We have what Jim Collins called a “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” of bringing Major League Baseball to Albany. I envision bringing the Tampa Bay Rays here someway, somehow and creating the Tech Valley Nanos (or maybe the Upstate New York Rays).
What will this do for the Capital Region from an HR perspective?
1. For the players on opposing teams in the American League East, there would be less travel.
2. For fans of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles (and Toronto), companies could offer incentives/tickets for their fans to visit their teams on the road here in Albany.
3. For food service companies in the capital region, having a location inside a baseball stadium would give 81 additional days of business (and potentially new permanent jobs).
4. I foresee a food service element much like at Fenway, where food outlets could be open outside the stadium year round while serving a larger crowd during games. The street outside Tech Valley Stadium could be closed off during games to give a feel like outside of Fenway.
5. The facility could be built in such a way to allow convention tie ins with the soon to be built Albany Convention Center, or perhaps be used as a concert venue with 40-50000 seats that could allow other incentives for employees of local companies.
I’m excited at the possibilities bringing baseball here to Albany could bring. Whether I convince Rays ownership to move here or am able to find the right investors and collaborators to make this happen, the thought that this could actually happen someday excites me.
To read more about my BHAG, visit the Braathe Enterprises website.