last summer. This is what happens when you vote to increase funding to government. The parks levy passes and they go hog wild.
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Look at your average woman who goes to the bar a lot. Twenty years of wear and tear doesn’t bode well for her facade either.
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Seems they got no problem tearing down pieces of “history ” to make room for big box drug stores and such – tear Wade down and see if they can entice Rite-aid and a fast food place to build on the land cause we need more of that .
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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Republican legislature would give little attention to Duluth’s requests. Duluth voters have consistently chosen to send only DFL reps and senators to St. Paul. When you have no one in the majority party to advocate for your interests, you have no reason to expect anything…
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I enjoy going to Huskies games, but I think spending $8 million on Wade Stadium is not a good use of funds.
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I thought when one got elected they were supposed to represent ALL of their constituents. It is a sad statement on the state of our politics that if your party is not in power you should expect to get completely ignored – or worse yet get destroyed by those in power. that kind of thinking is tearing this country apart.
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Look back 20 years and it was the same story. Wade should be saved, but not to hear in 20 years again the same story. I blame all the Administrations of the past and present for letting the Stadium get into the condition it is presently in. The people in charge of maintaining the stadium have zero qualifications in doing so. It was a wonderful field when Ray Adamic took care of it, but he was taken from us all too soon.
If the City can not put a long term plan together for the Stadium it is best just to tear it down.
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