The Minnesota Cricket Assoc: http://www.minnesotacricket.com/ has seen the Gillette building re-use concept. They like it!  Their schedule could accommodate the Saints and other regularly scheduled activities in a Lowertown ballpark.  Fort Lauderdale, FL is the only city with a major stadium for its regional Cricket league.  Minnesota's Cricket league is now 30 teams strong.

Below the Gillette building re-use site plan concept, and the FL Cricket field. Conversion of the Saints ballfield into a Cricket field (150x130 yard oval) can be done in a short amount of time.

We continue to encourage Mayor Coleman to expand the City's vision for what could occur on the Lowertown ballpark site: a unique multiple-use, year-round attraction for Minnesota's Capital City.

Lowertown Ballpark Update: Bidding for the Ballpark accepted! Ballpark Design meeting thus Postponed?

Will this bidding process: http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_21792292/st-paul-put-design-saints-ballpark-out-bid, which begins November 30th, be limited to the actual construction of the ballpark project, or include conceptual ballpark facility designs?

Here is our newest video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1-BGEfMy4I&feature=youtu.be. Christin and Bill discuss this bidding process and why the first 'Lowertown Ballpark Design and Construction Committee' meeting, October 18th, was subsequently postponed. Will this group be expected to pre-approve the city's plans being the July 2012 City Council resolution states it will have "... a focus on ensuring that a livable and economically viable neighborhood is maintained throughout the construction process and after the ballpark is open" or will they actually have a say in its 'design' and be allowed to seek community input as well?

 

Ok, here are the links to new interview videos with Bill, Christin and Bill:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5lTpCFIquw&feature=plcp

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX4Clyl4VFY&feature=BFa&list=HL1348238671
 

 Some still say the Gillette building in Lowertown is so unattractive it should be torn down rather than be reused for a ballpark facility or anything else... The building above was once similar in appearance, some said tear it down, it was ugly.  Then along came Holiday Inn who bought it from Days Inn.  They added a new 'skin' to the building, then doubled the room rates!

Here's a bit more 'conceptual' information for you.  The illustrations above and below are cross-section views of the Gillette building repurposed as a ballpark-amphitheatre-multiple-use facility.  They are just part of the building's available space.  To learn more visit the Power-Point presentation on the left side of this page. 

A memorable video you need to see today and share with others who care about Saint Paul.  Click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZdnx5yWCMA

Saint Paul needs year-round jobs, visitors, and revenue from a $54 million dollar investment on this site.  Re-use of the Gillette building for a both ballpark and multi-use facility is an opportunity we should not ignore.

The orientation of the playing field to the northwest-north:

Baseball players, fans and design professionals who have openly looked at the idea agree, this orientation can work with an unconventional, yet simple solution: a large mesh curtain pulled between the left outfield light posts as needed during evening games from the season opener in mid-May to the first of August. 

The Gillette building multi-use site plan.

The City's current ballpark site plan.

The Saints current home, Midway Stadium.

This site has received nearly 1,500 visitors so far.  Many questions have been asked and helpful input given about reusing the Gillette building for baseball and additional uses as suggested on this site.

These two  illustrations incorporate three of them: the ballfield's outfield wall should have angles rather than be curved and show the distances to hit homeruns.  Also, although the Velodrome concept is a phase two plan, there is curiousity as to how it might be ereceted above the CCLRT building - the second illustration is one proposal. 

The existing Gillette Building in Lowertown, above, can be viewed either as an eyesore or instead as a blank canvas waiting for a new lease on life as a Ballpark - Amphitheatre mixed-use complex, below.

After more suggestions and questions concerning its interior the five-level set of conceptual floor plans are done. To view all of them see the green presentation link on the left.

Click on images to enlarge.