CityView Magazine

48 | July/August 2018 e arrival of the team also should boost employment in downtown businesses. "ey will be required to hire hundreds of part-time staff to support an influx of 5,000 fans for a baseball game," Zarthar said. "We expect bars, restaurants and shops to thrive based on the added foot traffic." Will there be enough parking available for all the fans? Yes, according to Zarthar. "It's not going to be an issue at all," he said. "ere might be limited parking on Hay Street but if you go one block south to Franklin Street, there is an abundant amount of parking including a parking garage. Go another block south to Russell Street and there's even more parking. e Dogwood Festival had 120,000 people on Saturday and there were no parking issues. I think downtown can accommodate our 4,900 fans." Once inside the stadium, Zarthar feels any perceived problems will melt away. "is is not about minor league baseball or the stadium," he said. "It's an entertainment venue and an anchor for downtown businesses. We'll have fireworks shows, an area for kids to hang out and a bar for adults." Fayetteville has not been kind to professional sports teams in the past. Two basketball teams and two minor league baseball teams have failed to last. e last such baseball team le town in 2000. But Zarthar remains confident despite that history. "We have high expectations for attendance here in Fayetteville next year and beyond," he said. "ey'll have fun in our stadium. It all becomes part of the downtown experience. It will be a better place to go out, a better place to live and we expect everyone to enjoy coming downtown more when the stadium is present." SAVE THE DATE Sponsored by CityView and our Premier Business Partners FOOD W NE 2 01 8 ISSUE & Thursday, October 11 6:00 p.m. ~ 10:00 p.m. Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N Eastern Blvd in Fayetteville ANNUAL LAUNCH PARTY GET YOUR TICKETS NOW Go to www.Reveel.it and scan this page

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