Resistance has begun as the New Jersey Jackals reveal their schedule for Hinchliffe
PATERSON — The New Jersey Jackals Frontier League baseball team has scheduled 54 home games and 10 training camp sessions at historic Hinchliffe Stadium for 2023, fueling concerns about Paterson’s high school sports access to the field.
The school district has priority for the use of the stadium, under the lease allowing developers to rebuild Hinchliffe, a national landmark that has been dormant for the past 25 years. But city education officials have not yet put together their list of dates when Paterson’s teams need the field in 2023.
Hinchliffe is in its final stages of reconstruction, which is supposed to be done by the end of this year.
“It’s a little early to be planning athletic schedules when Hinchcliffe Stadium isn’t ready yet,” said Paterson schools superintendent Eileen Shafer. “When the stadium is built, and when our athletic schedules are approved by the NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association), then we will submit them to the city.
“We expect that any dates that are in conflict with the Jackals’ schedule will be ceded to Paterson Public Schools, which is guaranteed 180 dates in the agreement with the city,” Shafer added.
Mayor Andre Sayegh said the schools would have priority. But critics are questioning how that’s possible if the Jackals already have a schedule in place.
“It makes no sense whatsoever,” said Councilman Michael Jackson. “It’s a lie. So what? The Jackals are going to change their schedule?”
Board of Education President Kenneth Simmons said no one should be scheduling events at Hinchliffe until the school district claims its 180 dates for using the stadium.
“Everyone wants to put students first, until it's time to put students first,” Simmons said.
For subscribers:How Paterson lured an independent league baseball team to Hinchliffe Stadium
Sayegh and Jackals officials announced last month that the team would be moving to Paterson from Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State University. Some local officials say the mayor’s Jackals press conference was premature, because details of the team’s deal with the developer have not yet been revealed to the City Council and school board.
“There should have been no announcement until we had that conversation,” said Councilwoman Lilisa Mimms.
Baye Adofo Wilson, leader of the team of developers rebuilding Hinchliffe, did not respond to a reporter’s message asking how scheduling conflicts at Hinchliffe would be resolved. City officials have said the Sayegh administration is also working on a deal to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Hinchliffe.
The Jackals announced this week their 10-day training camp at Hinchliffe would start May 1 and their first regular season home game would be on May 20, which would start an eight-game homestand. Critics noted those days could overlap with the end of the high school baseball season.
The Jackals home season ends in August, with 16 games. The playoffs — if the Jackals qualify — would be in September.
“I’m concerned this is going to bump into our football season,” said school board member Vincent Arrington.
Mayor Sayegh:As a revitalized Hinchliffe rises, Paterson readies for baseball's return
Jackals spokesman Reed Keller said he doesn’t expect the school district’s 180 dates will coincide with the independent league team’s schedule. “I suppose it's possible we could reschedule games, but unless we make the playoffs, it shouldn't be an issue,” Keller said.
Paterson Press asked Keller about high school baseball in May and football in August.
“During those times, we control the stadium and its use, so our games would take priority,” he said. “Obviously they are free to request its use during our road trips.”
Federal officials designated Hinchliffe a national landmark because of its status as one of two ballparks still standing that hosted Negro League baseball teams.
After being closed near the end of the 20th century, Hinchliffe, which is owned by the school district, was damaged by fires caused by squatters and deteriorated to the point that trees were growing out of its grandstands.
For years, Paterson officials were unable to find a way to fix the stadium, until the Sayegh administration secured state credits for a $96 million project that also includes senior citizen housing, a 315-space parking garage and a restaurant with museum exhibit space.
Sayegh’s economic development director, Michael Powell, noted that Hinchliffe had been dormant for decades – and not available for use by the school district - until the current reconstruction project.
“It’s all about flexibility,” Powell said. “That’s the reality of working together and finding a way to do catalytic things that weren’t possible before.”
Sayegh pointed to his administration’s spending over the past four years to renovate various recreation facilities in Paterson.
“We’ve invested over $20 million in improving our parks and fields so our youth will always have places to play,” the mayor said.
Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Jackals schedule at Hinchcliff Stadium a concern in Paterson
