Thursday, January 17, 2008

While the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs began to assemble a roster of players this week, crews pressed ahead with work on the stadium in Waldorf where the minor league team will play.

The roof on the exterior of the third-base side of the structure is nearly complete. The main entrance to what will be called the Regency Furniture Stadium is taking shape, with the steel beams crowned by framing for its roof.

Skyboxes, dugouts, concession stands -- even the outfield wall -- are identifiable as workers stay on track to have the ballpark ready for the Blue Crabs' first home game May 2.

The $25.6 million project is being financed by a combination of funding from Charles County, the state and Maryland Baseball, the corporate owner of the team.

Baltimore Orioles great and Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson serves as principal owner.

Construction began in June at the stadium site on Piney Church Road on the southern edge of Waldorf. The facility will have a seating capacity of 4,500.

In addition to baseball, the stadium will be a venue for concerts, community gatherings and other sporting events throughout the year.

The Blue Crabs will be the eighth team in the independent Atlantic League. On Monday, the team selected its first potential players in an expansion draft. [Story, Page 1]

The Southern Maryland team's home schedule includes 70 games.

State economic development officials have estimated that baseball and other events at the stadium will create at least 230 new jobs and generate an estimated $27 million annually in spending in Charles County.