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:
Feb. 5-11, 2007
Hennepin County, Twins
say they'll look for a new ballpark site
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In
a move that's been rumored for the last few days,
Hennepin County officials say they'll look at
alternative sites for a new Twins ballpark, as the
county and the owners of a key piece of land at
the downtown Minneapolis site continue to be at
loggerheads over the property's value. When the
Minnesota Legislature was debating the idea of a
new ballpark, the leaders of the Land Partners III
group controlling the land --
Rich Pogin and Bruce Lambrecht -- assured
legislators they wouldn't have any problems coming
to a sales agreement with the county. At that
time, however, their economic plan was to tell the
land to the county and then retain development
rights to the area surrounding the ballpark. Now,
with the downtown condo market slowing down and
development partner Hines saying they don't
foresee any immediate development in the area, the
economic model used by Land Partners III calls for
them to make as much money on the Twins project as
possible because
returns
from associated development may not come quickly.
One idea that seems to be gaining some steam:
locating the new ballpark near the
Metrodome.
Ironically, the eastern part of downtown
Minneapolis is trendy these days -- the
Metrodome
never did much to stimulate the area, but the new
Guthrie Theater, some popular restaurants and a
slew of condo projects near the waterfront have
instilled a new sense of life to the area. Some
large chunks of land are expected to be available
once the sale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is
finalized, and there's plenty of open sites
between the
Metrodome and the riverfront. (In fact, there
may be some attractive sites right on the
riverfront.) Potential competition for a suitable
site: the Minnesota Vikings, who already have
expressed a preference for a new stadium in the
area. Is all of this political? Sure.
Hennepin County officials want to remind the
landowners who is driving this train. But both
sides are capable of playing hardball, and what's
lost in all these discussions is the status of
Pogin and Lambrecht as longtime conservative
activists -- a status that many in the DFL-controlled
Minnesota Legislature remember all too clearly, so
getting state approval for a switch may not be as
difficult as some believe.
More from the Star Tribune
and
Sid Hartman.
RELATED STORIES:
Draft environmental review for Twins ballpark
unveiled;
Judge rules Twins ballpark has public purpose;
sides still apart on price;
Community leaders eager to see Twins ballpark
design;
Twins ballpark likely to sport modern look;
Ballpark site owners put squeeze on Twins;
New year brings new ballpark tax for Hennepin
County shoppers;
Ballpark players ironing out use, development
agreements;
Twins release more details on new ballpark;
New Twins ballpark bypasses standard reviews;
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
Sounds delay ballpark
opening until 2009
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League)
will be unable to open their proposed downtown
ballpark until April 2009 -- a year later than the
planned April 2008 completion date -- and the
ballpark's cost may be higher than the $43 million
originally estimated, team officials confirmed
Thursday. The news comes on the heels of the Metro
Council’s decision in December to give the Sounds
and Baltimore developer Struever Bros., Eccles &
Rouse a four-and-a-half month extension to
complete financing for the stadium, moving an
original, contracted deadline from Dec. 31 to
April 15 this year.
Citi Field construction on budget, on time
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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Jeff
Wilpon said the construction progress at
Citi
Field
is on time and on budget, and that the New York
Mets' new ballpark is set to open in 2009. "I am
very pleased with how things are progressing," the
Mets' chief operating officer said yesterday. "We
are on schedule. The winter has been pretty good
to us, so we might actually be ahead of schedule."
Wilpon said the project, which will cost $800
million, is currently within 1 percent of its
budget. Construction began in right field and will
move clockwise. Already the framework for a stair
tower has been built, and cement supports for the
installation of several foundation beams have been
poured. Wilpon said by Opening Day the steel
girders for the first level will be up, and by
June the exterior facing on the first level will
be raised. You'll be able to see things well from
Shea
Stadium.
More from the New York Times
and
Newsday.
RELATED STORIES:
Business will get personal around Citi Field;
Naming rights are all about the money;
Boro buzzes with talk of new Mets ballpark;
Mets break ground on new ballpark;
New Mets ballpark to be called CitiField;
Yankees, Mets bond sales set, both teams rated
junk;
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;
Ebbets' echoes in Queens;
At Mets' park, you'll think you're
in...Pittsburgh?;
State agency approves plans for Yankees, Mets
ballparks;
Mets to go old school in new park
Ripken out of running in
Harrisburg; Ivy Walls still under consideration
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
city of Harrisburg has decided to continue
negotiations to sell the Harrisburg Senators
(Class AA; Eastern League) with two groups, we've
learned; Ivy Walls Management is reportedly one of
the two firms, but apparently the bid from Ripken
Baseball did not make the cut. Only four entities
bid for the Senators, far fewer than the 20 or so
suitors the Harrisburg mayor had promised, and
there's still a sense from the city and local
officials we talk with that the team may not end
up being sold after all. We believe the other
group whose bid is still under consideration is an
existing minor-league operator with teams at the
Class AA and Class A levels. Ivy Walls Management
owns the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast
League) and the Lexington Legends (Low Class A;
Sally League).
A's tout Cisco Field in ticket mailer
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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By
spending nearly $50,000 during the next four years, you too can have the best
seats at Cisco Field. That's the deal the Oakland A's are offering prospective
season ticket holders in a flier mailed to fans this week. The mailer offers
"seating priority" for a high-end package of four "MVP Infield" seats that top
out at an annual price of $12,489. Less expensive season ticket packages also
will give fans ticket access to Cisco Field, which may open as soon as 2011.
However, exact seating requests are not guaranteed, the flier's fine print
reads. In short, fans who purchase season tickets for games at Oakland's
McAfee Coliseum and continue to
renew their season tickets until the proposed Fremont ballpark opens will be
given first priority, A's spokesman Jim Young said.
RELATED STORIES:
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;
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
Appalachian
League to operate with nine teams in 2007
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
rookie Appalachian League will operate with nine teams in 2007 as a five-month
search to replace the Pulaski Blue Jays fell short. The opening in Pulaski was
created with the departure of the Toronto Blue Jays as that city's major league
affiliate with the conclusion of the 2006 Appalachian League season. Numerous
efforts to find either a new major league affiliate for Pulaski or replace the
Blue Jays with some other sort of team acceptable to league directors have gone
unrewarded. "Without a doubt, this has been a very unfortunate sequence of
events that has left Pulaski without a team for the upcoming season. Since they
returned to the league in 1997, they have made over $1.6 million worth of
improvements to their ballpark and have met every requirement that has been set
before them. Everyone associated with our league has spent countless hours
trying to find a solution for this dilemma," said league president Lee Landers
in making the announcement. He added that it is always better for the league to
operate with an even number of teams and that he would remain focused on the
hope of finding a major-league partner for Pulaski for the 2008 season.
RELATED STORIES:
Pulaski searching for sub;
Pulaski loses Jays as parent; negotiations
underway for replacement;
Blue Jays inform Appy League of plan to pull from
Pulaski
Ballpark Village developer
gets its way: It's the firm's call on condos
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Ballpark Village proposal that St. Louis's Board
of Aldermen is poised to approve today gives the
developer, Baltimore-based Cordish Co., exactly
what it wanted early on: the ability to back out
of building condos. The reworked plan, made public
Wednesday, does not require Cordish to build 250
residential units that were originally part of the
first phase. Other aspects in the revised
proposal, which aldermen have been given less than
three days to digest, would allow Cordish to
shrink the amount of retail space in the
entertainment district. There are also slight
changes to sections of the deal on everything from
signs to security, as well as components that help
to protect the city, too. Ballpark Village is a
mixed-use development from the St. Louis Cardinals
and Cordish on the former Busch Stadium site, next
to the new
Busch
Stadium.
Prim: I'll run figures in offer
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
lead developer of a proposed ballpark complex in downtown Winston-Salem said
yesterday that he is not sure if he will accept a tax-incentive proposal offered
by Forsyth County. Billy Prim, a co-owner of the Winston-Salem Warthogs (High
Class A; Carolina League), said he received the county's latest
economic-incentive offer and is working with financial models to see if the deal
makes financial sense. Prim spoke after leaving a closed-door meeting yesterday
afternoon with county commissioners to discuss the county's incentives offer. He
said he would likely comment on the offer next week. The county has offered
incentives worth half of the property-tax revenue that would be generated by the
proposed ballpark complex. At that rate, the county could pay as much as $11.3
million over 25 years if the entire $189 million development is built; Prim had
asked for $14 million. The Warthogs currently play at
Ernie Shore
Field.
RELATED STORIES:
County's ballpark offer in;
New museum part of Winston-Salem ballpark?;
Winston-Salem approves new Warthogs ballpark;
county is next;
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
Selig is cleaning up his
image
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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As
MLB prepares for the 2007 season, Bud Selig is
making the rounds and touting his accomplishments
over the last few years. The premise here is that
he's getting lots of credit for improvements in
baseball and really not to blame for things like
steroid abuse. There's a germ of truth to it --
the players' association does share in culpability
when it comes to steroid abuse in baseball -- but
the fact remains baseball seems to be in pretty
good financial shape. We're dubious whether Selig
actually had much to do with it -- as you survey
the sports world, you realize sports of all sorts,
ranging from minor-league baseball to MLS soccer,
is is pretty good shape -- as
baseball is just one part of societal trends that
include an emphasis on sports as a social
activity.
Will $400M get Xanadu on
track?
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Meadowlands Xanadu entertainment and retail
project is being reenergized to the tune of at
least $400 million in construction contracts this
year, developer Colony Capital Investments
announced Thursday. But CCI Vice President Dan
Haggarty -- speaking during a one-hour tour of
Colony's midtown Manhattan leasing office -- could
not offer specifics on other possible Xanadu
components, such as a minor league baseball park
for the Bergen Cliff Hawks (independent; Atlantic
League), a state Hall of Fame or a Bergen
Community College campus. That got a rise out of
Cliff Hawks owner Kalafer, who is suing Mills over
what he said are broken promises for a 6,500-seat
park at the Continental Arena site, who said he
has yet to have "one meaningful conversation" with
Colony. Other Meadowlands officials say they'll
continue to lobby for the ballpark, but without a
written commitment, they may not have much
leverage.
RELATED STORIES:
Deals give troubled Xanadu new hope;
Panel approves new Xanadu leadership;
New investor gives hope to Xanadu;
Judge won't dismiss suit against Xanadu developers;
Xanadu won't kick out baseball team -- for now;
Developer wants to open way for other teams;
'Frustrated' by ballpark delays;
Don't let Mills renege on Bergen ballpark;
A ballpark deal, but with a big 'if';
Xanadu price tag to rise; opening could be year
late
Lakeland is hot destination
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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You
don't think there was a little pent-up passion for
the Detroit Tigers the last decade or so? Then
look at what's happening in Lakeland, the spring
home of the Tigers. Finding a last-minute place to
stay in Lakeland, Fla., will be hit or miss for
Tigers fans bound for spring training without
reservations. The advice: call hotels directly and
don't rely on the Internet to determine if a hotel
is sold out or not.
Pewaukee looks at baseball
plan
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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There
was early positive reaction to a proposal for a
new ballpark in Pewaukee (a Milwaukee suburb) to
house a summer-collegiate Northwoods League team.
Chad Bauer, Lake Country Baseball Group president,
said he is looking for a private-public
partnership with the city. He wants the city to
approve using about 6 acres of city park land for
the ballpark, which would be built by private
investors. The Tourism Committee on Thursday
referred the proposal to the Joint Park and
Recreation Board, which is to discuss it at 7 p.m.
Wednesday. The ballpark could be built on a
portion of the 60 acres the city owns at Highway
74 and Lindsay Road.
RELATED STORIES:
Group to pitch Northwoods League team in Pewaukee
Newberry College to
play homes games at Greenville Municipal Stadium
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Newberry College baseball team will play all of
their homes games this season in Greenville, S.C.
at Greenville Municipal Stadium, the former home
of the Greenville Braves (Class AA; Southern
League) and the Greenville Bombers (Low Class A;
Sally League). In addition to the 25 home games
that will be played at Municipal Stadium, the
facility will also be the host site of the 2007
South Atlantic Conference Baseball Tournament
while Newberry will be the host school.
Harry Caray's to help break
the 1908 Curse of the Cubs
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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We
certainly are near the beginning of the baseball
season if we have some
folks in Chicago do something or another to break
the Curse of the Cubs. At Harry Caray's, a Feb. 15
dinner will be held to break the curse, which
dates back to 1908. The night after the big World
Series win in 1908, Broadway legend George Cohan
hosted a celebratory dinner at Rector's Restaurant
for the victorious players. Conspicuously absent
from the guest list was Cubs President Charles W.
Murphy. Murphy was met with considerable criticism
for his handling of World Series tickets and poor
seat availability for the fans and subsequently
was not invited to the dinner. Although Murphy
bore no relation to the originator of Murphy's Law
(anything that can go wrong will go wrong), the
adage has certainly applied to the luckless Cubs
ever since 1908. Consider that the goat denied
access to Wrigley Field in 1945 was named Murphy,
the Mets' announcer calling the game when a black
cat on the field reversed the Cubs' 1969 dominant
lead was Bob Murphy; and the ballpark in which the
Cubs blew their near certain trip to the 1984
World Series was Jack Murphy Stadium. On Feb. 15
Harry Caray's will hold a reenactment of the 1908
dinner, only this time Murphy will be there.
Chicagoans with each of the following surnames
will be invited: Cohan, Chance, Tinker, Steinfeldt,
Howard, Sheckard, Evers, Moran, Williams and
Murphy. In addition, all guests with Model T's,
the car which debuted in 1908, will receive free
valet parking.
Ballpark Notes
Posted Feb. 9, 2007 (feedback)
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Bret
Lasky
returns as the voice of the Fayetteville
SwampDogs (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain
League) for his second season at J.P. Riddle
Stadium. Lasky will again deliver the play-by-play
of all 28 home games on the CPL webpass. New for
the upcoming season, Lasky will deliver the
play-by-play for all road games. The road games
can be heard on the local ESPN Radio affiliate in
Fayetteville, WCIE 1450. Lasky, a
graduating senior at the University of Maryland,
called every pitch of every SwampDogs game at J.P.
Riddle Stadium last season, as well as the entire
Pettit Cup tournament. He is the Sports Director
of WMUC Radio at the University of Maryland. As
the lead play-by-play voice for Terrapin football,
basketball and baseball, he has called nearly 300
games during his career at Maryland. His
highlights include calling the 2006 National
Championship women’s basketball game and the 2007
Champs Sports Bowl....The St. Paul Saints
(independent; American Association) have hired
Sean Aronson as media relations director and
play-by-play announcer, the club announced today.
Aronson will serve as the club’s main contact for
local and national media and provide the
play-by-play call for all Saints radio broadcasts.
A six-year veteran behind the microphone, Aronson
spent the last four seasons with the Fort Myers
Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League)
as director of broadcasting/media relations. He
called all 140 games for the Miracle from 2003-06
along with select Twins spring training games
during the last two seasons on the local ESPN
affiliate. Like the Saints, the Miracle is owned
and operated by the Goldklang Group, a sports
entertainment consulting and management
firm....The Battle Creek Bombers (summer
collegiate; Northwoods League) announced the
hiring of Jon Young as the Assistant
General Manager for the 2007 season. Young
will assist in the team’s marketing, sales and
promotions in its inaugural season in addition to
overseeing game day events and community
relations. Young brings over six years of
sports marketing experience to the Bombers. He
began his career in 1998 as an intern with the
Chicago Wolves hockey team, then a member of the
International Hockey League. Young has previously
worked with three expansion teams in his career,
most recently starting the business operations for
the Dupage Dragons (summer collegiate;
Central Illinois Collegiate League).
Wrigley Field, Yankee
Stadium listed among America's architectural gems
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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Wrigley Field was listed #31 in a vote of
America's favorite structure, in a poll conducted
by the American Institute of Architects. Also listed was
Yankee Stadium at #84, though the presumption in
the poll is that the current Yankee Stadium is the
same as the original 1923 building -- and it's
not. Other ballparks on the list:
AT&T Park
(#104), Fenway Park (#113),
Oriole Park at Camden
Yards (#122), the Astrodome (#134) and
Safeco Field
(#135). You can
view the full list here, but be patient: the
AIA chintzed out when it came to a working
Website, so performance is breathtakingly slow.
More from Medill News Service.
County's ballpark offer in
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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Forsyth County commissioners could give developers
of a proposed ballpark complex in Winston-Salem up
to $11.3 million in incentives, about $3 million
less than the developer had asked for, county
officials said yesterday. Commissioner Walter
Marshall said that the county board of
commissioners has offered the developers
incentives worth half of the property-tax revenue
that would be generated by the proposed stadium
complex. At that rate, the county could pay up to
$11.3 million over 25 years if the entire $189
million development is built, which includes a new
ballpark for the Winston-Salem Warthogs (High
Class A; Carolina League), stores, offices and
residences. The Warthogs currently play at
Ernie Shore Field.
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New Warthogs ballpark won't affect local streets;
Winston-Salem ballpark plan takes time to stretch
Rays seem ready to dump
Devil
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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When the Tampa Bay Devil Rays unveil new logos,
colors and uniforms for the 2008 season, they
likely still will be known by their old name. Or
at least their old last name. After considering a
complete change of identity to mark the end of
their first decade, team officials apparently will
instead drop the Devil and keep the Rays. "We
haven't made a final decision, but we are leaning
toward the direction of a change in uniform, a
change of colors, a change in logo and perhaps a
slight modification of the name," team president
Matt Silverman said. "But it's unlikely we will
have a dramatic change in the name." The Rays
play at Tropicana
Field.
Cobb project to launch with
pool's removal
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The city of Billings is shooting for a March 21
start on the demolition of Athletic Park pool, the
first step in building a new ballpark on the 900
block of North 27th Street. The $12.5 million
replacement for the 60-year-old
Cobb Field has to
be ready in time for the 2008 home opener of the
Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). The
project is being divided into three phases --
demolition of the pool, excavation for the new
ballpark, then demolition of the existing ballpark
and completion of the playing field. After the
pool is removed, the contractor can begin the
excavation work and construction of the ballpark.
The new field will be sunk 5 to 8 feet below
street level, depending on the water table. Once
the 2007 baseball season ends, demolition of the
existing ballpark will begin at once, with
excavation for the new field to follow.
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of new Cobb Field;
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Gaming operator donates $1 million toward Billings
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Billings needs ballpark to be proud of, not field
of dreams;
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Cobb Field panel pursues closer look at costs;
Billings panel asks for Cobb Field tax measure;
Forums planned on Cobb Field proposal;
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Cobb Field replacement could cost $12 million;
HNTB selected for Cobb Field renovation;
Cobb proposals narrowed to 2;
Six proposals vie to study Cobb Field
Ballpark Village funding
plan gets go-ahead for vote
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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A reworked proposal for funding Ballpark Village
next to
Busch Stadium got the green light at City
Hall on Wednesday, making the deal eligible for a
final vote later this week. In a string of special
meetings, the city's Estimate Board and, later,
the Board of Aldermen endorsed the plan, despite
warnings from some that the deal was too complex
to pass in a hurry. The mayor's office presented
changes to the original plan that could shrink the
first phase of the project planned next to the new
Busch Stadium. The changes would make building
condos -- once a key part of the proposal --
optional. They also would decrease the required
amount of retail space by about 10 percent. The
team is hoping to open at least part of Ballpark
Village by the summer of 2009, when the new
stadium will host its first Major League All-Star
Game. That almost certainly requires final city
approval to come before aldermen begin their
two-month spring recess at the end of the week.
The Cardinals and Cordish are seeking up to $115
million in state and local subsidies for the
project.
Snappers ballpark issue
remains hot topic
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Minnesota
Twins GM Terry Ryan -- a local boy of sorts, being
from Janesville -- was in Beloit for the Beloit
Snappers Hot Stove Banquet, and he was asked about
the issue of a new ballpark for the Beloit
Snappers (Low Class A; Midwest League). His
response was a standard one -- that it's a local
issue -- but others continue to express concern
about the future of the franchise and
Pohlman Field. We've heard
some in baseball circles lament the inability of
Snappers ownership to pull off a move up the
freeway to Madison in past years, something that's
now virtually impossible given the popularity of
the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate;
Northwoods League) and that team's commitment to a
renovation of Warner Park.
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Beloit ballpark proposal hits snag;
New deal cited for land swap;
Snappers, fairgrounds deal proposed
Business will get personal
around Citi Field
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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One issue
with ballpark development is how a new facility
will affect the surrounding area. The New York
Mets are betting the construction of
Citi Field
next to the current
Shea Stadium will spruce up
the neighborhood, which consists of an auto
salvage yard and other light-industrial buildings.
Locals see the value of their properties going up
once the new ballpark opens (as do some
developers, who have submitted proposals to the
cit), but change may come slowly: it's not as
though the presence of
Shea Stadium has managed to
spiff up the area over the last 40-some years.
River Cats
unveil new logos
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The Sacramento River Cats (Class AAA; Pacific
Coast League) unveiled a new family of logos last
evening at a fashion show to benefit River Cats
Independence Field at Spataro Restaurant and Bar
in downtown Sacramento. The new logos mark the
first change or update in the River Cats official
team mark since the team’s arrival in Sacramento
in 2000. "It was important to the River Cats that
we create an event for this announcement that was
reflective of our personality -- fun, irreverent
and community oriented," said Alan Ledford, River
Cats President, General Manager and COO from the
event at Spataro. "We are constantly seeking to
keep our brand fresh and the River Cats and Raley
Field experience exciting. This is part of that
ongoing effort." "Project Home Runway," the
fashion show event where the logos were unveiled,
featured local designers and design students
showing off their own unique River Cats themed
clothing designs.
Twins ballpark planners
design a trail to suit cyclists
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The
new
Minnesota Twins ballpark will have a biking trail
incorporated into the design, as designers placed
the bike trail next to the railroad tracks that
will run next to the ballpark. The bike trail,
long sought to connect the Cedar Lake and
Kenilworth trails to the Mississippi River in
downtown Minneapolis, was scheduled to be built
this year but the ballpark project delayed it.
The other
salient fact not mentioned here: support for
alternative transportation methods is a checkoff
in LEED certification -- a measure of how "green"
a building is.
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County shoppers;
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agreements;
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inadequate, group says;
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ballpark;
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land;
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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
GBL suspends San Diego
franchise for 2007
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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The
independent Golden Baseball League suspended the
San Diego Surf Dawgs for the 2007 season. The
decision was attributed to the inability to
readdress the club's original five-year lease with
San Diego State for Tony Gwynn Stadium. GBL
President and founder Amit Patel said yesterday
that the Surf Dawgs could resurface as soon as
2008 at SDSU or another county location. The
league has explored playing in Oceanside,
Escondido or the East County, but a new or
improved venue would be needed in any of those
locales. The St. George Roadrunners will replace
the Surf Dawgs in the six-team league.
Pro baseball faces uphill
fight in Keller
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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The
announcement from the independent Continental
Baseball League to place teams in two Fort Worth
suburbs, Lewisville and Keller, wasn't met with
much enthusiasm. The Keller team will be playing
at a high-school field, and we all know what that
means: no smoking and no beer sales. In addition,
the Fort Worth Cats (independent; American
Association) seem to do a pretty good job of
attracting real baseball fans, and it's a gigantic
leap to think Fort Worth can support three
independent baseball teams. The CBL is expected to
announce the placement of a team in League City --
a suburb of Houston -- with the fourth team in the
startup league a traveling team.
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ballpark;
WU baseball field, CBL team are great fit;
Lafayette residents mixed on independent baseball
team;
Continental Baseball League to launch in 2007
Ballpark Notes
Posted Feb. 8, 2007 (feedback)
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The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern
League) announced the hiring and promotion of a
number of employees to set the club’s front office
staff for the 2007 season. Joe Soenksen was
promoted to Director of Field Operations and will
handle all sports turf duties for the
award-winning playing field at the
Baseball
Grounds of Jacksonville. Joe worked on the Suns
field crew in 2005 and returned as the main
assistant on the grounds crew in 2006. Joining the
Suns staff as the new Director of Community
Relations is Stefanie Brown. Stefanie was
originally a game-day employee and Community
Relations Intern for the Suns in 2004 while
finishing her degree at Flagler College in St.
Augustine. Also new to the front office this year
are Administrative Assistants Casey Nichols
and Matt Glancy....The Green Bay
Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods
League) has named Casey Ausloos as
assistant general manager and director of ticket
sales, and Rachell Shaffer as host family
coordinator....WNTA-AM is the new radio
home of Rockford RiverHawks (independent;
Frontier League) baseball. The RiverHawks
announced that they have moved their full 96-game
package to WNTA, 1330 AM. Bill Czaja
returns for his sixth season as the team's lead
play-by-play broadcaster. Each broadcast begins 15
minutes prior to gametime with the Miller Lite
Pregame Show. In addition to every regular-season
game, WNTA will also air the Frontier League
playoffs and a weekly, one-hour RiverHawks show.
The station is part of Maverick Media, which
includes WXRX-FM (104.9 - the X), WGFB-FM
(B103-FM) and WRTB-FM (BOB FM)....Former Major
Leaguer Greg Jelks has been signed as field
manager for the Slippery Rock Sliders
(independent; Frontier League) in their inaugural
season, the team announced this afternoon. Jelks
will be entering his sixth season as a field
manager in the Frontier League, having spent the
past five years at the helm of the Evansville
Otters. During this span, Jelks became the
winningest manager in team history (236-223 career
record) and led the Otters to three appearances in
the Frontier League Championship Series, including
winning the 2006 Frontier League title.
New Marlins ballpark a no-go
without state's help: Samson
Posted Feb. 7, 2007 (feedback)
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Florida Marlins
President David Samson expressed cautious optimism
about finally putting together a financing deal
for a new ballpark this season. (Not exactly
an overwhelming endorsement, really, but this is
the first time anyone from the Marlins has spoken
optimistically about making a deal.) Samson said
participation from the state is "critical," so he
was pleased that Gov. Charlie Crist has said he
views state support for the Marlins as an
investment in economic development. The Marlins,
Major League Baseball, the city of Miami and
Miami-Dade County are in talks to finance a nearly
$500 million ballpark in downtown Miami and are
hoping the Legislature will approve a $60 million
sales tax rebate to help complete the deal.
More from AP,
Miami Today and the
Miami Herald.
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long shot;
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ballpark;
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Orange County commissioner pushing for Marlins;
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Buyers sue Miami Arena owner;
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in downtown Miami;
Marlins officials tight-lipped on downtown Miami
ballpark proposal;
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end;
Selig: Marlins need a new ballpark;
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ballpark again;
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DuPuy meets with Marlins officials about new
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Hialeah ballpark plan hinges on financial
feasibility;
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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
Jaxx hope new slogan is a
hit with fans
Posted Feb. 7, 2007 (feedback)
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Jackson's
Diamond Jaxx Marketing Promotions Committee has
come up with a new marketing slogan for the West
Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League): "West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. It's a
hit." Catchy. The slogan is part of a larger
marketing effort to bring more fans to Pringles
Park. Other parts of the campaign is adopting a
player, where season-ticket holders can take a
player out to dinner or lunch; the formation of
the Cracker Jaxx, a conglomeration of 100 college
students who will help lead cheers and G-rated
taunting of opposing teams; and regional baseball
clinics for young players that will include a
Diamond Jaxx mentor. Paid attendance at Jaxx games
exceeded 300,000 each of the first three seasons.
Attendance has declined each year since to a low
of 95,486 last season.
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Diamond Jaxx purchase scrapped;
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Where will Jaxx fall?;
Mississippi-based businessman helping broker Jaxx
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Sportsplex could help solidify future of Diamond
Jaxx
St. Louis fast-tracks
Ballpark Village
Posted Feb. 7, 2007 (feedback)
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City officials have called a series of special
meetings for today that would allow rapid approval
on public financing for Ballpark Village, the
planned development next to
Busch Stadium. The
cluster of last-minute meetings is a push to have
a final vote on both topics before the Board of
Aldermen adjourns Friday for a nine-week spring
break. Though it's not unusual to schedule special
meetings close to the recess, seldom do aldermen
consider such weighty issues so close together,
and so quickly. At 9 a.m., the board's Housing
Committee will discuss a series of Ballpark
Village bills that were abruptly removed from the
committee's agenda last week. An hour later, the
city's Board of Estimate and Apportionment will
meet, with Ballpark Village on its agenda. The
Cardinals and their development partner,
Baltimore-based Cordish Co., are seeking more than
$100 million in tax subsidies for a six-block
entertainment district being planned for land next
to the ballpark.
Group to pitch Northwoods
League team in Pewaukee
Posted Feb. 7, 2007 (feedback)
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A company that has been trying to bring a
summer-collegiate Northwoods League team to
Waukesha County will make a pitch to Pewaukee
officials Thursday that includes building a
1,500-seat stadium. Lake Country Baseball Group is
scheduled to make a presentation to the city's
Tourism Committee about the ballpark and having a
Northwoods League franchise in the city. Chad
Bauer, president of Lake Country Baseball Group,
is seeking a couple of acres of city parkland on
which to build the ballpark, but other details
remain sketchy, said Ald. Doug Kiser, chairman of
the Tourism Committee. (Disclaimer: editor Kevin
Reichard sits on the Northwoods League Board of
Advisors.)
Continental League announces
two teams in Fort Worth area
Posted Feb. 7, 2007 (feedback)
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The
independent Continental Baseball League will place
teams in greater Fort Worth-Dallas area, with one
playing at Central High School in the Keller
school district, and the other playing in
Lewisville. Larry Faulkner will own the unnamed
Keller team. For all the talk from league
officials about making the CBL a southwest
regional league with 42 cities lining up to host
franchises, this is shaping up to be a much more
modest affair: with two of the four league teams
in the Fort Worth area, we can't see it being too
ambitious an undertaking in 2007.
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Lafayette residents mixed on independent baseball
team;
Continental Baseball League to launch in 2007
Ballpark Notes
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Jim
Rosenhaus, the voice of the Buffalo Bisons
(Class AAA; International League) since
1996, is leaving the team to join the Cleveland
Indians’ radio network....Jerry
Schemmel is the new voice of the Billings
Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). He's
currently the play-by-play radio voice of the
Denver Nuggets (NBA)....Loren Foxx is
the new general manager of the Inland Enpire
66ers (High Class A; California League). Foxx
joins the 2006 California League champs after
spending time with the Kansas City Brigade
(AFL), but most in baseball know him from his time
as media-relations director and broadcaster with
the Kansas City T-Bones (independent;
Northern League)....The Omaha Royals (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League) announced that it has
inked an agreement with Werner Enterprises, Inc.,
an Omaha-based global transportation services
company as its presenting sponsor for the 2007
baseball season. Werner Enterprises’ sponsorship
is broad reaching from combined branding elements
both at Rosenblatt and in the community to
fireworks, on-field promotions and charitable
activities. The Werner presenting sponsorship is
the first of its kind for the club....Keystone
Baseball, the owner and operator of minor
league baseball teams and ballparks including the
Lancaster Barnstormers, York Revolution,
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and Camden
Riversharks, has named Don Graham vice
president of event booking and production, it was
announced today by company president Jon Danos.
Graham is a creative and innovative event
production professional with proven experience in
the live entertainment industry including
concerts, family shows, community activities and
sports teams. He was most recently the assistant
general manager for the Wachovia Sports Complex in
Philadelphia. In his new role with Keystone
Baseball, Graham will be responsible for booking
and managing non-baseball events at current venues
operated by Keystone Baseball including Clipper
Magazine Stadium, Sovereign Bank Stadium, Regency
Furniture Stadium and Campbell’s Field, as well as
future planned venues throughout the United
States. He will take office in Camden....The
Fayetteville SwampDogs (summer collegiate;
Coastal Plain League) and ESPN Radio 1450
have announced a partnership for the 2007 season.
ESPN Radio 1450 will carry all 28 away games for
the SwampDogs. SwampDogs Assistant General Manager
Jeremy Aagard said, "We are pleased to
announce this partnership. All of our games will
be streamed on the internet via both websites and
give our fans a consistent and professional
broadcast."
The new pop-up video
Posted Feb. 6, 2007 (feedback)
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More on the
controversy in Kansas City over the Royals'
request to install a video-training system at
Kauffman
Stadium. The system will cost
$900,000, and the team wants it to be paid for by
taxpayers as part of
the $250 million renovation
of
Kauffman
Stadium -- something to which Jackson
County officials object. The debate rages on about
who should pay, but nobody has a problem with the
Royals trying to improve their team. Combined with
moving into a larger video room, the Royals’
upgrade would mean that more than twice as many
players can be helped at any given time. The
better technology means time can be used more
efficiently. In a matter of seconds, players can
search for video by pitcher, hitter, pitch count,
pitch selection or game situation with a few mouse
clicks.
RELATED STORIES:
Royals' training-system proposal upsets county
City, X's go to extra
innings
Posted Feb. 6, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Sioux City Council spent another chunk of a
meeting debating whether to amend a clerical error
in a lease with the Sioux City Explorers
(independent; American Association) and trying to
figure out who did what, said what and when. In
the end, the council refused to postpone the vote
again. Instead, the lawmakers unanimously deleted
the item from its agenda. The matter will return
at some unspecified date. Much of the wrangling
centered on when a clerical error was caught after
the council amended the team's lease for
Lewis and Clark
Park on Dec. 19, 2005.
The lease stated the team owed the city 5 percent
of all gross receipts exceeding $205,000 in any
calendar year. The figure was supposed to read
$1,205,000. That was the change the council was
asked to make Monday. Some citizens are using this
as a pretense of demand more money from the X's,
but some members of the city council -- rightfully
so -- say any increase in payments would surely
lead to the loss of the X's. There's been
rumblings in indy circles about the X's being
unprofitable for years now, and we're pretty sure
last season certainly saw the team lose money.
Team, city to build party
deck at Power Park
Posted Feb. 6, 2007 (feedback)
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The West Virginia Power (Low Class A; Sally
League) baseball team will build a party deck at
Appalachian Power Park where people can eat and
drink as much as they want for a single admission
price. City Council members signed off Monday
evening on the project, under which the city will
pay about $100,000 of the total cost. All
improvements will belong to the city, which owns
the park. Andy Milovich, the club’s executive vice
president, said the party deck is a way to
continue public interest, now entering its third
season in the new park. "It’s something new, to
keep the buzz factor," he told members of
council’s Finance Committee. It's certainly not a
new idea -- most teams in the summer-collegiate
Northwoods League have offered similar deals for
years now -- but it is an idea bubbling up into
the affiliated world.
Ballpark Notes
Posted Feb. 6, 2007 (feedback)
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Joe
Kruzel is the new manager of the Billings
Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). He spent
last season as the hitting coach for the Gulf
Coast League Reds. Kruzel replaces Joe
Ayrault, who was named manager of the Mustangs
last fall but has since been reassigned to manage
the Sarasota Reds (High Class A; Florida
State League). Pitching coach Pete Magre,
hitting coach Aaron Holbert and bench coach
Rex De La Nuez round out the staff....The
Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League)
and Equity Broadcasting Corporation have
entered into a three-year agreement that will move
Travs radio broadcasts to 101.1 KWBF-FM.
All Travs games will be featured on KWBF's
6000-watt signal, which reaches a radius of around
60 miles from its transmitter in North Little
Rock. There will be an occasional broadcast that
will be tape delayed when Travs games conflict
with Arkansas Razorback baseball. Along with KWBF,
all games will be carried live on the Travs'
official website. Phil Elson will be back behind
the microphone for his seventh season as Travs
play-by-play announcer....
Will global warming swamp
AT&T Park, new A's ballpark?
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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The Oakland A's want to build their ballpark and
mall village on low-lying land west of Interstate
880, less than half a mile from a tidal channel.
With ocean levels expected to rise as the globe
heats up, the high tides that churn up that
channel could turn the A's ballpark into prime
waterfront property -- or into soup. Local effects
of the rising waters were the subject of a global
warming conference this past week at San
Francisco's Yerba Buena Center, hosted by the
city's Public Utilities Commission. San Francisco
and Oakland airports will be under water if no
protective steps are taken, and areas of Silicon
Valley that now are near the bay could be
underwater. It was widely reported that the
Giants' AT&T Park could be vulnerable, but what
hasn't been noticed is that the same rising tide
could turn the A's Field of Dreams into Field and
Stream.
RELATED STORIES:
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;
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
Yanks filling seats in
Moosic
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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Through Friday, the Scranton/
Wilkes-Barre Yankees
(Class AAA; International League) sold 5,000
season tickets to PNC Field, or the equivalent of 350,000
individual seats, General Manager Jeremy Ruby
said. Bottom-deck seats already are sold out.
County officials downplayed rumors that the
county’s partners, Mandalay Baseball Properties
and the New York Yankees, will put on the heat for
a new ballpark before too long. Rather, they said,
expect big work on the existing facility, though
likely not until the first Yankee-affiliated
season is history.
RELATED STORIES:
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?
Brewers' 2007 season ticket
sales increase 15 percent
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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Despite a disappointing 2006 season, the Milwaukee
Brewers' season ticket sales for 2007 are up 15
percent, and sales for the team's nine-game ticket
packages have jumped 40 percent. Demand has been
high even though the team finished the 2006 season
with a 75-87 record, said Rick Schlesinger, the
Brewers' executive vice president of business
operations. Fans had high hopes for the Brewers
after the 2005 season ended with an 81-81 record,
the team's first non-losing season in more than a
decade. The team had about 10,000 season
ticket holders in 2006. Schlesinger declined to
release specific ticket sales figures, saying only
that sales were up 15 percent over January 2006.
Schlesinger said a majority of the games also have
been sold for the team's three main group areas in
Miller Park -- the Dew Deck, Mercedes Benz Fieldhouse and the new Club on the Club. Tickets
will go on sale Feb. 3 for new groups.
Uptown setting to boost new
Knights ballpark: Miller
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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HOK Sport's
Bruce Miller talks about a new Uptown ballpark for
the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International
League). The deal is simple: the Knights will pay
for a $35-million new ballpark if Mecklenburg
County and several other government entities can
work out a complicated land swap. It's taken the
local government entities a little longer than
anticipated to work out the land swap, but the
plan doesn't seem to have any serious opposition.
There's nothing really groundbreaking here: the
project will reflect the city, it will be unique,
etc. There's a relatively low bar here: the
Knights currently play at
Knights Stadium in Fort
Mill, S.C., a rather undistinguished facility.
RELATED STORIES:
Ballpark land swap
still in play for reshaping Charlotte;
Could new Charlotte
ballpark be delayed by lawsuit?;
Land deal for Charlotte
ballpark advances;
Diehl plans fight over Charlotte ballpark;
Mecklenburg County set for baseball deal role;
Charlotte Council seeks answers on baseball;
Uptown park for Knights makes sense;
Charlotte council gets update on baseball plan;
Chamber: poll shows overwhelming support for
Knights ballpark;
Backers urge: Make noise for Charlotte ballpark;
A slow curve in Charlotte;
Charlotte ballpark land swap seen as feasible;
Charlotte Knights select Barton Malow to oversee
ballpark construction;
Hard days for Knights;
Knights see more fans, but lag league;
Knights select Odell Associates, HOK to design new
ballpark;
Knights meet with potential architects;
Competing plans for baseball parks in Charlotte;
The big pitch for uptown baseball in Charlotte;
Charlotte turns to funding plans for ballpark;
Will Charlotte ballpark be magnet for growth?;
Third Ward residents object to new Knights
ballpark;
Uptown baseball in Charlotte may cost city $5
million;
Charlotte ballpark plan now turns to question of
real estate;
Arts package heads the agenda for city funding,
but baseball is now up to bat with a new plan;
Uptown ballpark plan has some rally-killers;
Deal in works for uptown Charlotte ballpark
We
need your help: North Carolina photos
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
(submit
story)
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As many regular readers of
this site know, we're in the process of doing a
book on North Carolina ballparks. We need your
help in this stage of the book's development:
acquiring photos, media guides or programs from
old minor-league, college and industrial-league
ballparks and teams in North Carolina. (By old, we
mean older facilities; we have plenty of photos of
current ballparks, but thanks to all of you
offering access to your current ballpark photos.)
Have a collection you'd like to share with the
rest of the world? No payment would be involved,
but free copies of the title, prominent credit and
everlasting fame would certainly be part of the
mix.
Drop us a line if you think you might have
something of interest.
School district, Eugene go
to court over ballpark's fate
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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The Eugene School District and the city of Eugene
will turn to the courts to iron out what officials
describe as an amicable dispute over the future
possible uses of the Civic Stadium property. The
district will file a motion in Lane County Circuit
Court on Feb. 8 seeking a declaratory judgment on
whether the language in the 1938 deed transferring
the property from the city to the district
requires that it always be used for recreational
purposes. District spokesman Kelly McIver said the
move does not mean the district is close to
putting the parcel on the market, although the
school board in 2002 declared it "surplus" -- a
designation that means the district eventually
intends to get rid of it. Civic Stadium, which
sorely needs renovation work, is the home of the
Eugene Emeralds (short season; Northwest League).
Drive announces ballpark
enhancements for 2007
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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With Opening Day and the 2007 season less than
three months away, the Greenville Drive (Low Class
A; Sally League) announced enhancement plans for
West End Field, as part of the team’s ongoing
improvement efforts. Heading into its second
season, the ballpark will soon feature updates to
the kids’ area and entry areas, as well as new
additions to provide fans with a fresh game
experience. Each of the new enhancements were
designed with the fans in mind, as the Drive
considered input from its fans during and after
the 2006 season. New for the 2007 season will be
the Bi-Lo Playground, Coca-Cola Dugout, the Party
Porch, Heritage Plaza, as well as an expanded
picnic area. The entire project will cost
approximately $1 million, and is being privately
funded by the Drive’s ownership group.
Renderings and a full list of
improvements within.
Ballpark plan opens doors
for developer
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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When Holland Construction of Swansea was asked to
build a new ballpark for the Gateway Grizzlies
(independent; Frontier League) five years ago, it
not only opened up a new chapter in the history of
the Frontier League team, it opened up a whole new
world for the builder, too. Since then, the
company has made the construction of athletic
facilities a specialty. It has built YMCA
recreation centers in Belleville, Edwardsville and
Columbia; school-related athletic facilities
including gyms, tracks, stadiums and baseball
fields across the metro-east and is currently
building a
second Frontier League ballpark for the
new Southern Illinois Miners in Marion, Ill.
Northwoods League to
Bismarck-Mandan?
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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story)
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Local
sportscaster Brad Feldman lays out his plan to
bring a summer-collegiate Northwoods League team
to Bismarck-Mandan. Geographically, it may be a
stretch to bring in Bismarck: the North Dakota
city is about 400 miles from the nearest
Northwoods League city (Alexandria), and while
others in the Dakotas have expressed interest in a
franchise, a move to Bismarck probably wouldn't
work unless you also brought in Minot and Grand
Forks. (Disclaimer: editor Kevin Reichard sits on
the Board of Advisors of the Northwoods League.)
Bombers unveil
inaugural logo
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Battle Creek Bombers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) unveiled their team
logo design for their upcoming inaugural season. As the Northwoods League’s
newest member, the Bombers will begin play on May 31 when they square off with
the Brainerd Blue Thunder. The Bombers make their home debut on June 6 versus
the Wisconsin Woodchucks as part of a thirty-four game home schedule at
C.O.
Brown Stadium. The logo design was handled by Justin Schaller, Graphic Artist
for Gator Garb Promotions out of Altoona, Wis. Schaller has previously worked
with other NWL teams on logo, stationary and apparel designs, most recently with
the other Northwoods League expansion entry in 2007, Green Bay Bullfrogs.
RELATED STORIES:
Bombers start
building team
UA, Wells ready to move
forward
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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The biggest
trend in college baseball: building or upgrading
ballparks in order to retain top-level coaches.
We're seeing that at the University of Alabama,
where Jim Wells committed to stay despite a
recruiting push from LSU. A big reason in his
decision to stay: a serious upgrade to
Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The installation of a brick
exterior is underway. The next phase will convert
the entire original grandstand built in 1991 to
chairback seating. The left-field bleacher section
added in 2001 will be pushed back toward the
street, and a hitting area and locker room area
will be installed under the stands. The
right-field bleacher section already included
locker rooms and a hitting area underneath the
stands, but the area is not heated and air
conditioned. Part of the right-field bleacher
seating will be eliminated under the new plan to
allow for a better sight line down the first base
and third base lines for fans. The new area under
the right-field bleachers will have heating and
air installed and converted to a pitching area.
RELATED STORIES:
Tide baseball buys
own version of the Big Board
$5 million raised for MTSU
baseball stadium
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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MTSU Coach Steve Peterson announced that a capital
campaign had reached its goal of $5 million for a
new ballpark. The effort was hailed as a triumph
because it relied heavily on former players and
others who have been connected to the program for
years. As a result, the 2007 season, which is
scheduled to begin Feb. 16 with a game against
Jackson State, will be the last at Reese Smith
Field in its current state. With the start of the
2008 season the Blue Raiders will be in a facility
with a brick facade, chair-back seats and an
anticipated capacity of roughly 3,000.
In memoriam: Peter Karoly
Posted Feb. 5, 2007 (feedback)
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Peter
Karoly, the former owner of the Allentown
Ambassadors (independent; Northeast League), was
killed in a plane crash Friday evening, along with
his wife, Lauren Angstadt, and employee Michael
Milot. Karoly and Angstadt, of Bethlehem, and
Milot, of Heidelberg Township, had left Lehigh
Valley Airport on Friday afternoon and had flown
to Boston so Angstadt could see a doctor about a
vocal cord problem, bother John Karoly said
Saturday. They were flying from Boston to New
Bedford to meet one of Karoly's clients for
dinner. The accident shocked the Lehigh Valley,
where Karoly, a malpractice attorney, and his
54-year-old wife, a dentist, were well-known in
the civic and business communities.
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