Recent
Visits |
Al Lang Field, Tampa Bay
Rays
St.
Pete's Al Lang Field has been in the news a lot
lately, but for the wrong reasons: the Tampa Bay
Rays will train there one last time in 2008 before
shifting spring operations to Charlotte County in
2009, and the old ballpark is slated to be torn
down to make way for a new waterfront home of the
Rays. Now, Al Lang Field isn't the same venue it
was in the 1940s and 1950s when it was a landmark
in spring training, but it's still a great place
to catch a spring-training game. We hope the Rays
catch the spirit of the original Al Lang in their
designs for a new ballpark, For the rest of us, a
trip to Al Lang Field will be a mandatory event in
Spring Training 2008.
Trustmark Park, Mississippi
Braves
There's
nothing wrong with Trustmark Park, the home of the
Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League).
The wraparound concourse, luxury
boxes, big scoreboard and varied concessions are
all standard issue for a new minor-league ballpark
these days. So why aren't we more excited about
the two-year-old ballpark? Because there's nothing
unique about it: except for a few Southern menu
items at the concessions, there's nothing to link
the ballpark to its surroundings. At a Mississippi
Braves game, you could be watching a game anywhere
-- and going local is one of the great joys of the
minor leagues. Dustin Mattison reports.
Alliance Bank Stadium,
Syracuse Chiefs
The
biggest news at Alliance Bank Stadium, the home of
the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International
League): the current artificial turf will be
replaced by real grass. That's good news for
Syracuse baseball fans in terms of aesthetics, as
well as players who need to field on an old,
sometimes unpredictable surface. Otherwise,
Alliance Bank Stadium is a perfectly serviceable
ballpark: the Chiefs front office does things the
old-fashioned way (i.e., not much in terms of
between-innings shenanigans), but the ballpark is
a comfortable place to watch a game, and the food
is pretty good. Steve Kapsinow reports.
|
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The
Fine Print |
Obligatory legal information:
This site is copyright 1998-2007 Kevin Reichard/August
Publications. All rights
reserved. My wife is a lawyer, so she will come and chop off
your hand in a legal fashion if you rip off this site
in any form. All logos are the property of their respective
owners. |
Broadcasts |
Virtually every MiLB team now streams broadcasts over the
Internet, which makes it easy to follow your favorite team when
you're on the road. In addition, you can catch MLB game broadcasts at
MLB.com or via XM Radio.
More
on Internet radio and TV broadcasts here! |
|
Archives: Oct.
22-28, 2007
Nashua Pride to return in 2008
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In
a somewhat surprising move, owner John Stabile announced the Nashua Pride
(independent; Can-Am Association) would be returning for the 2008 season.
Although the team ultimately fell short of its goal of selling 830 season
tickets, the 2007 Can-Am League Champions will enter the 2008 season with the
largest season ticket base in team history, with over 500 season tickets sold.
"The people of Nashua responded. We’re getting near the number that we’re
looking for," Stabile said. "This will translate to my sponsors and advertisers
that there are going to be people in the seats. With the outstanding support the
Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce has shown, we should be able to increase
sponsorships as well." No word on how the sale of
$800,000 in limited partnerships is going.
RELATED STORIES:
Pride announces
season-ticket drive; Hobson's future in doubt;
Pride looks ahead;
Pride to return in 2008 -- maybe
Cordaro claims a role in minor-league turnaround
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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And
some people outsider wonder why professional baseball hates having public
ownership of teams: beside the obvious issue of not wanting to make financial
data public, dissuading public ownership of teams also means politicians can't
get involved with running ballparks. After years of watching the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Phillies (Class AAA; International League) struggle under
public ownership, the fortunes of the franchise changed considerably this
offseason under private management. A press conference yesterday -- ginned up
purely for political reasons as county commissioner elections loom on the
horizon -- showed why politicians shouldn't be allowed near the front office.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro raised eyebrows when he claimed
at least partial credit for the New York Yankees’ highly publicized recommitment
to minor league player development. "As many of you remember, Columbus was a
team, the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate prior to coming here, that was
mired in last place for a number of years," Cordaro said. "One of the steps that
Commissioner [A.J.] Munchak and I and the Stadium Authority board asked the
Yankees to take was to work through their minor league system and to revitalize
it. They have done so, from top to bottom." Now, we're pretty confident the
Yankees were committed to a revitalization of the farm system before they
shifted their Triple-A affiliation to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and we're more than
a little skeptical the Yankees front office is taking marching orders from a
Lackawanna County commissioner. Ironically, Cordaro's shenanigans overshadowed
the bigger news of the day: the new management deal yielded $1.5 million in
profits, split between Mandalay Sports, the Yankees and the stadium authority.
More from Chad Jennings and the
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.
RELATED STORIES:
Is PNC Field debt-free?
Sides disagree;
Commissioners postpone decision on baseball suit;
Yankees set to break attendance record;
Law firms hired in Yankees flap;
Mandalay eyes expansion;
Value of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees questioned;
Sale of Harrisburg franchise raises questions
about Yanks;
Luzerne County
officials finally out of the bullpen;
County rejects Triple-A agreement;
Potential sale of SWB Yankees approved;
Luzerne County explores options on baseball deals;
Blaum wants 1986 ballpark contract honored;
Potential sale of the SWB Yankees approved;
Lackawanna
County minority commissioner wants stadium authority to pay off county;
Yanks filling seats in Moosic;
Once again, it’s all
about the Yankees;
New for 2007: PNC Field;
Work on Lackawanna County
Stadium progresses;
New for 2007: the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees;
End of Astroturf at Lackawanna County Stadium;
Here to stay, keep baseball fifty-fifty;
Red Barons will stay, Mandalay vows;
Moosic councilman presses county on amusement tax;
New grass field, fixing leaks are ballpark
priorities;
Hard-nosed Mandalay known for investments in
minor-league teams;
Will Moosic get a new ballpark?;
Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, California management
firm heading to Moosic;
Mets representatives expected to tour Lackawanna
County Stadium today;
Proposal would combine front offices of Barons and
Pens;
It's official: Yankees leaving Columbus; move to
Scranton a done deal?;
Authority will consider giving Cordaro power;
Yankees to SWB?
DuPuy: Marlins ballpark top priority
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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MLB
COO Robert DuPuy says a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins continues to be a
top priority for baseball, as he works the phones to put together a deal. He
didn't provide many specifics of his discussions with Miami-Dade County and the
Marlins -- which isn't a surprise -- but the real issues seem to center around
the price of a new retractable-roof facility on the Orange Bowl grounds and
whether it can be ready for 2011. (Not under consideration: an open-air
ballpark.) With a price tag, it can then be determined how much is expected out
of the Fish. Again, this isn't close to a done deal.
RELATED STORIES:
Ho hum: Marlins hand
county yet another ballpark deadline;
Marlins may get $50
million for new ballpark;
DuPuy meets with
Crist about new Fish ballpark, says MLB will make use of Dodgertown;
Marlins about to
bring ballpark deal in from the bullpen;
Selig receptive to Orange Bowl site for new
Marlins ballpark;
UM exit from Orange Bowl paves way for new Marlins
ballpark;
Selig: Relocation an option if ballpark issue not
settled;
University of Miami might leave Orange Bowl by '08;
Is there room for Marlins in South Florida?;
Moss to seek changes in Marlins' name, spring
training;
Marlins' reaction to no state funding of ballpark:
muted;
State funding for Marlins ballpark dies when
session ends;
Senate leader: no deal with slots, Marlins
ballpark;
Slots, Marlins ballpark financing in tax-bill mix;
Vote on Marlins ballpark financing again comes
late in legislative session;
New Marlins ballpark
bill likely to strike out;
State House endorses $60 million for Marlins
ballpark in Miami;
Marlins' pitch for ballpark cash apt to fall short;
Dade lawmaker unsure about Marlins subsidy;
Miami officials offended at Loria's insistence on
downtown ballpark
Griffith: No return of Edmonton franchise fee
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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As
expected, the owners of the Edmonton Cracker-Cats yesterday announced the team
would be joining the independent Golden Baseball League and discussed a possible
lawsuit over the return of expansion fees paid to the independent Northern
League, Fine, says Northern League commissioner Clark Griffith: we'll return the
expansion fees in exchange for the team's player contracts, the stadium lease
and territorial rights. Since that's not going to happen, we're back to
discussing whether Calgary and Edmonton will have a legal basis to recover their
original expansion fees. If the teams were pushed from the league because of
arbitrary actions (i,e., letters of credit not demanded of every team), they
will have a case. If the letters of credit were demanded because of concern over
the team's futures -- as Griffith says -- then the case is much weaker. By the
way, the six-team Northern League released its 2008 schedule; as you might
expect, certain teams will get to know one another fairly intimately. For
example, Kansas City will play Schaumburg 22 times.
We discuss the Golden
Baseball League's move into Western Canada in this week's podcast.
More from the Edmonton Sun.
RELATED STORIES:
Calgary
announces move to GBL, vows lawsuit against Northern League;
Calgary to join Golden
Baseball League; Edmonton to announce same tomorrow;
Vipers,
Cracker-Cats officially leave Northern League
Golden Baseball League realigns
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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Speaking
of the independent Golden Baseball League: With the addition of Calgary and
Edmonton the league will be realigning, with Calgary, Edmonton, Reno and Chico
in the North Division and Orange County, Long Beach, Yuma and St. George in the
South Division. Lost in all the excitement about the addition of Calgary and
Edmonton and the possible further expansion in Canada is the future of the Reno
Silver Sox. The Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are moving
to a new downtown ballpark in 2009, which would seem to preclude the GBL staying
in the market. GBL officials say they'll wait until the PCL comes to town to
decide on the future of the Silver Sox, but one possible future move is to
Western Nevada College's Harvey Field in Carson City.
Grasshoppers expanding First Horizon
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Nothing
like three years of record-breaking crowds to make a team happy. The Greensboro
Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) are expanding the suite level at First
Horizon Park. The development will create space for two additional open-air
party decks, giving the ballpark a total of three. "This is a significant
investment on the part of our ownership and demonstrates their continued
commitment to the guest experience at First Horizon Park," said Grasshoppers
President and General Manager Donald Moore.
The original Yes! Weekly Party Deck, which was occupied every
home game of the 2005 and 2006 season, was created to offer a unique option for
groups entertaining 35-75 guests. The expansion will be managed by Lomax
Construction of Greensboro and is scheduled to be completed by early March. This
is the second major improvement to the park in its short, three-year history. At
the conclusion of the inaugural season the team redesigned Natty’s Hill, the
grass berm in left field, to enhance the view of the playing field, as well as
the seating comfort and capacity.
More from the Greensboro News & Record.
MLB finalizing games in China, Japan
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MLB.com
is reporting that MLB is close to announcing spring-training games in China and
an opening series in Japan that would fall squarely in traditional
spring-training season. A pair of exhibition games at the Olympic venue in China
are tentatively slated for the weekend of March 14-15, with the season-opening
two-game series at Tokyo Dome on March 22-23. No word on what teams would be
involved, although we expect San Diego, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston
Red Sox to be involved. MLB.com is also reporting several games in the annual
preseason Freeway Series against the Angels may be staged at the
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
(honoring the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles, we assume)
but those
games don't show up on the spring schedule released the other day by the Angels.
JetHawks unveil new logo, identity
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The
Lancaster JetHawks (High Class A; California League) introduced its new team
identity system during an open house World Series party at Clear Channel
Stadium. The new identity represents the first change to the team’s logos and
color scheme since prior to the 2001 season. The new primary logo pays tribute
to the Antelope Valley’s rich tradition of aerospace and military history while
providing a sleek, updated image for the 13-year-old franchise. The primary
colors will be navy blue, brick red, tan and cool gray. The primary logo
features a statue-like hawk’s head displayed between two military-style wings
underneath the words "Lancaster JetHawks" and over two crossed baseball bats and
centered baseball.
"We are proud to begin a new chapter in JetHawks history with
the introduction of this team identity," explained JetHawks General Manager Brad
Seymour. "We feel the new logo and color scheme provide us not only with a great
updated image that will be popular in our community, but it also honors the
local history by which our team is named for."
The new identity was developed by Louisville, Kentucky-based
Studio Simon, the sports branding firm also responsible for the previous two
versions of the club's logos in 1996 and 2001.
This PDF
contains all the new logos, uniform designs and more.
More from the Antelope Valley
Press.
Save Rosenblatt Committee wants representative on mayor's ballpark committee
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The
Save Rosenblatt Committee wants a representative on Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey's
ballpark review committee and hopes the City Council will secure a seat at the
table for the group. The council will consider a nonbinding resolution Tuesday
requesting that Fahey appoint Save Rosenblatt member Jason Smith to the ballpark
review committee. The resolution is being sponsored by Councilman Garry Gernandt,
who is a Save Rosenblatt member, and Councilman Jim Suttle. Fahey's deputy chief
of staff, Don Thorson, said the mayor doesn't plan to make any changes to the
ballpark review committee, even if the council resolution passes.
RELATED STORIES:
NCAA's feelers out
for CWS sites;
Omaha mayor's public
pitch for ballpark begins;
More options
introduced for new home of College World Series;
Skeptics of Omaha
ballpark proposal look for return on funding;
Public to have say on
Omaha ballpark proposal;
Omaha restaurant
owners vow opposition to ballpark tax;
Omaha mayor unveils
$117-million ballpark plan;
Rosenblatt group
sends petitions to NCAA;
Omaha and the CWS: City
bids for 20-year deal;
Omaha Royals support
plan for new ballpark;
NCAA ties College World
Series to new ballpark;
Today's video:
Kevin Costner: Save Rosenblatt Stadium;
Costner: Save
Rosenblatt Stadium;
New downtown Omaha ballpark would be near Qwest;
Rosenblatt fans try to draft Costner;
Rosenblatt demolition among Omaha ballpark
suggestions;
Royals president says two baseball facilities can
work;
Petition drive aims to save Rosenblatt;
Could Indy someday be host for CWS?;
New Omaha ballpark could feature other pastimes;
Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed
downtown ballpark;
Plan B: Fix up Rosenblatt;
Omaha wants at least 10-year CWS extension before
ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Kasten: Parking no problem
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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This
sort of thing frequently happens when a sports team moves from a facility with
acres of parking to a more urban locale, so we're not surprised to see
disagreements over the extent of parking at the new Washington Nationals
ballpark. Team president Stan Kasten says there will be plenty of parking in the
area, and to make sure things go smoothly the team wants to arrange parking at
RFK Stadium. D.C. officials say an agreement isn't finalized, but it's in
everyone's self interests to make a deal happen.
RELATED STORIES:
Nationals make
effort to address parking woes at new ballpark;
On deck: Playing field for
new Nats ballpark;
Goals unmet on ballpark
construction jobs for D.C. workers;
RFK is full of concrete
memories;
Nationals choose
Centerplate to manage concessions at new ballpark;
Lessons for the
Lerners: what to steal from other ballparks;
Nats ballpark to have extensive seating for
wheelchairs;
Metro, District and Nationals talking possible
'ballpark fare';
Signing off on the last beam;
Top price for ducats at new Nats ballpark: $400;
Nationals' transition extends off field;
National crisis: Capital franchise in turmoil;
Ballpark brings hope but no guarantee;
Nationals
ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening;
Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
District not over park cap;
New Nats ballpark to feature cherry blossoms
beyond left-field fence;
As ballpark rises, battles over land continue;
For Nats' home, a rapid ascent;
Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say;
Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
With new Nats ballpark, name of the game is money;
D.C. Council approves ballpark parking garages;
The D.C. ballpark parking debate;
Severe penalties await city if parking garages
aren't provided, Gandhi warns;
Ballpark garages proposal rejected;
Fenty promotes aboveground parking to end fight
over new Nats ballpark;
New Nats ballpark construction on schedule for
2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
ballpark;
Mayor proposes lifting cap for DC ballpark parking;
DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
country;
Legislation would revive condo and garage
development at new DC ballpark;
New focus at D.C. ballpark: parking;
D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Commerce City warming up if Brighton voters don't play ball
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Commerce
City officials say they might go ahead with a ballot initiative to fund a new
ballpark if a November referendum in Brighton fails to approve a hike in the
city's sales tax to pay for a new ballpark for an independent American
Association team. Brighton and Castle Rock were targeted as locations of new
ballparks in Denver area; we've not heard of much serious opposition to the
Brighton ballot measure.
RELATED STORIES:
Ballpark tax on
Brighton ballot;
Commerce City
council advocates caution on new ballpark;
Brighton settles
on site for proposed ballpark;
Brighton council
approves ballot measure;
Residents will be asked to help fund minor-league
ballpark;
Brighton, Castle Rock join in baseball team search;
Baseball cost: fair or foul?;
Investors pitch baseball idea for The Ranch;
Commissioners back study of ballpark at The Ranch;
Another baseball contender in Fort Collins: the
American Association;
Ballpark battle beginning in Fort Collins?;
Foxes still seeking location for their new 'Den';
Minor-league baseball for Castle Rock, Col.?
Fenway eatery on the menu
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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Once
the final out of the 2007 World Series is in the scorebook, Boston workers will
begin a number of remodeling tasks at Fenway Park,
including the construction of a year-round field-level restaurant tucked into
the some 4,000 square feet of vacant space under the center-field bleachers. The
project, dubbed "The Bleacher Bar" restaurant, is expected to be finished for a
March 2008 opening, and stands to be the most talked-about change in the
evolving and beloved Back Bay architectural icon. According to staff architect
Janet Marie Smith, the grand overseer of sprucing up
Fenway Park, the restaurant will inhabit the space behind the huge garage
door in center field and will allow patrons (approximately 150 maximum) to sit
at dining tables and peer out to the field. No word on whether the door will
actually be open during a game. New bleachers are on the agenda as well.
White likes the Naturals view
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Frank
White stood where home plate will be at Arvest Ballpark, the new home of the
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Class AA; Texas League) looked out to the outfield
and was immediately impressed with the $33-million park that is currently under
construction. White was in town Wednesday to tour the home of the Northwest
Arkansas Naturals and to attend a World Series watch party for season ticket
holders of the Naturals. He sounded pretty impressed with the new ballpark.
Thunder mark 15th season with commemorative logo
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League) released the team’s complete 2008
schedule as well as a new logo commemorating the 15th Season of Trenton Thunder
baseball on Thursday. The 15th Season logo features Waterfront Park’s signature
cupola and brick façade that adorn the stadium’s picturesque front. The 15th
Season logo was designed by Studio Simon, the same designers who worked with the
Thunder to create the new primary logo, alternate logo and word marks that were
unveiled last August. The 2008 season begins on April 3 in Binghamton, NY as the
Thunder will face the Binghamton Mets.
Charlotte 49ers ballpark dedication a roaring success
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The
Charlotte 49ers officially dedicated their brand new $5.9 million baseball
facility, which includes concession stands, ticket windows, onsite restrooms, a
spacious press box, hospitality suites, radio and TV booths, improved dugouts
and bullpens and seating for over 1,100 fans in two levels of seating. The
playing surface, Tom and Lib Phillips Field, remains relatively unchanged, but
the amenities now available to the student-athletes and fans have given the
program a first-class feel. Loren Hibbs, who has coached the 49ers for 15 years,
said he often dreamed of this time and thanked current and former coaches and
players as well as the many donors for their part in making the facility a
reality. A crowd of nearly 300 friends of the program, faculty and staff as well
as former players, parents and fans all got a chance to take part in touring the
facility.
Ole Miss to begin ballpark expansion
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Work
will begin immediately on expanding the Ole Miss ballpark after bids were
approved today, the school announced. Panola Construction Company of Batesville
was awarded the project after making a low bid of $13.9 million. The expansion
will double the chair-back seating capacity at Oxford-University Stadium to
6,000 seats, including 880 seats in the club level. The expected completion date
is February of 2009.
Ballpark Notes
Posted Oct. 25, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class A; Sally League) announced the hiring of
four new employees on the club’s front-office staff: Lavon Alls is the
new Director Community Relations; Michael Petrini is the new Sales
Manager; Will Lindsay is the new Food and Beverage Director; and
Michael DeNicola is the new Assistant Food and Beverage Director....The
front-office staff and grounds crew of the Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA;
Eastern League) will spend today granting the wish of an eight year-old boy
through the Make-A-Wish Foundation by building a baseball field in his
backyard. Eight-year-old Ben has wished to have a baseball field in his
backyard, and although his yard isn't big enough for a regulation field, it's
spacious enough for a "mini" regulation park complete with a Green Monster
fence. Ben has Histiocytosis (a rare blood disease) which has qualified him to
receive a wish from the Make-A- Wish Foundation, but he fights to not let his
illness slow him down....Washington Wild Things (independent; Frontier
League) General Manager Ross Vecchio has been selected to receive the
Italian Heritage Society of America’s Medallion of Honor as the
Italian-American Sports Celebrity of the Year in Pittsburgh. Vecchio is
being honored for the quality of excellence, leadership, and compassion he has
achieved as a person of Italian origin....The Los Angeles Dodgers
announced that they have promoted De Jon Watson to assistant general
manager, player development and Todd Tomczyk to assistant athletic
trainer....In a somewhat surprising move, Andy Etchebarren, who had
coached or managed in the Baltimore Orioles organization for the past 14
seasons after a successful playing career with the club, has been relieved of
his duties as manager of the Aberdeen IronBirds (short season; NY-Penn
League)....Brady Bogart is the new manager of the Amarillo Dillas
(independent; United League Baseball)....The Potomac Nationals (High
Class A; Carolina League) announced changes to the front-office staff for the
upcoming 2008 season. Returning for his third year with the P-Nats as the team’s
new senior vice president is Bobby Holland. Holland joined the team prior
to the 2006 season and served as its vice president and general manager for the
past two seasons. Jonathan Griffith, who served as the club’s assistant
general manager, corporate sales during the 2007 season, has been promoted to
general manager. Griffith becomes the sixth general manager since Art Silber
took over the team in 1989. Anthony Oppermann, who spent 2007 as
Potomac’s director of broadcasting and media relations, has been promoted to
assistant general manager, marketing and media. The 24-year-old becomes one of
the youngest AGMs in professional baseball and one of the few to also serve as a
team’s lead play-by-play voice. John Legacy returns for this third season
with the Potomac Nationals and has been promoted to director of group sales.
Doug McConnell returns for his second season as the team’s director of
ticket operations. Andrew Stinson has been hired to serve as a group
sales account executive working in the ticket sales department. Carter
Buschman will return along with Ryan Johnston to lead the team’s
operations department. Buschman will once again serve as the director of stadium
operations while Johnston again will serve as assistant director of stadium
operations. Jim Johnson returns as the team’s director of food services.
He previously worked with Ogden Entertainment.
Barons release new logo, uniforms
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) today unveiled new team logos and
uniforms in preparation for the 2008 season at Regions Park. The changes mark
the first significant alterations to the team’s logos and on-field uniforms
since 1993.
Since moving to Hoover prior to the 1988 season, the
Birmingham Barons have been associated with a traditional script logo. The club
featured red accents in their uniforms until 1992, since then the Barons have
been identified by their black, white, and silver color scheme. In anticipation
of the team’s 21st season in Hoover in 2008, and following a series of extensive
improvements to Regions Park, the organization commissioned an overhaul of the
logo and uniforms that had been a staple of one of the most celebrated and
historic franchises in all of Minor League Baseball.
"We have made every effort to honor our past, while modernizing and energizing
the Barons brand as we move into the future," said General Manager Jonathan
Nelson. "The addition of red in our color scheme is a nod to the Barons’
uniforms of the 1980’s and early 1990’s, while our new, gray, road uniforms are
strikingly similar to those of the Birmingham Black Barons, a uniform we also
wore at the Rickwood Classic in 1999."
This marks the first new uniform for the Barons since 1993,
and the first adjustment to the club’s primary logo since 1988. The new, red,
alternate jersey marks the first time since 1992 that the Barons have used a
color other than black, white, or silver as a primary jersey color. The Barons
will don their new uniforms for the first time when they open the 2008 season.
This week's podcast:
Frustrations abound in Oakland, Portland and
Colorado
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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On
this week's Ballpark Digest podcast: Lew Wolff is
frustrated by the slow pace of the Oakland A's
ballpark development; Rockies fans are frustrated
by ticketing snafus; loyal fans are frustrated by
the move of team broadcasts up and down the dial;
the Portland Beavers may be frustrated by Major
League Soccer, and NBC is frustrated in competing
with MLB. Publisher
Kevin Reichard and Senior Editor Dave Wright
discuss the hot topics in the baseball and
ballpark worlds in the weekly Ballpark Digest
podcast. To directly
subscribe to the feed using Firefox or Internet
Explorer,
go to this page and click on the "Subscribe Now"
button. You
can listen directly to the podcast on your own PC
via this link
(it's a standard MP3 file), or
you can subscribe
via iTunes, Feedburner or your personalized Google
home
page. (We're finding out from the stats that
subscribing via Google is proving to be a very
popular option.)
Comments are welcome.
More information on Ballpark Digest podcasts here.
Yankees to extend PDC
in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners is holding a press conference today to
announce the extension of PDC between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class
AAA; International League with the New York Yankees to 2010. This isn't actually
anything new -- the two teams were already committed to a
partnership through 2010 -- but this will be the formal announcement. (You can read the
latest on the affiliation front here.) Perhaps the more important news
coming out of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre concerned the fireworks at the Lackawanna
County Commissioners’ meeting, where those opposed to a sale of the SWB Yankees
to Mandalay Sports Entertainment once again brought up a plan where the team
would be owned by a local nonprofit, with the New York Yankees retaining a 1
percent share and receiving all the profits after stadium lease obligations were
met. It sounds like a wacky plan; when it was first presented there was no
response from the New York Yankees or Mandalay Sports Entertainment. The concern
is that the SWB Yankees could be moved, but we don't think anyone is eager to
move the team after the success experienced this season.
RELATED STORIES:
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Sides disagree;
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Mandalay eyes expansion;
Value of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees questioned;
Sale of Harrisburg franchise raises questions
about Yanks;
Luzerne County
officials finally out of the bullpen;
County rejects Triple-A agreement;
Potential sale of SWB Yankees approved;
Luzerne County explores options on baseball deals;
Blaum wants 1986 ballpark contract honored;
Potential sale of the SWB Yankees approved;
Lackawanna
County minority commissioner wants stadium authority to pay off county;
Yanks filling seats in Moosic;
Once again, it’s all
about the Yankees;
New for 2007: PNC Field;
Work on Lackawanna County
Stadium progresses;
New for 2007: the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees;
End of Astroturf at Lackawanna County Stadium;
Here to stay, keep baseball fifty-fifty;
Red Barons will stay, Mandalay vows;
Moosic councilman presses county on amusement tax;
New grass field, fixing leaks are ballpark
priorities;
Hard-nosed Mandalay known for investments in
minor-league teams;
Will Moosic get a new ballpark?;
Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, California management
firm heading to Moosic;
Mets representatives expected to tour Lackawanna
County Stadium today;
Proposal would combine front offices of Barons and
Pens;
It's official: Yankees leaving Columbus; move to
Scranton a done deal?;
Authority will consider giving Cordaro power;
Yankees to SWB?
Calgary
announces move to GBL, vows lawsuit against Northern League
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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Jeff
Gidney, the owner of the Calgary Vipers, officially announced the move of his
team to the independent Golden Baseball League and vowed a lawsuit against the
team's former circuit, the independent Northern League, over $800,000 in initial
expansion fees. (The Edmonton Cracker-Cats will announce today they they, too,
will be joining the GBL.) Gidney's beef: that the Northern League asked for
$500,000 in letters of credit this offseason. While league bylaws do provide for
expansion teams requiring letters of credit, it's not clear whether the league
can unilaterally demand them of two teams and not all the teams after a certain
point. (Indeed, if Commissioner Clark Griffith were to demand $500,000 letters
from credit from all the teams in his league, we're guessing at least two -- and
probably three -- teams could not do so.) The question is whether the Alberta
teams jumped or if they were pushed. Golden League officials are expected to
meet with officials in Kamloops, B.C., and Saskatoon later this week to discuss
further expansion for 2007, while Regina and Victoria have also come up as
possible expansion cities. We discuss the Golden
Baseball League's move into Western Canada in this week's podcast.
RELATED STORIES:
Calgary to join Golden
Baseball League; Edmonton to announce same tomorrow;
Vipers,
Cracker-Cats officially leave Northern League
Nationals make effort to address parking woes at new ballpark
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Washington Nationals announced that all season ticket holders will be offered
parking for games at the new ballpark. Fans purchasing season ticket packages,
including full season, half season and partial game plans, will be able to
purchase parking in the area surrounding Nationals Park. Available surface
parking spaces and/or garages are currently being designated, and the process is
an ongoing one. For fans without season tickets that choose to drive to
Nationals Park, or season ticket holders who choose not to purchase parking,
there will be free parking at RFK Stadium with a
free roundtrip shuttle service to the games.
More from the Washington Post, which is reporting that
city officials haven't yet signed off on the deal.
RELATED STORIES:
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new Nats ballpark;
Goals unmet on ballpark
construction jobs for D.C. workers;
RFK is full of concrete
memories;
Nationals choose
Centerplate to manage concessions at new ballpark;
Lessons for the
Lerners: what to steal from other ballparks;
Nats ballpark to have extensive seating for
wheelchairs;
Metro, District and Nationals talking possible
'ballpark fare';
Signing off on the last beam;
Top price for ducats at new Nats ballpark: $400;
Nationals' transition extends off field;
National crisis: Capital franchise in turmoil;
Ballpark brings hope but no guarantee;
Nationals
ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening;
Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
District not over park cap;
New Nats ballpark to feature cherry blossoms
beyond left-field fence;
As ballpark rises, battles over land continue;
For Nats' home, a rapid ascent;
Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say;
Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
With new Nats ballpark, name of the game is money;
D.C. Council approves ballpark parking garages;
The D.C. ballpark parking debate;
Severe penalties await city if parking garages
aren't provided, Gandhi warns;
Ballpark garages proposal rejected;
Fenty promotes aboveground parking to end fight
over new Nats ballpark;
New Nats ballpark construction on schedule for
2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
ballpark;
Mayor proposes lifting cap for DC ballpark parking;
DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
country;
Legislation would revive condo and garage
development at new DC ballpark;
New focus at D.C. ballpark: parking;
D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Huntley on deck for new ballclub?
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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If
Crystal Lake rejects a proposed to bring an independent Frontier League team to
McHenry County College, the nearby village of Huntley says it has plenty of land
for a new ballpark. The deal between investors and MCC was a fairly unique one,
calling for the team to commit to $250,000 in yearly lease payments plus a
percentage of the revenues. Huntley is a rather small village -- the 2000
population tally was 5,730, but the 2006 population estimate was 20,047 -- and
part of the appeal to the MCC plan was that the college could finance the new
ballpark. We're not sure Huntley is in a position to take on $9 million or so in
debt for a new ballpark.
More on the MCC
expansion from the Chicago Daily Herald.
RELATED STORIES:
MCC expansion plan
worth second look;
Crystal Lake Council
bats down MCC expansion;
Executives go to
bat for plan;
Ballpark
opposition organizes in Crystal Lake;
Will Crystal Lake
let MCC play ball?;
Building a ballpark
tests a community;
Crystal Lake rejects MCC expansion plan, new
ballpark;
Crystal Lake wants outside opinion on ballpark;
Crystal Lake bats around ballpark;
Major boom for minor-league ball;
McHenry County College, Frontier League close to
agreement for new ballpark;
McHenry County pulls off a double play;
MCC ballpark for
Frontier League gets OK;
McHenry to vote on new ballpark; private group looks at area facility;
Plans for minor league team 'moving in right
direction'
Coors, Fenway are ballparks that challenge
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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Both
the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies were adept this season at
maintaining home-field advantage, thanks to the many quirks found at
Fenway Park and
Coors Field. Fenway Park is a place that
rewards veterans who understand the many odd angles in the outfield, while the
spacious outfield at Coors Field is best
navigated by young legs.
Ho hum: Marlins hand county yet another ballpark deadline
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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Miami-Dade
County officials say they need to wrap up negotiations with the Florida Marlins
over a new ballpark at the Orange Bowl site within the next couple of weeks, but
the feeling here is that this is yet another false deadline in a long line of
false deadlines. Indeed, the history of the Marlins' efforts to build a new
ballpark should teach us that setting a deadline is really a waste of time. No,
the Miami Dolphins are not going to kick the Fish out of Dolphin Stadium, and
we've heard the two sides aren't as close on the specifics of a financial deal
as they were at the beginning of the year. For all you Marlins fans who wrote in
the last few weeks and took us to task for not declaring this a done deal: it's
not over until it's over.
RELATED STORIES:
Marlins may get $50
million for new ballpark;
DuPuy meets with
Crist about new Fish ballpark, says MLB will make use of Dodgertown;
Marlins about to
bring ballpark deal in from the bullpen;
Selig receptive to Orange Bowl site for new
Marlins ballpark;
UM exit from Orange Bowl paves way for new Marlins
ballpark;
Selig: Relocation an option if ballpark issue not
settled;
University of Miami might leave Orange Bowl by '08;
Is there room for Marlins in South Florida?;
Moss to seek changes in Marlins' name, spring
training;
Marlins' reaction to no state funding of ballpark:
muted;
State funding for Marlins ballpark dies when
session ends;
Senate leader: no deal with slots, Marlins
ballpark;
Slots, Marlins ballpark financing in tax-bill mix;
Vote on Marlins ballpark financing again comes
late in legislative session;
New Marlins ballpark
bill likely to strike out;
State House endorses $60 million for Marlins
ballpark in Miami;
Marlins' pitch for ballpark cash apt to fall short;
Dade lawmaker unsure about Marlins subsidy;
Miami officials offended at Loria's insistence on
downtown ballpark;
Loria is pining for a downtown ballpark;
Marlins ballpark funding decision has ways to go;
Door closed on use of Miami CRA funds for ballpark;
Marlins
ballpark funding bills advance;
Regalado: CRA money shouldn't be dangled in
Marlins ballpark talks;
New Marlins ballpark in a squeeze play;
Miami backs county on plan for new Marlins park at
Orange Bowl;
Orange Bowl reemerges as site of Marlins ballpark;
County unveils
Marlins financing plan;
Marlins ballpark funding at first base;
Charlie Crist's just not batting 1.000;
Florida legislative leaders back tax help for
sports;
Governor boosts ballpark funding formula;
CRA board members: Look somewhere else for
ballpark funds;
Marlins ballpark plan only latest of projects
seeking CRA funds;
Glitzy plans often pushed with funds for renewal;
Agency head says city hasn't sought permission for
ballpark deal;
Crist backs state funding of new Marlins ballpark;
Officials optimistic of finalizing Marlins
ballpark deal in downtown Miami;
DuPuy: Progress being made on new downtown Miami
ballpark;
Dade leaders pitch 'urban' ballpark for Marlins;
New downtown Miami site explored for proposed
Marlins ballpark;
MLB official hopes Crist can pave way for new
Marlins ballpark;
Focus in Miami turns to new ballpark for Marlins;
Marlins ballpark chances at Pompano considered a
long shot;
Pompano Park pitched as location for new Marlins
ballpark;
Marlins, Loria at crossroads with uncertain future;
Orange County commissioner pushing for Marlins;
Miami Arena owner sues to stop sale;
Buyers sue Miami Arena owner;
Deadline looms over proposal for Marlins ballpark
in downtown Miami;
Marlins officials tight-lipped on downtown Miami
ballpark proposal;
MLB ready to move on downtown Miami ballpark;
Delay in solving cloud over Marlins' future has to
end;
Selig: Marlins need a new ballpark;
DuPuy, local officials discuss new Marlins
ballpark again;
Marlins ballpark suffers setback;
DuPuy meets with Marlins officials about new
ballpark;
Hialeah ballpark plan hinges on financial
feasibility;
Marlins to San Antonio: No thanks;
Hialeah mayor upbeat on prospects of new Marlins
ballpark;
San Antonio, Marlins end courtship for now;
Tough times for Marlins and their fans;
Marlins players adjust to the empty seats
You've gotta have faith? Colorado Rockies at play in the fields of the Lord
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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This
is a story that will get a lot of attention in the next two weeks: the Colorado
Rockies are a team built around "character," and for many (but not all) that
means Christianity. In a postgame interview after the Rockies won a one-game
playoff against the San Diego Padres to earn a wild-card ticket to the playoffs,
star hitter Matt Holliday thanked God for the victory and the blessings of the
season. When the interview was posted on the Major League Baseball Web site,
however, the mention of God was gone. "We try to present what the players are
saying in the clearest and most concise way possible for the fans," Matthew
Gould, spokesman for MLB.com, said of the excised references to God. "Space on
the Web site is limited." Space on MLB.com is limited? The servers don't have
enough space for 20 seconds or so of audio? That's a pretty weaselly thing to
say. We really don't care if Todd Helton wears a cross or if the Rockies are the
only team in the major to employ a chaplain.
Baseball fans weigh in on pitch for new A's park
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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If
the Oakland A's move to Cisco Field and
become the A's of Fremont, will their loyal Oakland fan base make the move
south? We're not sure they will, and we're not entirely sure the A's really
care. The whole point of moving to Fremont is attracting a more affluent fan
base in San Jose and the Silicon Valley; if the current A's ownership was really
concerns about catering to the current fans they wouldn't have a picked a
ballpark site so inconvenient for an Oakland resident. That's just the sad
truth: it's just business.
Ray Ratto opines.
RELATED STORIES:
Staying in Oakland out
of the question for Athletics;
Oakland's dream
ballpark, or traffic nightmare?;
Fremont not ready to
declare proposed A's 'baseball village' utopia;
A's revised plan for ballpark village gets warmer
reception;
A's ballpark village
plan moves school away from the landfill;
Preview of Oakland ballpark plan isn't a home run;
Ex-mayor: Ballpark still makes no sense;
A's ready to make noise and not just ballpark
construction;
A's ballpark vision takes shape;
Wolff takes hands-on approach to A's Fremont
ballpark;
A's Wolff sees new ballpark as super site;
A's sign contracts for land in Fremont to build
new ballpark;
Entitlements key in funding Cisco Field;
Study: A's ballpark worth $109 million to economy;
Toxic hazard
creates bump in road to new A's ballpark;
A's tout Cisco Field in ticket mailer;
Will global warming swamp AT&T Park, new A's
ballpark?;
A's owner not sweating lack of BART at Fremont
ballpark site;
A's owner raises more questions than answers;
Wolff seeks tax rebate for new ballpark village;
Oakland A's owner buys office park near proposed
Fremont ballpark;
Fremont, A's continue talks for new ballpark;
If Selig's coming, A's must be going;
Wolff ready to go public on ballpark;
Cisco blending tech and baseball;
Records show evolving talks between A's, Fremont;
Are the A's worth it to Fremont's neighbors?;
More meetings with A's slated after new year;
Fremont kicks off negotiations with the A's;
A's detail Fremont
plans down to the letter;
San Jose still ponders illusory ballpark;
Transit teams try to solve Cisco Field
'challenges';
A's Fremont ballpark must field host of hurdles;
A's plan $400 million to $500 million ballpark
village in Fremont;
New A's ballpark would boast heavy Cisco tech;
The next big thing: the San Jose A's?;
A's ready to pull trigger on new Fremont ballpark;
Oakland City Council grants A's extension;
A's could move away;
A's owner Wolff buys prospective ballpark land in
Fremont;
Fremont looking more and more like future home of
Oakland A's
Mini stadium proposed for North Chicago site
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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The
North Chicago City Council is considering a a pitch for the redevelopment of
Sheridan Crossing, 40 acres of recently bulldozed commercial and industrial
property at Sheridan Road and Martin Luther King Drive. North Chicago native
Rickey Bulls and McShane Corp. signed a contract with the city two years ago to
redevelop the site. McShane has pulled out of the deal, but Killen, Ala.-based
Bulls Development is pushing ahead, said attorney Sanford Stein. The company is
close to signing a hotel chain for the site and is also exploring the addition
of a "mini" stadium with between 2,000 and 3,000 seats on eight acres. Given the
size, we're guessing it may be more suited for a summer-collegiate team rather
than an independent Frontier or Northern League team.
Ballpark Notes
Posted Oct. 24, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Greensboro Grasshoppers announced the selection of Vice President of
Baseball Operations, Katie Dannemiller, as the 2007 South Atlantic
League Woman of the Year. Dannemiller was presented with the award during
the eighth annual South Atlantic League Awards Luncheon on October 18, in
Asheville. An eleven-year veteran of professional baseball, Katie has spent the
majority of her career working in several capacities with Cleveland Indians
affiliates, including a position with the big league club itself. During her two
seasons in Greensboro, the Hoppers have consistently ranked among the top 25
teams in Minor League Baseball for attendance. Additionally, they were
recipients of the 2006 and 2007 South Atlantic League's Club Merit Award. A nice
award for one of our favorite people in baseball.... The Minnesota Twins
announced the coaching lineup for their minor-league affiliates. Stan Cliburn
will begin his third year as manager of the Rochester Red Wings
(Class AAA; International League); he'll be joined by pitching coach Stuart
Cliburn, coach Riccardo Ingram, roving instructor Rich Miller
and trainer Tony Leo. Bobby Cuellar will begin his first year as
manager of the New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League), after
spending the past two seasons as the Pittsburgh Pirates' bullpen coach. He'll be
joined by pitching coach Steve Mintz, coach Floyd Rayford and
trainer Chad Jackson. Jeff Smith takes the reins of the Ft.
Myers Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League); he'll be joined by
pitching coach Eric Rasmussen, coach Jim Dwyer and trainer
Larry Bennese. Nelson Prada will begin his first year as manager of
the Beloit Snappers (Low Class A; Midwest League). He'll be joined by
pitching coach Gary Lucas, coach Rudy Hernandez and trainer
Alan Rail. Ray Smith returns as manager for the Elizabethton Twins
(rooie; Appalachian League). Jim Shellenback returns as pitching
coach, Jeff Reed returns as a coach, and Ryan Hedwall returns for
his third season as trainer. Jake Mauer will begin his first season as
manager of the rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins and will also run the Twins'
extended Spring Training. Mauer, 28, spent the last two seasons as a coach for
the GCL Twins after playing five seasons in the Twins' Minor League system.
Ivan Arteaga will begin his third season as pitching coach. Milt Cuyler
returns for his sixth season as a coach, specializing in baserunning and
outfield play. Chris Johnson returns for his third season as trainer for
the GCL Twins....The Atlanta Braves announced that the club has signed
two-year contract extensions with three members of its baseball operations
administrative staff. The extensions, which run through the 2009 season, were
announced by Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren,
and include Kurt Kemp, Roy Clark and Johnny Almaraz. Also
signed through 2009 is Bruce Manno, who was named yesterday as the club's
assistant general manager....Mel Stottlemyre is the new pitching coach
for the Seattle Mariners. It's quite the story: he suffers from multiple
myeloma, but doctors cleared him to go back to work....Eddie Dennis has
stepped down as the manager of the Harlingen WhiteWings (independent;
United League Baseball)....The New Hampshire Fisher Cats announced that
Northeast Delta Dental will serve as the title sponsor for the 2008
Eastern League All-Star Game, which will be held on Wednesday, July 16 at
Merchantsauto.com Stadium in Manchester....
Staying in Oakland out of the question for Athletics
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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Oakland
Athletics managing owner Lew Wolff says there's no way his team will stay in
Oakland, even if ambitious plans for a baseball village in nearby Fremont fall
through. The team has no interest in playing in
McAfee Coliseum, and Wolff says there
are no other sites in Oakland that meet the team's needs (i.e., a ballpark
surrounded by lots of development -- the Fremont plans call for a 32,000-seat
ballpark on a 200-acre complex that would include a shopping mall, a hotel and
3,000 housing units). Development of any large project moves slowly, and this is
a pretty complex project when you take into account the inclusion of local
schools and freeway access.
Judging from this
interview Wolff has been frustrated by the slow pace the development has
taken, and he doesn't expect final approval to be announced until a year from
now. So, realistically, 2012 may not even be a firm date when it comes to a new
A's ballpark opening.
More from the San
Jose Mercury News and
the San Francisco Chronicle.
RELATED STORIES:
Oakland's dream
ballpark, or traffic nightmare?;
Fremont not ready to
declare proposed A's 'baseball village' utopia;
A's revised plan for ballpark village gets warmer
reception;
A's ballpark village
plan moves school away from the landfill;
Preview of Oakland ballpark plan isn't a home run;
Ex-mayor: Ballpark still makes no sense;
A's ready to make noise and not just ballpark
construction;
A's ballpark vision takes shape;
Wolff takes hands-on approach to A's Fremont
ballpark;
A's Wolff sees new ballpark as super site;
A's sign contracts for land in Fremont to build
new ballpark;
Entitlements key in funding Cisco Field;
Study: A's ballpark worth $109 million to economy;
Toxic hazard
creates bump in road to new A's ballpark;
A's tout Cisco Field in ticket mailer;
Will global warming swamp AT&T Park, new A's
ballpark?;
A's owner not sweating lack of BART at Fremont
ballpark site;
A's owner raises more questions than answers;
Wolff seeks tax rebate for new ballpark village;
Oakland A's owner buys office park near proposed
Fremont ballpark;
Fremont, A's continue talks for new ballpark;
If Selig's coming, A's must be going;
Wolff ready to go public on ballpark;
Cisco blending tech and baseball;
Records show evolving talks between A's, Fremont;
Are the A's worth it to Fremont's neighbors?;
More meetings with A's slated after new year;
Fremont kicks off negotiations with the A's;
A's detail Fremont
plans down to the letter;
San Jose still ponders illusory ballpark;
Transit teams try to solve Cisco Field
'challenges';
A's Fremont ballpark must field host of hurdles;
A's plan $400 million to $500 million ballpark
village in Fremont;
New A's ballpark would boast heavy Cisco tech;
The next big thing: the San Jose A's?;
A's ready to pull trigger on new Fremont ballpark;
Oakland City Council grants A's extension;
A's could move away;
A's owner Wolff buys prospective ballpark land in
Fremont;
Fremont looking more and more like future home of
Oakland A's
Baseball league makes pitch to Johnstown
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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A
revived independent Atlantic Coast League is making overtures to Johnstown (Pa.)
officials about placing a team in a renovated Point Stadium, according to city
officials. Point Stadium formerly housed affiliated and Frontier League teams;
it was recently remodeled to the tune of $11 million. The Atlantic Coast League
originally debuted in 1995 and folded after three weeks, but Michael Harden says
the new effort will is slated to launch in 2009 with teams in Florida, South
Carolina, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. That's a pretty big footprint for an
independent league, and given that the Frontier League, the South Coast League
and Coastal Plain League are now established entities in the southeast, we're
not so sure there are a lot of good open markets just waiting for baseball.
Johnstown may be one of the few; Spartanburg is another, but we've heard the
South Coast League is interested in placing a team at a renovated
Duncan Park
Stadium.
Calgary to join Golden Baseball League; Edmonton to announce same tomorrow
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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No
surprise. We've confirmed the Calgary Vipers will announce today that the team
is jumping from the independent Northern League to the independent Golden
Baseball League, and the Edmonton Cracker-Cats will do the same tomorrow. The
agreements didn't become final until this week -- despite what some
reporters have written -- and one big factor for the Alberta teams making the
switch was the GBL's willingness to look at additional Canadian markets for
expansion. Kamloops is mentioned in this article, and we'd be surprised if
cities like Regina, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon and Victoria weren't
under consideration as well. Given the strength of the loonie and the generally
good economy in western Canada (thanks to the strong price of oil), teams in
western Canada probably have a good shot at making it if ballpark issues can be
worked out; some of the cities mentioned fielded teams in the rookie Pioneer
League, the short-season Northwest League and the ill-fated Canadian Baseball
League.
RELATED STORIES:
Vipers,
Cracker-Cats officially leave Northern League
NCAA's feelers out for CWS sites
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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The
NCAA has sent out some subtle hints that it will put the College World Series in
play after its agreement with Omaha ends in 2010. Realistically, there aren't
many cities that could handle the event because of the NCAA's specific needs.
Three cities are mentioned in this article -- Indianapolis, Orlando and Oklahoma
City -- but none are a great fit. We'd be surprised if minor-league teams in
Indianapolis and Oklahoma City would readily agree to expanding their ballparks
to over 23,000 (a key NCAA requirement) and dramatically expand clubhouse and
entertaining space; they probably wouldn't be thrilled with the multiweek road
trips while the CWS is played, either. Orlando represents an intriguing choice:
while a 23,000-seat ballpark might sit empty for most of the year (though one
could see it used for spring training and college tourneys), the city probably
doesn't have the money to build it after committing $1.4 billion to a new NBA
arena and other downtown redevelopment. Plus, the NCAA really does like being a
big fish in a midsized pond, and Orlando is an awfully big pond these days when
it comes to tourism. Really, the CWS is Omaha's to lose at this point.
RELATED STORIES:
Omaha mayor's public
pitch for ballpark begins;
More options
introduced for new home of College World Series;
Skeptics of Omaha
ballpark proposal look for return on funding;
Public to have say on
Omaha ballpark proposal;
Omaha restaurant
owners vow opposition to ballpark tax;
Omaha mayor unveils
$117-million ballpark plan;
Rosenblatt group
sends petitions to NCAA;
Omaha and the CWS: City
bids for 20-year deal;
Omaha Royals support
plan for new ballpark;
NCAA ties College World
Series to new ballpark;
Today's video:
Kevin Costner: Save Rosenblatt Stadium;
Costner: Save
Rosenblatt Stadium;
New downtown Omaha ballpark would be near Qwest;
Rosenblatt fans try to draft Costner;
Rosenblatt demolition among Omaha ballpark
suggestions;
Royals president says two baseball facilities can
work;
Petition drive aims to save Rosenblatt;
Could Indy someday be host for CWS?;
New Omaha ballpark could feature other pastimes;
Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed
downtown ballpark;
Plan B: Fix up Rosenblatt;
Omaha wants at least 10-year CWS extension before
ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Ready for business near the ballpark
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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Efforts
to ensure a safe, clean environment around the Washington Nationals' new
ballpark got a kick-start yesterday when the new Capitol Riverfront Business
Improvement District officially began operating. Before a throng of political
and business leaders in an office building overlooking the new stadium in
Southeast, Mayor Adrian Fenty signed an executive order allowing the business
improvement district, or BID, to begin sprucing up the ballpark area, which is
already becoming a hotbed for commercial development along the Anacostia River
waterfront. Local business are paying for the district.
RELATED STORIES:
On deck: Playing field for
new Nats ballpark;
Goals unmet on ballpark
construction jobs for D.C. workers;
RFK is full of concrete
memories;
Nationals choose
Centerplate to manage concessions at new ballpark;
Lessons for the
Lerners: what to steal from other ballparks;
Nats ballpark to have extensive seating for
wheelchairs;
Metro, District and Nationals talking possible
'ballpark fare';
Signing off on the last beam;
Top price for ducats at new Nats ballpark: $400;
Nationals' transition extends off field;
National crisis: Capital franchise in turmoil;
Ballpark brings hope but no guarantee;
Nationals
ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening;
Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
District not over park cap;
New Nats ballpark to feature cherry blossoms
beyond left-field fence;
As ballpark rises, battles over land continue;
For Nats' home, a rapid ascent;
Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say;
Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
With new Nats ballpark, name of the game is money;
D.C. Council approves ballpark parking garages;
The D.C. ballpark parking debate;
Severe penalties await city if parking garages
aren't provided, Gandhi warns;
Ballpark garages proposal rejected;
Fenty promotes aboveground parking to end fight
over new Nats ballpark;
New Nats ballpark construction on schedule for
2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
ballpark;
Mayor proposes lifting cap for DC ballpark parking;
DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
country;
Legislation would revive condo and garage
development at new DC ballpark;
New focus at D.C. ballpark: parking;
D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Can't stop fun at ballpark
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Chicago Sun-Times' Carol Slezak says Major League Baseball is succeeding despite
itself and the no-fun suits in the front offices. Fair enough: we regularly take
potshots at those running America's Pastime for exerting too much control over
things. But on one level you've got to give those suits a lot of credit for
really changing the way baseball does business. Compare going to a game today
versus going to a game 20 years ago. Back then, a game was geared almost solely
for the hardcore fan; if you didn't like watching the game, you were out of
luck. Today, a game experience is considerably more varied: yeah, if you're a
hardcore fan you may not appreciate some of the bells and whistles at a modern
ballpark, but on the whole it's a much better experience.
Ballpark tax on Brighton ballot
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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Voters
in Brighton, Col., on Nov. 6 will decide whether to enact a sales tax to fund a
new ballpark for an independent American Association team. The $18 million
ballpark would cost two cents for every $10 purchase in the form of a two-tenths
of 1 percent increase in sales tax. The city council is endorsing the ballpark
as a way to promote family values, noting that it won't just host the 45 home
games to be played by the Brighton team. It would be available 20 times a year
at no cost to Brighton high school teams, local youth sports leagues, the
Performing Arts Commission and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.
RELATED STORIES:
Commerce City
council advocates caution on new ballpark;
Brighton settles
on site for proposed ballpark;
Brighton council
approves ballot measure;
Residents will be asked to help fund minor-league
ballpark;
Brighton, Castle Rock join in baseball team search;
Baseball cost: fair or foul?;
Investors pitch baseball idea for The Ranch;
Commissioners back study of ballpark at The Ranch;
Another baseball contender in Fort Collins: the
American Association;
Ballpark battle beginning in Fort Collins?;
Foxes still seeking location for their new 'Den';
Minor-league baseball for Castle Rock, Col.?
Fans shell out $2 million for Tiger Stadium seats
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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The
final tally of the sale of seats from Tiger Stadium is in. Fans bought 6,909
pairs of seats for a total of just over $2 million. Once the cost of removal and
shipping is deducted, the City of Detroit, which owns the ballpark, will net
about $366,000 from the sale. An equal amount will go to the companies handling
the sale. Add in the $192,729 raised from the online auction of stadium
artifacts, and the total raised for the city will come to roughly $559,000. The
proceeds will help the city defray the cost of demolishing the ballpark.
Tiger Stadium is a prominent member of our Endangered
Ballparks listings.
RELATED STORIES:
Nonprofit
submits plans for saving part of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium
auction a $192,729 home run;
Online auction of
Tiger Stadium memorabilia runs through October;
A new vision for Tiger Stadium;
Harwell heats up Tiger Stadium pitch;
Harwell: I can save Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium to be torn down;
Tiger Stadium demolition plan close to vote;
Wreck the old park; praise the new one;
Detroit City Council delays action on Tiger
Stadium demolition;
City: Revisit Tiger Stadium plans;
Today's video: The final days of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium plan hits a snag;
Tiger Stadium's fate divisive;
Tiger Stadium: Up for auction?;
Tiger Stadium outta here by '08;
Time running out for Tiger Stadium;
Dave Wright: Time to let Tiger Stadium go;
Razing memories of 95-year-old Tiger
Stadium before demolition work begins;
Final farewell planned for Tiger Stadium;
Old house is hard to forget;
Once a baseball cathedral, Tiger Stadium now sits
in disrepair;
Memories of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium demolition delayed;
Progress is in the ballpark;
Developers didn't stand a chance with Tiger
Stadium;
Artifacts from Tiger Stadium to be auctioned off
under city plan;
Tiger Stadium to be razed: condos, retail to be
built on historic site;
Detroit should sell Tiger Stadium as is;
Historical marker at Tiger Stadium stolen;
Tiger Stadium would make fine vacation destination;
8 innings of words get us no closer to a Tiger
Stadium fix;
Documentary makes case for saving Tiger Stadium;
Plenty of options for Tiger Stadium;
Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick wants Tiger Stadium razed;
Hope fades for Tiger Stadium;
Detroit ignores calls to save Tiger Stadium;
Save Tiger Stadium as scaled-down ballpark;
City should tear down Tiger Stadium;
Is it the final out for Tiger Stadium?
Ballpark Notes
Posted Oct. 23, 2007 (feedback)
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Naples
native Jeff Smith is the new field manager for the Fort Myers Miracle
(Class A; Florida State League). Smith becomes the eighth field manager in
club history and is the first to ever both play and manage the Miracle. He was a
member of the 1997 Miracle....Andy Haines, the 2007 Frontier League
Manager of the Year, has agreed to return to manage the Windy City ThunderBolts
in 2008....The Camden Riversharks (independent; Atlantic League) have
named David Keller as head of baseball operations, Riversharks general
manager Adam Lorber announced. Keller and manager Joe Ferguson
will work together to assemble the 2008 roster and scout and procure talent for
the club....Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International league) broadcasts
are moving back to Sportsradio 620 WHEN. Chiefs' games are returning to
WHEN for the first time since the 2001 season. Chiefs games that conflict with
broadcasts of the New York Yankees will be aired on Nova 105.1 FM....Jason Verdugo is the new
manager of the Evansville Otters (independent; Frontier League). He was
an assistant coach last season with the St. Paul Saints (independent;
American Association)....
Demand knocks out Rockies website; Series ticket sales suspended
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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You
didn't need a crystal ball to predict this would be a bad idea. The Colorado
Rockies suspended World Series ticket sales Monday after overwhelming demand
crashed their computer system. On Monday, there were 8.5 million attempts to
connect with the computers in the first 90 minutes after sales started, and only
several hundred tickets had been sold before the system had to be shut down. The
Rockies put as many as 60,000 tickets up for sale online only, and team
officials said their computers were ready to handle the expected crush. But two
hours after tickets went on sale, many fans reported they could not get access
to the ticket-sales Web site. The Rockies use Paciolan for online ticket sales
as opposed to the MLB-owned tickets.com; we're guessing Paciolan has never been
involved with an event of this magnitude. UPDATE: Tickets go on sale at
noon Mountain time. Good luck.
2007 attendance figures
posted
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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We've
posted the 2007 attendance figures for the
baseball world:
affiliated teams by total,
affiliated teams by average,
affiliated teams by league,
independent teams by total,
independent teams by average,
affiliated and independent combined by total
(throwing in the Northwoods League and the Cape
Cod League) and
affiliated and independent combined by average
(again, throwing in the Northwoods League and the
Cape Cod League). New this year:
MLB by total and
MLB by average. UPDATE: Due to popular
demand we added totals: 42.7 million fans attended
affiliated games, 8.4 million fans attended
independent-baseball games, and 52.3 million
attended affiliated, indy and select
summer-collegiate games. UPDATE II: Some
have asked why we have not included other
summer-collegiate leagues. We'd love to, but as
far as we can gather the two summer-collegiate
leagues to accurately tally attendance are the
Northwoods and Cape Cod Leagues. (For example, the
Coastal Plain League tallies stats internally,
with attendance numbers often falling to the
side.)
Send us the numbers if you have them.
Business lawsuit, divorce create legal and political woes for Winnipeg mayor
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Canadian Press weighs in on the financial and business issues facing Winnipeg Goldeyes (independent; Northern League) majority owner Sam Katz,
who also happens to be Winnipeg mayor. One issue raised by Katz deserves further
discussion. Katz says the Crocus Fund never loaned the team money; rather, the
now-failed fund was an equity investor in the team via debentures: "Crocus was
not expecting any interest, they were expecting capital growth," Katz said in an
interview. Because of the value of the team has shrunk as the Northern League
contracted, Katz now says the Crocus investment should be revalued accordingly.
This is a surprising argument on so many levels. First, we're more than a little
skeptical the value of the team has declined to the extent Katz claims: if he
were to put the Goldeyes up for sale tomorrow at $4 million -- more than he
claims the team is worth -- he'd have potential buyers lined up around the
block. Second, Crocus Fund receivers clearly consider their money to be a loan;
they are specifically suing for interest. We'd love to see the specific terms of
the loan/investment: from the team's viewpoint a debenture would be an ideal way
to raise capital because it's basically an unsecured loan, leaving the investors
free to pledge other assets as collateral for additional loans. But it's still a
loan and not a equity investment.
Gordon Sinclair Jr. weighs in.
RELATED STORIES:
Fish $4M in debt, Katz
says;
Katz says he tried to
settle debt;
Hearing to decide fate
of "explosive" Crocus report;
Fish fry Crocus
shareholders;
Goldeyes'
financial situation too shaky to pay Crocus loan?
Blake Street Boys boost bottom line
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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LoDo
will be rocking Oct. 27 when the first-ever World Series game at
Coors Field is scheduled. For Denver, the
ascension of the Rockies is a great story on so many levels, and local
businesses cashing in on the team's success is a big part of that. The Denver
Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau predicts the city's tourism industry will get
a $2.4 million to $5 million bump from the Rockies' participation in the World
Series, but the real payoff will come next year; attendance at Rockies game
should go up significantly if history is any guide. As we all know by now,
Fenway Park will host the first two games of the
World Series after the Red Sox trounced Cleveland last night. (Poor Cleveland:
after the team has a pretty good season only a single fan -- Barb Kovalski --
showed up to meet
the team at the airport.) Speaking of the Rockies:
here's a look at the team's first minor-league affiliate, the Bend Rockies
(short season; Northwest League) and its owner, Jack Cain.
Omaha mayor's public pitch for ballpark begins
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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Omaha
Mayor Mike Fahey is speaking before Omaha groups to pitch his vision for a new
downtown ballpark to house the College World Series and the Omaha Royals (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League). The tour is short on specifics and long on arguments
why Omaha needs to retain the College World Series. But that's a given; the
devil is in the details and so far there's enough dislike for the specifics (a 2
percent entertainment tax) to generate a lot of opposition. Fahey will need to
do a lot more convincing before other elected officials come onboard.
RELATED STORIES:
More options
introduced for new home of College World Series;
Skeptics of Omaha
ballpark proposal look for return on funding;
Public to have say on
Omaha ballpark proposal;
Omaha restaurant
owners vow opposition to ballpark tax;
Omaha mayor unveils
$117-million ballpark plan;
Rosenblatt group
sends petitions to NCAA;
Omaha and the CWS: City
bids for 20-year deal;
Omaha Royals support
plan for new ballpark;
NCAA ties College World
Series to new ballpark;
Today's video:
Kevin Costner: Save Rosenblatt Stadium;
Costner: Save
Rosenblatt Stadium;
New downtown Omaha ballpark would be near Qwest;
Rosenblatt fans try to draft Costner;
Rosenblatt demolition among Omaha ballpark
suggestions;
Royals president says two baseball facilities can
work;
Petition drive aims to save Rosenblatt;
Could Indy someday be host for CWS?;
New Omaha ballpark could feature other pastimes;
Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed
downtown ballpark;
Plan B: Fix up Rosenblatt;
Omaha wants at least 10-year CWS extension before
ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Ballpark would be real hit in Waterford
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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The
local newspaper comes out in favor of a new privately funded ballpark for an
independent Frontier League team in Waterford Township, Mich. The plan is for a
$9 million ballparks seating around 4,000. That the Frontier League has had a
lot of success with ballparks of this size and price is encouraging; the
Northern League, the Frontier League and affiliated ball have sought to put a
team in the Detroit suburbs, and it looks like the Frontier League will win that
race.
RELATED STORIES:
Group buys land for
new ballpark;
Waterford
ballpark is a go
MCC expansion plan worth second look
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Chicago Daily Herald says a controversial plan to build a ballpark for an
independent Frontier League team at McHenry County College is worth a second
look, but really doesn't give a compelling reason for a reevaluation. The plan
was opposed because locals were concerned about traffic (which is a given with
almost any ballpark project) and pollution in Crystal Lake. The solution floated
by the newspaper is that the team kick in more money to address pollution
concerns, but given the fact the team has already committed to a pretty spendy
lease ($250,000 a year plus a percentage of the revenues) we don't think that
will happen.
RELATED STORIES:
Crystal Lake Council
bats down MCC expansion;
Executives go to
bat for plan;
Ballpark
opposition organizes in Crystal Lake;
Will Crystal Lake
let MCC play ball?;
Building a ballpark
tests a community;
Crystal Lake rejects MCC expansion plan, new
ballpark;
Crystal Lake wants outside opinion on ballpark;
Crystal Lake bats around ballpark;
Major boom for minor-league ball;
McHenry County College, Frontier League close to
agreement for new ballpark;
McHenry County pulls off a double play;
MCC ballpark for
Frontier League gets OK;
McHenry to vote on new ballpark; private group looks at area facility;
Plans for minor league team 'moving in right
direction'
Columbus may annex Cooper Stadium site
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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Columbus
City Council will consider annexing the Cooper
Stadium site as Franklin County officials continue to look for a buyer for
the 47.2-acre property. The ballpark has served as the longtime home of the
Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League), but the team is expected to
move into a new ballpark for the 2009 season. The annexation allows the site to
be more easily redeveloped.
Abandoning public ownership opens door to 'sports welfare'
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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If
we read this article correctly -- and, given how poorly it's written, is not a
certainty -- James Keeler argues that the Lackawanna County Stadium Authority
should renege on an option it granted Mandalay Baseball to buy the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League). But one of the
reasons the authority wants to sell the team is because public ownership of the
Yankees didn't work: Lackawanna County needed to step in and make payments on a
ballpark loan because the team failed to generate enough in profits. So while
Keeler argues the team should remain under public ownership because the new
owners may ask for a new ballpark, the track record has been the team hasn't
generated enough in profits. This is a very illogical argument: essentially,
it's better for the county to subsidize a team it owns than to possibly
renegotiate a ballpark lease.
N.J.
city pushes national park status
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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If
More on the efforts among Paterson, N.J. residents to improve their city, which
includes a renovation of Hinchliffe Stadium, the former home to Negro Leagues
baseball in the city. We've written often about the efforts to renovate
Hinchliffe, which is currently owned by the local school district, but a story
equally compelling is now Paterson -- which some argue was America's first
industrial city -- is being reimagined for today's world.
Hinchliffe Stadium is a prominent member of our Endangered
Ballparks listings.
Ballpark Notes
Posted Oct. 22, 2007 (feedback)
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The
San Francisco Giants have named longtime minor-league manager Shane
Turner coordinator of minor league instruction. The former big-league
outfielder and infielder assumes the role Fred Stanley had before his
promotion to director of player development. Turner is completing his 13th
season in the Giants organization, having spent the past year as a roving
outfield and baserunning instructor. He has posted a 598-646 lifetime record in
10 seasons as a minor-league manager....
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