Woodstock, Illinois To Join FL

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=251970

Apparently, a Frontier League team is coming to McHenry County after all. The new proposed ballpark will be placed in Woodstock, Illinois. private investors and donators would fund the entire project. Plans were announced on Wednesday to build a mutli-use facility that would host the teams and dozens of other sporting events begining in 2010.

The venue would hold 6,500 seats and 10,000 for events open to lawn seating. Long-range plans include the possibility of developing the site as a future home of the McHenry County Fair, a fire mueseym and an exhibition hall. Foundation officials said the design will take into account "smart growth" principles and preserve about 75 acres of wetlands and oak savannah on the property.

You know, it's kinda funny how these stories just happen to pop up all of sudden. Take into account that we haven't heard much of anything from McHenry County's hunt for a FL team in a long time before this article came out. A huge obstacle, if I recall, was that the proposed ballpark would effect the environment and the surrounding water areas. It was at first opposed by the community and the county council, but all of the problems must have been ironed out.

I still have to wonder how this is going to work long term. I know these rumors have been going on for a long time now; the one that involves the Northern League Chicagoland teams jumping ship to the Frontier League. That hasn't happened inspite of that buzz, but the Northern League, from what I could tell, is still not so stable. So what if the Northern League goes belly up? How can the FL say "no" to the three NoL teams close by in that situation?

Look at the number of teams in the Northern Illinois/Chicago area alone in this list on the Indy Baseball Map:
Windy City Thunderbolts
Rockford RiverHawks
Schaumburg Flyers
Gary-Southshore Railcats
Joliet Jackhammers
new McHenry County team
possible Champaign, Illinois team