This is the end

...of this chapter in Fort Wayne Wizard baseball. Last Thursday was the last opening day at Memorial Stadium. They are moving into the downtown Harrison Square stadium next season. Here are the feelings of Wizard fans.

The positive:

Al Fry, avid follower and season-ticket holder since the Wizards first took to the field in 1993, said the night brought back a lot of memories.

“We waited for years for (baseball) to come to Fort Wayne,” he said.

Fry, who has been to every Major League Baseball stadium in the country, is looking forward to the new Wizards stadium downtown, though he thinks parking and traffic might pose problems when the Clinton Street bridge closes for construction in 2010.

Kristi King, Fry’s daughter, who described herself as a “fair-weather fan,” said she thinks the move will be a positive thing for the team and the city.

“I’m excited about the move downtown,” King said. “I think it’ll be cool. Hopefully it will boost business downtown.”

The not so positive:

Pat Metzler, also a season-ticket holder, said he’ll remain a Wizards fan no matter what. But with the stadium move, he may not remain a season-ticket holder.

“Being a fan is not my problem,” he said. “Getting there and parking is my problem. I probably won’t stay with this if I can’t find parking.”

The....

Rick Vance, who attended the opener with his three children, Miranda, Breanna and Korban, said they probably won’t attend nearly as many games after the Wizards make the move.

“Personally, I think it’s a little bit sad,” he said. “There just isn’t anything to do downtown.”

Yeah. If only Fort Wayne would have some large stadium downtown in which a sporting event could take place. No, not one sporting event...70 sporting events...during the spring and summer months. If only there would be something like that, then there would be something to do downtown...That'd be great.