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! |
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Archives:
Jan. 15-21, 2007
Developer: Sounds ballpark
plan in no jeopardy
Posted Jan. 19, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
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The Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast
League) and their partners in a proposed downtown
ballpark are divided over when construction could
begin, with the Sounds reiterating that unless
work starts in February, the project might not
make enough money to repay lenders. But Struever
Bros. Eccles & Rouse, the Baltimore firm that has
teamed with the Sounds to build a ballpark and
mixed-use neighborhood on First Avenue South, said
it was spending thousands of dollars a day to make
the ballpark happen. Representatives of the
developer said they expected to wrap up financing
and designs for the project no later than April
15. But Glenn Yaeger, the Sounds' general manager,
reiterated that the team wants construction to
begin no later than next month. That would allow
the team to begin play at the start of the 2008
Class AAA baseball season.
More from Nashville City Paper.
RELATED STORIES:
Ballpark financing lag worries Sounds;
Sounds fail to file lease legislation;
Council approves lease extension for Nashville
ballpark development;
Sounds unveil ballpark plans;
Metro agrees to deadline extension on Sounds
project;
Sounds' project
team huddles to nail down a deal;
Sounds get jump-start on ticket sales for new
ballpark;
Sounds ballpark developer needs to score soon;
Ballpark financing not set as deadline approaches;
Struever mulling ballpark-area changes in
Nashville;
Sounds unveil ballpark plans;
PCL president applauds Nashville ballpark deal;
Yaeger calls stadium plan flexible and
fan-friendly;
Sounds settle on 2008 opening date for new
ballpark;
Ballpark opening date up in air, Sounds say;
Nashville Metro Council approves new Sounds
ballpark;
Company says Sounds deal sets stage for Frank
project;
Sounds send commitment letter to Council;
Caucus continues pressure for minorities' role in
stadium;
Nashville Council Black Caucus wants more minority
work on ballpark;
Sounds are rounding third;
Sounds remain at bargaining table;
Nashville Sounds one vote away from new ballpark;
Council should give Nashville ballpark their
support;
Sounds woo minority business owners for ballpark
project;
Sounds ballpark vote delayed;
Museum, dining wanted at new Sounds ballpark;
Sounds move ahead with ballpark design;
Sounds weak;
Sounds ballpark proposal passes first test on
Council;
Opposition to Nashville ballpark gears up on
council;
Many good questions raised over Sounds deal;
Chamber of Commerce backs Sounds ballpark plan;
Downtown merchants rally for Sounds;
Board seeks information on Sounds ballpark deal;
Neighbors of Nashville ballpark expect project to
spark development;
Sounds, Nashville sign agreement for new ballpark;
Sides close on Sounds ballpark plan;
Sounds ballpark plan nearly triples in size;
New Sounds ballpark proposal in doubt;
Nashville ballpark bill may have to wait until
fall;
Sounds deal stalls, but still in play;
City bobbling save on Sounds’ perfect plan;
Sounds ballpark negotiations slow;
Will ballpark make SoBro soar?;
Sounds swing deal to get new ballpark;
Sounds win city approval for new ballpark
Richmond officials to
discuss new ballpark today
Posted Jan. 19, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
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Richmond-area officials are meeting today to
develop a game plan for a new home for the
Richmond Braves (Class AAA: International League).
They are to look at options to satisfy the Braves'
desire for a new home within what Richmond
officials envision as a vibrant sports and
entertainment district on land the city owns along
North Boulevard at Hermitage Road. The meeting
will include representatives from Hanover County,
as well as from the city and counties of Henrico
and Chesterfield, which operate The Diamond
through the Richmond Metropolitan Authority.
RELATED STORIES:
Plans pitched for R-Braves ballpark on Boulevard
Legion plans to negotiate
with Wendts
Posted Jan. 19, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
(discuss)
Members of the local chapter of the American
Legion voted last night to begin formal
negotiations with the Mid-Missouri Mavericks
(independent; Frontier League) on a $10-million
ballpark complex in east Columbia. The move is a
small step in a process that likely will involve
months of detailed discussions among Legion
officials, team owners and Columbia leaders.
However, the vote also is the first tangible step
taken by any of the groups since the Columbia City
Council approved general plans for the park in
June. Mavs owners Brad and Gary Wendt have
proposed building the ballpark at city-owned
American Legion Park, off Broadway and east of
Rustic Road. The Legion donated the land to the
city in 2000 with the stipulation that the 16
acres be kept as a park.
RELATED STORIES:
Columbia ballpark plan goes to public;
Making a pitch for new home in Columbia;
Mavericks pitch new ballpark to Columbia
A's owner raises more
questions than answers
Posted Jan. 19, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
(discuss)
One of the largest audiences to attend a Fremont
City Council meeting crowded the city chambers
Tuesday night to hear what Oakland Athletics'
owner Lew Wolff would pitch. Many thought Wolff
would give a presentation for his proposed
ballpark village in Warm Springs. However, the
baseball executive revealed little more than what
was announced at Cisco Systems' headquarters last
November. What Wolff did present was a series of
"What if" questions that he hopes he can answer in
coming months. When asked what his village might
look like, Wolff explained he had experts who
might be able to answer that better, and that this
was not the time to do so.
RELATED STORIES:
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;
A's not ready to slide out of Oakland yet;
A's pass on longer lease for McAfee Coliseum;
Owner gives up on moving A's to San Jose;
A's to decide ballpark fate by end of season;
Fremont's attempt to lure A's running into
obstacles;
'Let's plan for A's move,' Coliseum agency told;
San Jose voters jeer ballpark plan;
Wolff wants to keep A's in Bay Area;
A's, Fremont near deal;
A's must stay, Oakland mayor candidates say;
A's close to deal for Fremont ballpark, officials
say;
Rumors trail A's search for new ballpark;
A's owner in Fremont for meetings;
Wolff says there's land for new A's ballpark in
Fremont;
A's officials confirm interest in new Fremont
ballpark;
A's take long look at Fremont ballpark site;
The San Jose A's of Fremont?;
San Jose will buy land for A's ballpark;
Will smaller mean better for the A's?;
A's committed to intimate 34,000 park in '06;
A's owner's new plan for ballpark;
Talks for new A's ballpark sputter;
Soccer stadium throws curve at San Jose baseball
plan;
A's ownership group wants to buy MLS expansion
team for San Jose;
Athletics denied 3-year Coliseum lease extension;
A's ballpark: 'Baseball Village' in the vision
stage;
Planning ahead to get A's to San Jose;
San Jose buys first parcel of land for ballpark;
Land acquisition for San Jose ballpark may cost
$100 million;
San Jose goes to bat for ballpark property;
Fremont will consider a pitch for A's;
Wolff on the hunt for more A's fans, new ballpark;
Oakland ballpark village plan designed to win
allies, public funds;
Wolff's vision of ballpark raises questions;
Wolff unveils plans for 35,000-seat ballpark near
Coliseum;
A's owner to offer specific ballpark plan to keep
team in Oakland;
Have A's settled on new ballpark site?;
Smallball suits Lew Wolff just fine;
A's think small with stadium plans;
Fremont politicians make a pitch for A's;
A's say Coliseum lot isn't feasible;
Athletics announce committee
to plan new Oakland ballpark;
Another San Jose site eyed
for baseball;
The time has come for new
A's ballpark;
No specifics on new Oakland
ballpark, but plans in the works;
San Jose quits discussions
on cannery;
Wolff about to take over;
Going to bat for A's is big
opportunity for San Jose mayor;
Wolff: A's ballpark already
in works;
Deal near for San Jose
cannery site;
For A's, way to San Jose
paved with uncertainty;
San Jose baseball crusader
makes his pitch;
A's sale could happen
quickly;
Sale of A's to heighten San
Jose intrigue;
BART to the ballpark, what a
vision;
Another San Jose pitch for
baseball;
San Jose mayor makes his
pitch;
Q&A with A's new owner Lew
Wolff
Uneasy at first, Mets embrace their New Orleans
connection
Posted Jan. 19, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
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An affiliation with the New Orleans Zephyrs (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League) wasn't the first choice
of the New York Mets front office, but it's
beginning to look like things will work out well
for both teams. New Orleans plays in the Pacific
Coast League, famous for its far-flung cities and
brutal road trips. Many big-league teams
considering New Orleans for minor-league
operations were concerned about the travel, the
temptations on Bourbon Street and the post-Katrina
logistics. But the Mets are embracing the new
relationship in unexpected ways. They have donated
$650,000 to causes in New Orleans since the
hurricane. They wrote a check last week for
$20,000 to the Greater New Orleans Sports
Foundation for Little League fields. They are
planning for Zephyrs players to work regularly
with Habitat for Humanity.
Mitchell warns owners to
cooperate with drug probe
Posted Jan. 19, 2007 (feedback)
(submit
story)
(discuss)
Former
Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell warned
baseball owners that a lack of cooperation with
his investigation into steroid use will
"significantly increase" the chances of government
involvement. Speaking to owners at baseball's
quarterly meetings, Mitchell said he intends to
interview active players and raised the
possibility that Congress or other government
authorities could compel testimony. Mitchell
cannot compel testimony. He warned the clubs that
Congress or other federal or state authorities
which do have subpoena power could get involved.
Wolff seeks tax rebate for new ballpark village
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
(discuss)
Oakland A's owner Lew Wolff this week dropped the
first hint of the type of public financial aid
he'll be seeking to move the team to Fremont: a
rebate of some of the new taxes his ballpark
village would produce. Wolff told the Fremont City
Council on Tuesday night that financial assistance
would be limited to "county and city revenues
generated by the ballpark village and our other
development." The A's owner gave no details on the
mechanism for getting back his taxes or the
amounts of money he's seeking, but the implication
is clear: the team will be asking for the
equivalent of tax-increment financing for the
project. It's also clear he's seeing some sort of
TIF for the entire project, not just the ballpark;
that would run into some serious money for
Fremont.
More from the San Jose Mercury News.
Meanwhile,
Wolff is looking to purchase 25 additional
acres near the Oakland A's planned Fremont
ballpark site, a move that would give him control
of nearly 200 acres on which to build his ballpark
village concept, he said Wednesday. The possible
land purchase was one piece of new information the
A's co-owner told reporters in a conference call a
day after his first appearance at a Fremont City
Council meeting. The A's were given a mostly
positive reception from council members and
residents at Tuesday's meeting, when dual themes
emerged: There was excitement and optimism that
the ballclub's possible move to Fremont will
benefit the city, followed by clear acknowledgment
that many details on several fronts still need to
be fleshed out. To help address those concerns,
the A's have hired consultants, Economic Research
Associates, to deliver an economic study
illustrating how the ballpark village will add
millions in tax revenue to city coffers.
RELATED STORIES:
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;
A's not ready to slide out of Oakland yet;
A's pass on longer lease for McAfee Coliseum;
Owner gives up on moving A's to San Jose;
A's to decide ballpark fate by end of season;
Fremont's attempt to lure A's running into
obstacles;
'Let's plan for A's move,' Coliseum agency told;
San Jose voters jeer ballpark plan;
Wolff wants to keep A's in Bay Area;
A's, Fremont near deal;
A's must stay, Oakland mayor candidates say;
A's close to deal for Fremont ballpark, officials
say;
Rumors trail A's search for new ballpark;
A's owner in Fremont for meetings;
Wolff says there's land for new A's ballpark in
Fremont;
A's officials confirm interest in new Fremont
ballpark;
A's take long look at Fremont ballpark site;
The San Jose A's of Fremont?;
San Jose will buy land for A's ballpark;
Will smaller mean better for the A's?;
A's committed to intimate 34,000 park in '06;
A's owner's new plan for ballpark;
Talks for new A's ballpark sputter;
Soccer stadium throws curve at San Jose baseball
plan;
A's ownership group wants to buy MLS expansion
team for San Jose;
Athletics denied 3-year Coliseum lease extension;
A's ballpark: 'Baseball Village' in the vision
stage;
Planning ahead to get A's to San Jose;
San Jose buys first parcel of land for ballpark;
Land acquisition for San Jose ballpark may cost
$100 million;
San Jose goes to bat for ballpark property;
Fremont will consider a pitch for A's;
Wolff on the hunt for more A's fans, new ballpark;
Oakland ballpark village plan designed to win
allies, public funds;
Wolff's vision of ballpark raises questions;
Wolff unveils plans for 35,000-seat ballpark near
Coliseum;
A's owner to offer specific ballpark plan to keep
team in Oakland;
Have A's settled on new ballpark site?;
Smallball suits Lew Wolff just fine;
A's think small with stadium plans;
Fremont politicians make a pitch for A's;
A's say Coliseum lot isn't feasible;
Athletics announce committee
to plan new Oakland ballpark;
Another San Jose site eyed
for baseball;
The time has come for new
A's ballpark;
No specifics on new Oakland
ballpark, but plans in the works;
San Jose quits discussions
on cannery;
Wolff about to take over;
Going to bat for A's is big
opportunity for San Jose mayor;
Wolff: A's ballpark already
in works;
Deal near for San Jose
cannery site;
For A's, way to San Jose
paved with uncertainty;
San Jose baseball crusader
makes his pitch;
A's sale could happen
quickly;
Sale of A's to heighten San
Jose intrigue;
BART to the ballpark, what a
vision;
Another San Jose pitch for
baseball;
San Jose mayor makes his
pitch;
Q&A with A's new owner Lew
Wolff
Ballpark financing lag
worries Sounds
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
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Unless builders get shovels into the ground in a
few weeks, the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA;
Pacific Coast League) say a new downtown ballpark
won't be ready for the 2008 season as originally
projected. "We are on a tight construction
schedule, but we can do it if we get in the ground
in early February," the team's general manager,
Glenn Yaeger, said Wednesday. "There is very
little room for error." The Sounds recently
finalized a $23 million loan from multiple banks
as part of the team's responsibility in the
Memorandum of Understanding signed last February
between the city, the Sounds and the Sounds'
private development partner, Baltimore-based
Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse. The remaining piece
of the financial puzzle is the $20 million of the
construction fund for which Struever Bros. must
secure financing.
RELATED STORIES:
Sounds fail to file lease legislation;
Council approves lease extension for Nashville
ballpark development;
Sounds unveil ballpark plans;
Metro agrees to deadline extension on Sounds
project;
Sounds' project
team huddles to nail down a deal;
Sounds get jump-start on ticket sales for new
ballpark;
Sounds ballpark developer needs to score soon;
Ballpark financing not set as deadline approaches;
Struever mulling ballpark-area changes in
Nashville;
Sounds unveil ballpark plans;
PCL president applauds Nashville ballpark deal;
Yaeger calls stadium plan flexible and
fan-friendly;
Sounds settle on 2008 opening date for new
ballpark;
Ballpark opening date up in air, Sounds say;
Nashville Metro Council approves new Sounds
ballpark;
Company says Sounds deal sets stage for Frank
project;
Sounds send commitment letter to Council;
Caucus continues pressure for minorities' role in
stadium;
Nashville Council Black Caucus wants more minority
work on ballpark;
Sounds are rounding third;
Sounds remain at bargaining table;
Nashville Sounds one vote away from new ballpark;
Council should give Nashville ballpark their
support;
Sounds woo minority business owners for ballpark
project;
Sounds ballpark vote delayed;
Museum, dining wanted at new Sounds ballpark;
Sounds move ahead with ballpark design;
Sounds weak;
Sounds ballpark proposal passes first test on
Council;
Opposition to Nashville ballpark gears up on
council;
Many good questions raised over Sounds deal;
Chamber of Commerce backs Sounds ballpark plan;
Downtown merchants rally for Sounds;
Board seeks information on Sounds ballpark deal;
Neighbors of Nashville ballpark expect project to
spark development;
Sounds, Nashville sign agreement for new ballpark;
Sides close on Sounds ballpark plan;
Sounds ballpark plan nearly triples in size;
New Sounds ballpark proposal in doubt;
Nashville ballpark bill may have to wait until
fall;
Sounds deal stalls, but still in play;
City bobbling save on Sounds’ perfect plan;
Sounds ballpark negotiations slow;
Will ballpark make SoBro soar?;
Sounds swing deal to get new ballpark;
Sounds win city approval for new ballpark
Goodyear inks deal on
spring-training facility
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
(submit
story)
(discuss)
City leaders and top brass from the Cleveland
Indians celebrated finalizing details that finance
a new spring-training facility in Goodyear,
Arizona. With the smell of hot dogs wafting
through the air, the City Council unanimously
approved on Wednesday an intergovernmental
agreement with the Arizona Sports and Tourism
Authority that will pay for half of the $75
million-spring training facility. The 10,000-seat
stadium and spring training fields will be part of
a mixed-use development called Ballpark Village.
The stadium is planned for the southeast corner of
the future Goodyear City Center at Estrella
Parkway and Yuma Road, and is slated to open in
2009.
RELATED STORIES:
Goodyear eyes noted ballpark designer;
Indians fan thrilled
by new facility plans;
$80 mil for baseball taps out sports authority;
White Sox to delay Phoenix move?;
Arizona commission to fund both proposed
spring-training facilities;
Glendale offers spring-training plan;
Parties expect Dodgers, Sox deal to pan out;
Leaving Tucson will be tricky for White Sox;
County not eager to
match baseball largess;
State panel shouldn't fund White Sox move from
Tucson;
Goodyear ballpark plan hits funding snag;
Pima County trying to avert loss of White Sox for
spring training;
Dodgers, White Sox reach deal with Glendale;
A new Glendale ballpark -- in Phoenix;
Goodyear prepares to make its pitch for ballpark
funds;
What could the future hold for Dodgertown?;
Glendale wants to bring Dodgers' spring training
to Valley;
Goodyear sees spring-training complex as path to
development;
Goodyear finds support for spring-training plan;
It's official: Indians agree to Grapefruit League
move;
Indians, Dodgers close to deal to move spring
training to Arizona;
Clock ticks on Disney-Indians deal;
Cleveland says no to Cape Coral's springtime
offer; Arizona move still a possibility
Winston-Salem approves new
Warthogs ballpark; county is next
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
(submit
story)
(discuss)
The Winston-Salem City Council voted 8-0 last
night to approve spending $29 million over 25
years to help pay for a downtown ballpark for the
Winston-Salem Warthogs (High Class A; Carolina
League), spur urban redevelopment and remove urban
blight. The vote marked approval of the city's
largest incentive package to date and came
after residents expressed opposing views for
nearly an hour. Developer Billy Prim -- an
owner of the Warthogs -- said previously that he
can't move the project ahead without financial
help from Forsyth County. But he may have to lower
his request for $14 million from the county
because
officials said that they are not prepared to give
him what he has asked for. Scott Sexton
comments on
the challenges facing city officials and
developers.
More from the Triad Business Journal.
RELATED STORIES:
Joines: Protect ticket revenue;
Council considers city help with moving expenses;
Prim's word is his bond;
Council postpones Winston-Salem ballpark vote;
Attendance, costs at question in W-S ballpark plan;
County quiet on funding for new Warthogs ballpark;
W-S ballpark could avoid difficult permits since
it has no creek;
Traffic concerns dominate Winston-Salem ballpark
meeting;
City outlines routes to proposed Warthogs ballpark;
W-S finance committee recommends incentives for
new Warthogs ballpark;
New ballpark in Winston-Salem a go;
Nearing the goal in Winston-Salem;
New Warthogs ballpark won't affect local streets;
Winston-Salem ballpark plan takes time to stretch
Allentown ballpark begins to
take shape
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
(submit
story)
(discuss)
Lehigh County's Glenn Solt didn't let the soggy,
still-unfrozen mud caking his shoes Wednesday
spoil his vision of opening day at the city's new
ballpark, slated to open in 2008 as the home of
the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA;
International League). "Right here you can set
your blankets and sandwiches up," the county's
capital projects manager said of what will be a
grassy slope for seating past the centerfield and
left-center walls. The $48.4 million project
mostly resembled an earthen depression covered in
spots with icy ponds during a Wednesday tour of
the ballpark construction site. But out past the
leftfield area, two concrete walls rose to form an
entrance for concerts and other on-field
activities. Along the planned third-base line,
another concrete wall is in place as part of the
home-team dugout. Site topography allows for
better, roomier team facilities along third base
than the usual home-team side.
More from the Allentown Morning Call.
Nick Fierro weighs in.
Video
from WFMZ.
RELATED STORIES:
Revised Allentown ballpark cost released;
Affiliated baseball finally comes to Valley;
Allentown breaks ground on new ballpark;
International League approves sale of Lynx;
Lynx poised to leap after 2007
Agency head says city hasn't
sought permission for ballpark deal
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
(submit
story)
(discuss)
Despite reports that Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and
Miami-Dade County officials are close to a deal to
partially fund construction of a downtown ballpark
for the Florida Marlins with Community
Redevelopment Agency money, the agency's director
and chairman say the mayor has not contacted them.
The mayor's plan involves expanding the Overtown
Community Redevelopment Agency's boundaries to
include the 9 acres next to the Stephen P. Clark
Center targeted for a ballpark. But the agency
would need to approve such a move, and Executive
Director James Villacorta said he has not heard
from Diaz about the possibility. The first step
toward expanding the Community Redevelopment
Agency boundary would be a study of the site to
prove it fits the agency's criteria for blighted
conditions, Villacorta said. After subsequent
public hearings, the agency board, which is
composed of city commissioners, must approve the
expansion before county commissioners vote.
RELATED STORIES:
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
Springdale City Council
approves ballpark design
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The Springdale (Ark.) City Council approved the
design of a new ballpark for the relocated Wichita
Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League) while meeting
as the finance committee Wednesday night. The
ballpark, designed by HOK Sport, uses native stone
and wood to give it a natural feel. Two members
asked for the architects to give the council an
option to use brick instead of stone for the
facade, believing brick to be more traditional and
durable. HOK is determining the probable cost of
the ballpark, which has to come in below the $33
million approved by the voters in a July election.
A 1 percent sales tax backed a bond sale to
finance the facility. If the estimate comes in too
high, the architects would have to change plans to
lower expenses. HOK plans to deliver a budget for
the project to the council next week.
RELATED STORIES:
Springdale commission approves new ballpark;
Wranglers GM has new challenges;
City hires consultant to assist on Lawrence-Dumont
lease;
Wranglers owner says team was Wichita's third
baseball option;
Council looks at ballpark design;
Commissioners begin planning improvements around
ballpark site;
Wranglers' move big hit with Royals owner Glass;
League approval slow but expected for move of
Wranglers;
Springdale approves Wranglers lease;
Texas League executives scrutinize proposed
Springdale lease;
Springdale officials present Wranglers lease to
public;
Rich Baseball, Springdale reach agreement on move
of Wranglers;
City told only voters decide ballpark's user;
Springdale aldermen to hear United League pitch
for ballpark;
What's new in Wichita?;
Wranglers president says move is nearly official;
Wranglers agreement down to one item;
City negotiating terms with Wranglers;
Springdale awaits word on getting Wichita's team;
Wichita expects to negotiate for Wranglers;
Wranglers to move in 2008;
Ruffin's name comes up as buyer for Wranglers;
Chamber, firm hiding the ball on Springdale team
talks;
Consultant leads Springdale ball team negotiations;
Wichita business leaders discuss how to keep
Wranglers;
Kayser: Wranglers would take Texas League with
them;
Wranglers' dugout can be the pits;
Official: Don’t expect Springdale team name soon;
City may get a chance to counter Wrangler offer;
Wichita pitching to keep team;
Team declaration a waiting game in Springdale;
Springdale vote certification put on hold;
City officials: Lawrence-Dumont can compete with
new ballparks;
Wichita awaits sign from Wranglers owner;
Interest in Springdale ballpark spreading;
Who could step up to the plate to keep pro
baseball in Wichita?;
Springdale voters narrowly approve ballpark
funding;
Why don't Wichitans turn out for Wranglers?;
Wichita may accelerate improvements to
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium;
Pastor supports ballpark minus alcohol presence;
City caught by surprise on possible Wranglers move;
Arkansas town woos Wranglers;
Sponsors of Springdale ballpark sure of need;
New ballpark to be boon for Springdale, city
officials say;
Springdale Chamber pushes for support for ballpark;
Election Commission finalizes details for
Springdale ballpark vote;
Springdale ballpark details still under
construction;
Chamber wants July 11 election on Springdale
ballpark tax;
If Springdale ballpark built team will follow,
planners are told;
Royals’ farm club seeks home?;
Mayor’s idea: Extend bond, gain baseball;
Bond underwriters to study Springdale ballpark
funding options;
Turn-back funds to go for Springdale ballpark;
Springdale ballpark site under contract;
Springdale: Chamber fielding baseball inquiries;
Texas League boss dispels baseball chatter;
Public money may be needed to build Springdale
ballpark;
Springdale: Sports park feasible, study claims
City Council OKs Petco Park
refinancing
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The San Diego City Council on Jan. 16 approved a
refinancing of the city’s high-interest bonds for
Petco Park through a private placement arranged
with Bank of America. The city had planned to
refinance the 2002 bonds, which carry a 7.66
percent rate, since 2004. But revelations about
non-disclosures of expenses related to its
employee pension plan triggered federal
investigations and delayed annual financial audits
that prevented the city from tapping into the
public bond markets. Mayor Jerry Sanders said the
proposed alternative to the public market
refinancing will save the city about $3.7 million
annually, or $93 million during the 25-year term.
More from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Good riddance to the House
Ruth Didn't Build
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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This
opinion piece follows what we've been saying all
along about the plan to replace
the current Yankee
Stadium with
a new ballpark: the current ballpark
is not the same as the original Yankee Stadium --
the House That Ruth Built -- and should not be
venerated as such. There are some hardcore Yankee
fans who oppose the new ballpark because they view
the current facility as being one and the same as
the old one. The fact these opponents haven't
gained any traction suggests the New York sporting
public -- a very educated one, we think -- knows
better than to buy into the false nostalgia.
RELATED STORIES:
Judge dismisses lawsuit on new Yankees ballpark;
Bronx group goes to court vs. new Yankee Stadium;
New York City receives IRS approval on ballpark
bonds;
New York Agency approves ballpark financing for
Yankees, Mets;
MTA pressed to create shortcut to Shea;
Is Steinbrenner house, which Ruth built, poor?;
NY City Council easily passes Yankees, Mets
ballpark bonding bills;
Squeeze play on Mets ballpark;
Mets: Forget about naming new park after Jackie
Robinson;
New Mets ballpark deal is stalled;
Squeeze play on the Mets;
Strike one for new Mets ballpark;
Mets park's name will fetch millions;
Mets unveil plans for new ballpark;
Yankees, Mets closer to new ballparks;
City goes to bat for Yankees, Mets ballparks;
State agency approves plans for Yankees, Mets
ballparks
Hoppers eye home as a
potential buy
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By nearly every account, the move of the
Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally
League) move to First Horizon Park two years ago
has been a financial hit. But the sweetest deal --
one that benefits the minor-league baseball team
and the city -- may still be in the works: The
Grasshoppers' contract to lease First Horizon Park
allows the team's owners to buy the ballpark
within the next 18 years for the original
construction price of $23.5 million. The team's
lease agreement for First Horizon, which received
scant attention when a downtown ballpark's merit
was being debated, might offer an upside to the
team and the city. Team officials said this week
that they likely will exercise that option within
the next decade, meaning they will buy the
ballpark for a steal if development around the
ballpark continues as planned and the facility's
value increases.
Some on council aren't
buying Fort Wayne ballpark plan
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Five million dollars is a lot of money. But to
City Councilman Tom Smith, it’s not enough to
justify the city’s plan to spend $25 million more
on a new downtown ballpark for the Fort Wayne
Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League). "If
building stadiums downtown is a trend, the funding
pattern should be a trend, too," said the First
District Republican, noting that Atlanta-based
Hardball Capital’s proposed contribution
represents a considerably lower percentage of the
total cost than private investors have contributed
to other minor-league ballparks built in recent
years. "The city should ask for more money [from
Hardball], and if we don’t see it, I’ll have a
problem [voting for the project]."
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Ballpark's future is far from certain;
Building the public square;
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Fort Wayne unveils ballpark plans;
Top of the ninth in Fort Wayne;
Poll: Tax-funded downtown Fort Wayne ballpark is
unpopular;
Wizards set 2008 ballpark goal;
Enjoy downtown for what it is, not what you
remember;
Downtown Fort Wayne needs a full plan, including a
ballpark;
Playing ball downtown;
We need to build ballpark downtown;
Study supports downtown Fort Wayne ballpark;
Can downtown Fort Wayne ballpark be a boon?;
Learning by example from Dayton;
Fort Wayne looks at improvements to Memorial
Stadium;
A new(er) ballpark in Fort Wayne?;
Ballpark panel sees one diamond in future;
New owners bring fresh ideas to Fort Wayne;
Fort Wayne's baseball future may be downtown;
A new downtown castle?;
Memorial Stadium far from obsolete;
Fort Wayne Wizards sold;
Fort Wayne ballpark has 50 years of usability
left, says architect;
Debate begins on proposed downtown Fort Wayne
ballpark;
Group set to discuss downtown Fort Wayne ballpark;
Field of dreams in Fort Wayne?
Fenty joins D.C. ballpark's
fans
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The District of Columbia's $611 million ballpark
for the Washington Nationals might be the most
politically contentious project in recent memory,
but as the ballpark's opening in early 2008
approaches, more and more city officials seem to
be coming on board. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty was
front and center Tuesday as city leaders and
Nationals officials broke ground on an expansion
of the Navy Yard Metro Station to handle game
crowds. So were D.C. Council members Phil
Mendelson and Jim Graham. All three had voted
against the ballpark funding package several
times, with Fenty among the fiercest opponents
during his tenure on the council.
RELATED STORIES:
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
GreenJackets ticket sales up
again
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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Season ticket sales for the Augusta GreenJackets
(Low Class A; Sally League) upcoming season are on
pace to exceed last season's record-setting
numbers, assistant general manager Tom D'Abruzzo
said Wednesday. Last season, the GreenJackets, low
Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants,
tripled their season ticket-holding base at Lake
Olmstead Stadium from less than 400 to about
1,200. D'Abruzzo said the team, which is owned by
Cal Ripken Jr. and the Ripken Baseball Group,
offers a variety of ticket plans. GreenJackets
general manager Nick Brown said the team is
optimistic it will surpass last year's total by
the end of this month.
Pirates can expect profits,
not wins
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It's
a "natural progression," new Chairman Bob Nutting
said, referring to his taking over the top reins
of the Pittsburgh Pirates from Kevin McClatchy,
who will be CEO. The change is no sharp break from
the past. The Pirates will keep salaries low by
baseball standards while trying to build from
within. As for winning games, however, one hardly
sees how staying the course is a "natural
progression" for breaking the team's 14-season
losing streak. Attendance last season was 1.86
million; the National League posted a record
average of 2.6 million. Still there is every
indication the Pirates are putting enough people
in seats to make money.
Giants to
install new hi-def scoreboard
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The San Francisco Giants and AT&T announced that
they will install a new Mitsubishi Electric
Diamond Vision scoreboard at
AT&T Park, to be unveiled to the
public at the beginning of the 2007 baseball
season. Construction of what will be they call the
highest-quality outdoor scoreboard in the nation
and one of the five largest scoreboards in
baseball is currently underway and will be
completed by the end of March. The board will
stand 103' wide by 31' 6" high and feature a 32 by
9 aspect ratio for the main viewing area, capable
of displaying side-by-side traditional
high-definition images or one "giant" image. The
board will also feature a four-foot high strip
below the main board to accommodate text or
graphics. Additionally, the Giants and AT&T are
renovating the existing scoreboard control room
and replacing it with a Sony control room to
support the Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision
Display.
Sand Gnats
unveil new scoreboard
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The
Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League)
released plans for upgrades to Historic Grayson
Stadium for the 2007 season. Highlighting the
renovations is a new scoreboard. The scoreboard,
which will feature a video board measuring nearly
300 square feet, is to be constructed and
installed by Texas Star Sports. It will replace
the current scoreboard which was installed for the
1984 season. Other improvements Sand Gnats fans
can expect to see for the 2007 season will be a
new sound system, new field lights and the
demolition of the left-field bleachers. The
bleachers have been condemned by the city, and
have not seated fans in years.
The scoreboard will measure 45 feet high and 63 feet wide. In
addition to the video board, the scoreboard will
feature an analog clock along with digital
readings of temperature and pitch speed. The brick
outlined scoreboard includes six advertising
panels. Balls, strikes and the line score will be
located on the scoreboard at field level.
ULB Winter
League launches Friday
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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History will be made -- weather permitting --
Friday as the United League Baseball-sponsored
Winter League begins its season with two games.
Players who will be a part of the four-ball club
league have been working out this week despite
chilling temperatures not too far above the
freezing mark. On Friday, Winter League baseball
will become a reality with two games to be played
at Harlingen Field, the first one at 3:30 p.m. and
the second one at 7 p.m. The Laredo Broncos will
square off against the Edinburg Coyotes in the
afternoon game, while the Rio Grande Valley
WhiteWings of Harlingen will play the Brownsville
Toros in the nightcap.
Canaries can't improve nest
-- yet
Posted Jan. 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The city of Sioux Falls won't remodel the
visitors' locker room at Sioux Falls Stadium -- at
least not in the near term. City council members
Tuesday voted down a request that the city ante up
$200,000 to remodel the room. Officials with the
parks and recreation department and the Sioux
Falls Canaries (independent; American Association)
baseball club had hoped to fast-track the project
in time to finish it by July, when the city hosts
the league' all-star game. Canaries officials
offered to extend their lease with the city by two
years, and they agreed to pay $10,000 to design a
new locker room -- one to give players more room
and a bathroom/shower facility compliant with
federal regulations.
RELATED STORIES:
Canaries seek
$200,000 to remodel locker room
Ballpark
Notes
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The
Brazos Valley Bombers (summer collegiate;
Texas Collegiate League) announced that Mike
Lieberman has been named the team’s first-ever
general manager. A veteran in the baseball
business, Lieberman has already begun work in the
Bombers front office in preparation for the team’s
inaugural season. The Bombers are not the first
team Lieberman has guided from inception. In 2005,
he drew the challenge of launching a Worcester
Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am Association)
franchise that came into being a scant four months
before Opening Day. Despite overwhelming odds, the
Tornadoes became an instant success, drawing
sellout crowds and winning a league championship
in their inaugural season.... The Louisville
Bats (Class AAA; International League) have
announced a five-year agreement with Louisville’s
Real Sports Radio leader, WKRD-AM 790, to
be the radio home of Bats baseball for the
foreseeable future. 790 WKRD will broadcast all
144 Bats regular season games, both home and road,
as well as any playoff games Louisville may appear
in. Programming will also include a half-hour
pregame show prior to all Bats games. In addition
to the 790 WKRD broadcast, Bats fans will also be
able to access live broadcasts via the Bats
website at www.batsbaseball.com....The
Montgomery Biscuits (Class AA; Southern
League) have promoted Greg Rauch to
President/General Manager. The honor coincides
with the promotion of Biscuits Assistant General
Manager Patrick Day to General Manager of
the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest
League). Professional Sports Marketing, a
Chicago-based company owned by Tom Dickson
and Sherrie Myers, owns both teams. With
the departure of Day, Biscuits Director of Ticket
Sales Travis Burkett will assume the
entirety of Montgomery Biscuits ticket sales. A
native of Dayton, Ohio, Rauch was named Co-General
Manager of the Biscuits upon their inception in
2004, serving in that capacity until he was named
General Manager before the 2006 baseball season.
Prior to coming to Montgomery in 2004, Rauch
worked for eight years for the Lugnuts, eventually
serving as General Manager. In the 2006
season, Rauch oversaw a record number of fans walk
through the gates at Riverwalk Stadium, including
7,454 fans in attendance for the Southern League
All-Star Game. For his efforts, he was honored as
the 2006 Southern League Jimmy Bragan Executive of
the Year. Originally from Western Massachusetts,
Day arrived in Montgomery in 2004 after spending
five years in Charleston, West Virginia, where he
also worked his way up to General Manager. With
the Biscuits, Day managed the entire ticket sales
operation and was responsible for individual
single tickets sales and group sales....The
Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International
League) announced that Marc Bombard will
serve as manager for the 2007 season. The team
also announced that pitching coach Juan Nieves
and hitting coach Tack Wilson will
return to the Knights. Bombard enters his 23rd
season as a minor-league manager.
He has spent 34 years in professional baseball,
spending last season as first base coach for the
Philadelphia Phillies. He is no stranger to the
International League having managed at
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2005 and with
Indianapolis from 1993-95 when the team was part
of the American Association. This will mark
Nieves' 3rd season as pitching coach in Charlotte,
his 9th with the White Sox organization. Wilson
begins his 2nd season in the White Sox
organization and in Charlotte....Brian Murphy,
a 26-year-old assistant coach at Division II
Bryant University in Rhode Island, has been named
manager of the Battle Creek Bombers (summer
collegiate; Northwoods League)....The
Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League)
announced their coaching staff for the 2007
campaign. Rafael Santana, shortstop for the
World Series Champion New York Mets in 1986, will
make his Southern League managerial debut. Santana
will be joined by returning pitching coach
Richard Dotson, and returning athletic trainer
Joe Geck, as well as conditioning coach
Adam Tischler in his first season with the
Barons. The Barons hitting instructor will be
announced at a later date. Santana, 49, will begin
his ninth season in the White Sox organization and
his 13th in minor-league baseball. Santana comes
to Birmingham after making his managerial debut at
Winston-Salem in 2006, where he compiled a 66-72
record. Dotson, 45, starts his sixth year in the
White Sox organization and third in the Magic City
as the Barons pitching coach. Geck, 33, returns
for his seventh season as the Barons trainer, and
15th year in the White Sox organization. Tischler,
25, begins his third season in the White Sox
organization, and first in Birmingham....
St. Louis gets 2009 All-Star
Game
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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The 2009
All-Star Game will be played at
Busch Stadium, the
home of the St. Louis Cardinals. MLB Commissioner
Bud Selig made the announcement last night at the
49th annual dinner hosted by the St. Louis chapter
of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
No surprise: Selig had promised the game to St.
Louis citizens if they supported a new ballpark,
and the only issue was how soon the baseball-happy
city would host the game. It will be the fifth
time the All-Star Game has been played in St.
Louis; Sportsman's Park hosted the game in 1940,
1948 and 1957, while the previous Busch Stadium
hosted the 1966 midsummer classic. The award is
conditional on the Cards making certain
improvements to the ballpark (detailed in the next
story). UPDATE: Though it's been rumored
for months,
apparently MLB officials are ready to name
Yankee Stadium
as the host of the 2008 All-Star Game.
Busch upgrades to cost
Cardinals more than $3 million
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Busch Stadium
may be only one season old, but the St. Louis
Cardinals are spending more than $3 million on
facility upgrades to improve the fan experience.
Plans call for additional escalators, seating and
restrooms to be in place for Opening Day in April.
Improvements to the press box are also in the
works. The Cardinals also are turning temporary
seats installed for the 2006 playoffs into
permanent fixtures. The plan calls for 143 seats
to extend from the dugouts toward the outfield in
foul territory at field level. Team officials also
are considering seat additions in previously
designated standing-room locations. The Cardinals
also have completed work on a conference center
within the ballpark. Three private conference
rooms overlooking the intersection of Clark
Avenue, Stadium Plaza and Eighth Street are
available for companies and organizations to meet
before games. The center targets corporate
customers who want to use an outing at a game as a
functional business gathering.
Ballpark has new hue
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Space Coast
Stadium, the spring home of the Washington
Nationals and the regular-season home of the
Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida
State League),
is undergoing some major repairs this offseason.
Since Brevard County commissioners committed $2.6
million in tourist taxes to stadium improvements,
contractors have been working feverishly to
implement them. That includes weekends, through
the holidays and even under the lights. Key
improvements to the 14-year-old facility include
replacing the old teal seats -- a color that dates
back to when the Florida Marlins called Viera
their spring training home -- with new dark blue
seats. Hand rails are being painted bright red,
interior walls are getting a dark gray makeover,
and fresh coats of red and blue paint will adorn
the ballpark's exterior.
MLB revives Marlins' push
for new ballpark
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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More on the
recent developments surrounding efforts to land a
new downtown Miami ballpark for the Florida
Marlins. There's no doubt MLB officials have been
working the hardest on the plan: they recognize
Miami as a key market for the growth of the game
and have done all the grunt work -- taking out
land options and wooing state and local officials
-- to make it work. By contrast, the management of
the Florida Marlins has been pushed aside to an
extent after some rather crude attempts to
blackmail local officials into action, beginning
with an awkward visit to San Antonio and
culminating with ill-fated ballpark plans in
Pompano Beach and Hialeah.
Currently MLB is waiting the results of a study
determining the exact costs of a retractable-roof
ballpark; the number tossed around is $500
million. Even at that number the state will need
to step in with some sort of funding.
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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
Debt issue added to mix
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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A public-private plan to build a ballpark near
downtown Winston-Salem would leave the city paying
debt on two ballparks at the same time, a scenario
that was not mentioned last month when officials
first presented the plan. When it was first
discussed, officials said that the sale of
Ernie
Shore Field would help pay for the new stadium.
But they didn't say that the long-term debt owed
by the city on
Ernie
Shore Field, the current home of
the Winston-Salem Warthogs (High Class A; Carolina
League), is estimated to increase to $4.1 million
by the time it is paid off in nearly 20 years. The
anticipated sale of
Ernie
Shore Field is expected
to provide the city with a large part of the
revenue -- more than $8 million over the course of
25 years -- that officials say would be needed to
pay for the new ballpark. For the debt on
Ernie
Shore Field, no money from the sale would be used.
Scott Sexton asks why the average Winston-Salem
citizen should support the deal.
A vote on the project is expected tonight.
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Council considers city help with moving expenses;
Prim's word is his bond;
Council postpones Winston-Salem ballpark vote;
Attendance, costs at question in W-S ballpark plan;
County quiet on funding for new Warthogs ballpark;
W-S ballpark could avoid difficult permits since
it has no creek;
Traffic concerns dominate Winston-Salem ballpark
meeting;
City outlines routes to proposed Warthogs ballpark;
W-S finance committee recommends incentives for
new Warthogs ballpark;
New ballpark in Winston-Salem a go;
Nearing the goal in Winston-Salem;
New Warthogs ballpark won't affect local streets;
Winston-Salem ballpark plan takes time to stretch
That warm feeling in
Lakeland
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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You can bet
Joker Marchant Stadium will be rocking next month
when the
surprising Detroit Tigers head down to Lakeland's
Tiger Town for spring training. If you're heading
to Florida for spring training, strongly consider
a trip to Lakeland: Tiger Town is one of the great
venues of spring training, and with the Tiger
surprisingly contending for a divisional crown
last season there's plenty of excitement
surrounding the franchise.
Community leaders eager to see Twins ballpark
design
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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More
on a meeting last week where community
representatives grilled reps from the Minnesota
Twins about the design of
the new downtown Warehouse District ballpark.
The city councilperson for the area, Lisa Goodman, took
the Twins and architects HOK Sport to task for not
going with a retro design, and while the team has
been pretty steadfast in public displaying a
modern design, the whole thing is a little
premature, as the Twins are simply not ready to
unveil a final design. Really, what's going on is
here is the continued politicization everything
connected with the ballpark. Considering there's
very little retro in the immediate
vicinity of the ballpark apart from the Ford
Centre (unless you consider Target Center and the
garbage burner to have a retro design), the
criticism isn't entirely valid.
RELATED STORIES:
Twins ballpark likely to sport modern look;
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County shoppers;
Ballpark players ironing out use, development
agreements;
Twins release more details on new ballpark;
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Ballpark's link to downtown Minneapolis
inadequate, group says;
Ballpark should be held to high standards;
Twins formally announce design team for new
ballpark;
Firms lined up early for stadium work;
Eminent-domain effort begins for Twins ballpark
land;
Designing the experience around the Twins ballpark;
Ideas for Twins ballpark, some from left field;
A freeze frame for Twins;
Experts blow hot, cold on ways to heat new Twins
ballpark;
Appraisal delay puts Twins new ballpark off
schedule;
Twins pick ballpark designers;
As Twins chase playoffs, ballpark preparations
push on;
Twins ballpark on track to open in 2010;
Hennepin County Board approves ballpark sales tax;
It's official: Twins to switch broadcast rights to
KSTP-AM;
Twins to switch broadcast partner after 46 seasons;
Twins seek partners for naming rights,
sponsorships;
Twins searching for trademark ballpark design;
Hennepin County OKs spending plan for Twins
ballpark;
Naming rights options scary;
More than a ballpark in Minneapolis
Oakland A's owner buys
office park near proposed Fremont ballpark
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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Oakland A's co-owner Lew Wolff has purchased an
office park on 18 acres north of the proposed
Cisco Field ballpark site, giving Wolff and the
team control of roughly 170 acres of south Fremont
property as the team ramps up its efforts to move
there from Oakland. Wolff is expected to give an
overview Tuesday evening of some of those plans to
the City Council and residents in the ballclub's
first public Fremont meeting. Wolff confirmed on
Friday that he bought the Fountains Business Park,
at 42300-42898 Albrae St., north of Auto Mall
Parkway. The office park has six buildings.
RELATED STORIES:
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;
A's not ready to slide out of Oakland yet;
A's pass on longer lease for McAfee Coliseum;
Owner gives up on moving A's to San Jose;
A's to decide ballpark fate by end of season;
Fremont's attempt to lure A's running into
obstacles;
'Let's plan for A's move,' Coliseum agency told;
San Jose voters jeer ballpark plan;
Wolff wants to keep A's in Bay Area;
A's, Fremont near deal;
A's must stay, Oakland mayor candidates say;
A's close to deal for Fremont ballpark, officials
say;
Rumors trail A's search for new ballpark;
A's owner in Fremont for meetings;
Wolff says there's land for new A's ballpark in
Fremont;
A's officials confirm interest in new Fremont
ballpark;
A's take long look at Fremont ballpark site;
The San Jose A's of Fremont?;
San Jose will buy land for A's ballpark;
Will smaller mean better for the A's?;
A's committed to intimate 34,000 park in '06;
A's owner's new plan for ballpark;
Talks for new A's ballpark sputter;
Soccer stadium throws curve at San Jose baseball
plan;
A's ownership group wants to buy MLS expansion
team for San Jose;
Athletics denied 3-year Coliseum lease extension;
A's ballpark: 'Baseball Village' in the vision
stage;
Planning ahead to get A's to San Jose;
San Jose buys first parcel of land for ballpark;
Land acquisition for San Jose ballpark may cost
$100 million;
San Jose goes to bat for ballpark property;
Fremont will consider a pitch for A's;
Wolff on the hunt for more A's fans, new ballpark;
Oakland ballpark village plan designed to win
allies, public funds;
Wolff's vision of ballpark raises questions;
Wolff unveils plans for 35,000-seat ballpark near
Coliseum;
A's owner to offer specific ballpark plan to keep
team in Oakland;
Have A's settled on new ballpark site?;
Smallball suits Lew Wolff just fine;
A's think small with stadium plans;
Fremont politicians make a pitch for A's;
A's say Coliseum lot isn't feasible;
Athletics announce committee
to plan new Oakland ballpark;
Another San Jose site eyed
for baseball;
The time has come for new
A's ballpark;
No specifics on new Oakland
ballpark, but plans in the works;
San Jose quits discussions
on cannery;
Wolff about to take over;
Going to bat for A's is big
opportunity for San Jose mayor;
Wolff: A's ballpark already
in works;
Deal near for San Jose
cannery site;
For A's, way to San Jose
paved with uncertainty;
San Jose baseball crusader
makes his pitch;
A's sale could happen
quickly;
Sale of A's to heighten San
Jose intrigue;
BART to the ballpark, what a
vision;
Another San Jose pitch for
baseball;
San Jose mayor makes his
pitch;
Q&A with A's new owner Lew
Wolff
Harry Grove Stadium: An
economic key to the city?
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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In December, Frederick County retracted $500,000
budgeted for Harry Grove Stadium improvements in
fiscal 2007, reasoning the money, which had
resulted from better-than-expected impact fee
revenue, would be better spent on other
infrastructure needs. Now, the city, which owns
and leases the ballpark, and the state, are the
only remaining partners in the expected $7 million
to $9 million renovations, with Frederick putting
in $2.1 million in fiscal 2007 and $1 million for
fiscal 2008, and Annapolis forking over $2 million
in both years. That leaves the owner of the
Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League),
Ken Young, needing to evaluate how much he wants
to put into the aging ballpark. Complicating
things: the team's lease ends on March 31, and
city officials say they want a new lease to yield
more revenues for the municipality.
Here's a history of the ballpark.
RELATED STORIES:
Alderman: Frederick could lose Keys team;
City, county to
discuss Keys' ballpark renovation funding
Buyer in the works for Cubs?
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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Bids for
the Tribune Company -- which owns the Chicago
Cubs, Wrigley Field and WGN TV/Radio, among other
assets -- are due by the end of business tomorrow,
but so far there's only one serious bidder
emerging:
a group composed of three private equity firms --
Madison Dearborn Partners of Chicago, Apollo
Management of New York and Providence Equity
Partners of Rhode Island. The consortium has long
been viewed as a contender for Tribune because of
Madison Dearborn's Chicago roots and its reported
interest in hometown assets such as the Cubs and
WGN-TV. Former Tribune Chief Executive John W.
Madigan was a Madison Dearborn partner until he
took a leave of absence in the fall and later
resigned. Tribune's control of the Cubs could be
viewed as particularly attractive to Madison
Dearborn CEO John Canning, a onetime college
catcher and avid baseball man who has said he
would like to own a major league team. Canning
already is an investor in several minor-league
teams --
he has interests in the Norfolk Tides (Class
AAA; International League) and the Albuquerque
Isotopes (Class AAA: Pacific Coast League), among
others -- and has a minority interest in Major
League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers.
Relocating a team to
Portland makes sense
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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The
argument here is that if a MLB does relocate,
Portland is the perfect market. Really, the issue
is whether any team will relocate in the near
future: MLB is determined to keep the Marlins in
Florida, and the lease at Tropicana Field makes
relocation troublesome for the Tampa Bay Devil
Rays. It does make sense: depending on the
measuring, Portland is the #23 television market
in the United States, lagging Pittsburgh but ahead
of Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Kansas City. (Alas,
the Tampa Bay market is #12, so a move would be
problematic.) Still, Portland is not the largest
TV market to lack major-league baseball -- Orlando
and Sacramento are both larger -- but many of the
arguments laid out here are quite valid. The buzz
surrounding Las Vegas as a possible home for MLB
seems to have died down in recent months, boosting
Portland's chances.
Padres break ground on new Dominican academy
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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The San Diego Padres and HOK Sport unveiled a new
concept for baseball academies designed to meet
the special needs of future Major Leaguers from
the Dominican Republic. The design firm, along
with officials from the San Diego Padres and the
Dominican Republic, will break ground on a new
baseball training academy for the Padres in San
Cristobal.
"Training facilities in the Dominican Republic are becoming
more popular among Major League Baseball clubs,"
said David Bower, AIA, HOK Sport principal in
charge of the project. "But the level of detail
and atmosphere of the Padres’ training academy
sets a new mark for projects of this type around
the world."
The 15-acre training academy will provide players with a
complete environment crucial to their well-being
as they develop the skills necessary to become
professional baseball players in the United
States. It will feature two regulation-size
practice fields, one half-field, batting tunnels,
an 18,000-square-foot players’ residence to
accommodate up to 60 players, a 5,000-square-foot
managers'/coaches' residence, administrative
offices, a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse, weight
and training rooms, dining hall, and classrooms
for learning English language and customs.
The complex, situated in a campus-like format, takes
advantage of a hilltop site to maximize views of
the Caribbean while incorporating native materials
and landscape to achieve the resort-like
experience.
UNO invests in lights for
ballpark
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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There will be Friday-night lights for University
of New Orleans baseball this season. Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays,
too. The school is investing some $113,000 to
install temporary lighting at Ron Maestri Field
this season because the state's restoration of the
permanent lighting system heavily damaged by
Hurricane Katrina would not be complete until
after the end of the regular season in May. The
team will play 21 of its 33 home games at night,
starting with the Feb. 13 home opener against
Southern.
In memoriam:
Dick King
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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Dick
King, who helped bring minor league baseball back
to Montgomery with the Wings in 2001 and who famed
baseball executive Bobby Bragan once called the
"the Bill Veeck of the minor leagues," has died.
He was 87. King
was a longtime professional sports executive,
including years of service at all levels of
professional baseball, including the majors. He
held management and executive positions at the
major league level with Cincinnati, Cleveland and
the New York Yankees. With the Yankees, he was
executive director responsible for all business
operations of the club. On the day King died, he
received a phone call from Yankee owner George
Steinbrenner, according to business associate
Frank Evans of Montgomery.
JMU plans new ballpark
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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James Madison University hopes to begin
construction on a new baseball and softball
complex on the grounds of the old Harrisonburg
High School within 30 months. The JMU Board of
Visitors decided Friday to request an amendment to
the governor’s state budget that would provide $5
million for the facility. Now, the school will
wait to hear from the state legislature.
Increasing seating capacity to at least 3,000
would allow JMU to host NCAA regionals, something
it can’t do at 1,200-seat Long Field. In 2002,
McFarland said, the NCAA was interested in hosting
a regional at Madison but couldn’t because of
inadequate seating. The proposed ballpark would
replace Memorial Stadium. Built in 1948 as a home
for the Harrisonburg Turks of the Valley League,
Memorial Stadium was named for the 139 area
veterans who died in World War II. It was paid for
by donations.
MCBL adds a fifth team
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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Parker is the latest member of the
summer-collegiate Mountain Collegiate Baseball
League, becoming the fifth team in the league. The
new team is listed on the league's Web site but
does not yet have a nickname or coach. It will
play its home games at Double Angel Ballpark, a
community facility in Parker. Original members of
the league, which began play in 2005, are the
Cheyenne Grizzlies, Greeley Grays, Laramie Colts
and the Fort Collins Foxes.
Ballpark
Notes
Posted Jan. 16, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Brazos Valley Bombers (summer collegiate;
Texas Collegiate League) introduced Kevin
Moulder as the team’s head coach for the 2007
season. Moulder, an assistant coach with the
University of Central Missouri, brings to the
Bombers a championship resume and a strong
coaching background for the club’s inaugural
season. Moulder joins the Bombers after enjoying
tremendous success this past summer with the
Laramie (Wyo.) Colts of the Mountain Collegiate
Baseball League. In his first turn as head coach,
Moulder guided the Colts to a 32-18 (.640 winning
percentage) record and captured the league title....Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class A; Sally
League) General Manager Dave Echols has
announced that Jim Pfander, who has served
as the club’s director of promotions the past two
seasons, has been promoted to assistant general
manager. Pfander will continue with his
promotional responsibilities for the team....Don
Sutton is the new color analyst for
Washington Nationals broadcasts.
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