Recent
Visits |
Al Lang Field, Tampa Bay
Rays
St.
Pete's Al Lang Field has been in the news a lot
lately, but for the wrong reasons: the Tampa Bay
Rays will train there one last time in 2008 before
shifting spring operations to Charlotte County in
2009, and the old ballpark is slated to be torn
down to make way for a new waterfront home of the
Rays. Now, Al Lang Field isn't the same venue it
was in the 1940s and 1950s when it was a landmark
in spring training, but it's still a great place
to catch a spring-training game. We hope the Rays
catch the spirit of the original Al Lang in their
designs for a new ballpark, For the rest of us, a
trip to Al Lang Field will be a mandatory event in
Spring Training 2008.
Trustmark Park, Mississippi
Braves
There's
nothing wrong with Trustmark Park, the home of the
Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League).
The wraparound concourse, luxury
boxes, big scoreboard and varied concessions are
all standard issue for a new minor-league ballpark
these days. So why aren't we more excited about
the two-year-old ballpark? Because there's nothing
unique about it: except for a few Southern menu
items at the concessions, there's nothing to link
the ballpark to its surroundings. At a Mississippi
Braves game, you could be watching a game anywhere
-- and going local is one of the great joys of the
minor leagues. Dustin Mattison reports.
Alliance Bank Stadium,
Syracuse Chiefs
The
biggest news at Alliance Bank Stadium, the home of
the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International
League): the current artificial turf will be
replaced by real grass. That's good news for
Syracuse baseball fans in terms of aesthetics, as
well as players who need to field on an old,
sometimes unpredictable surface. Otherwise,
Alliance Bank Stadium is a perfectly serviceable
ballpark: the Chiefs front office does things the
old-fashioned way (i.e., not much in terms of
between-innings shenanigans), but the ballpark is
a comfortable place to watch a game, and the food
is pretty good. Steve Kapsinow reports.
|
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The
Fine Print |
Obligatory legal information:
This site is copyright 1998-2007 Kevin Reichard/August
Publications. All rights
reserved. My wife is a lawyer, so she will come and chop off
your hand in a legal fashion if you rip off this site
in any form. All logos are the property of their respective
owners. |
Broadcasts |
Virtually every MiLB team now streams broadcasts over the
Internet, which makes it easy to follow your favorite team when
you're on the road. In addition, you can catch MLB game broadcasts at
MLB.com or via XM Radio.
More
on Internet radio and TV broadcasts here! |
|
Archives: Oct.
1-7, 2007
Royals hold groundbreaking for Kauffman Stadium renovations
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The
Kansas City Royals held a bash yesterday to formally mark the beginning of
renovations at Kauffman Stadium,
which will run through the start of the 2009 season. The centerpiece of this
2007-2008 renovations: a new scoreboard from Daktronics that officials say will
be the largest in any sporting venue -- the color display will be 106 feet by 85
feet and a new crown will be larger than the current crown scoreboard. (To see
how the current crown scoreboard looks, see the
account of our most recent visit to Kauffman Stadium.) Other changes slated
for this offseason include more premium seating behind the plate and near the
dugouts; the removal of circular ramps, and better access to the field-level
concourse with cutouts in the stands. The total cost of the renovation is $250
million; the Royals are paying $25 million and are responsible for any cost
overruns. More from
the Kansas City Star.
Ypsilanti ballpark moves closer to reality
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A
group of Ypsilanti (Mich.) residents eyeing the stalled Water Street Project for
a minor-league ballpark are taking steps to see the idea turn into reality. A
committee has created a rough sketch of the plan for a privately financed
ballpark and a surrounding community. Using about 16 acres, the stadium would
seat 6,000 to 7,500 people and would feature an outdoor market in front of the
entrance. Light residential and commercial use would be located north of the
ballpark, with storefronts along Michigan Avenue and loft apartments overlooking
the ballpark. A proposed hotel would be located to the south of the ballpark,
again featuring rooms with a view of the ball game.
Taxpayers footing bill for Yankees' lavish spending, group says
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The
New York Yankees submitted lavish expenses to the city as planning costs for
their new ballpark, a watchdog group
said. The group, Good Jobs New York, accused Yankees officials of turning in to
the city's Department of Parks and Recreation receipts for 2005 for expenses
including crystal baseballs, post-season bar tabs, wool baseball caps and gifts
for corporate clients. The group's project director, Bettina Damiani, called on
the city comptroller to conduct an audit to make sure Yankees officials weren't
submitting receipts unrelated to planning for the new ballpark. Under the
original deal, the Yankees were allowed to deduct up to $5 million a year on
planning costs for the new ballpark for five years for rent payments to the
city. Yankees spokeswoman Alice McGillion said Wednesday that invoices to which
Good Jobs referred were never for rent credits.
A more acerbic take comes from the New York Post.
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Sponsorships
available -- inside the ballpark, that is;
Approach of winter a
big factor in NYC ballpark race;
Finales set for
Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium;
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The stadium chase;
Yankees, Mets won't
sell seat licenses; ballpark funds in place;
Whole new ballgame;
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
Sounds' suit says bank wrongly took funds
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The
Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) franchise is suing First
Tennessee Bank, claiming the bank had no right to yank more than $200,000 from
its account in a dispute over the team's failed bid for a downtown ballpark. The
lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Davidson County Circuit Court, asks that the team be
awarded at least $1 million in punitive damages and at least $250,000 in
compensatory damages. The Sounds claim the bank wrongfully took $212,000 from
the team's First Tennessee checking account July 5. The bank had been hired as
an adviser to help obtain financing for a new baseball stadium on the downtown
riverfront, and it was demanding legal fees and a fee for putting together
financing, the complaint said. Meanwhile, we continue to hear that suburban
Franklin is interested in hosting a new Sounds ballpark.
RELATED STORIES:
Nashville mayoral candidates support downtown ballpark;
Sounds ballpark enters mayoral debate;
Architectural firm sues Sounds;
Bank pulls money from Sounds' account to pay
legal, other fees;
Metro halts funds to Sounds;
Could Sounds leave Nashville?;
Sounds GM Yaeger criticizes Struever Bros. as
"wrong partner";
Struever,
Sounds now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal;
Struever, Sounds
now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal;
Struever would build Sounds ballpark;
Sounds, Struever keep swinging for a ballpark solution;
Nashville ballpark plan may be losing its luster;
Metro concerned about progress of Nashville
ballpark deal;
Sounds must make
decisions regarding downtown ballpark;
Struever says Sounds ballpark will be built;
Amid ballpark questions, plan for two hotels
unveiled;
Sounds delay ballpark opening until 2009;
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
Jocketty steps down as Cardinals GM
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Bill
DeWitt Jr., chairman of the board and general partner of the St. Louis
Cardinals, announced that the team is parting ways with senior vice
president and general manager Walt Jocketty. "Walt will be remembered as the
Cardinals' GM during one of the most successful and memorable periods in team
history, and we will always be extremely grateful for his contributions to our
many triumphs over the past 13 seasons," DeWitt said. "It is now time to move
forward with an undivided vision and purpose that is consistent with the St.
Louis Cardinals philosophy of building and operating the best top-to-bottom
organization in baseball." DeWitt today named John Mozeliak as interim general
manager. Mozeliak recently completed his fifth season as the Cardinals assistant
general manager. The Cards say they'll be interviewing candidates for the
position. What will be interesting is if Tony LaRussa sticks around as well.
Rumors have him -- and possibly Jocketty -- heading to the Pacific Northwest to
run the Seattle Mariners.
Cracker-Cats, Vipers ponder shift to GBL
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The
independent Northern League opens meetings today in Minneapolis amid rumors its
two Alberta franchises want out. The Edmonton Cracker-Cats and Calgary Vipers
are seriously considering a jump to the California-based Golden League for next
season, according to the Edmonton Sun. Vipers ownership expressed an interest in
making the move at the end of the season, and Cracker-Cats owner Dan Orlich is
apparently willing to follow suit. "I would be shocked and he (Orlich) would be
making the mistake of his life," said Northern League Commissioner Clark
Griffith. "But are we going to operate a league where people threaten us all the
time? Absolutely not. Let's see what he does. I'll see him in the morning."
We're not quite sure what the two Alberta leagues would gain by a switch, past a
change in scenery: their $50,000/year travel stipend was waived by the league
earlier this year, and it's not as though northern California is that much
closer than Winnipeg or Fargo-Moorhead, unless the Canadian owners think the GBL
is likely to expand in the future into Oregon, Washington State or British
Columbia.
Renovation work on Duncan Park Stadium to begin
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Spartanburg
School District 7 and city leaders will have a memorandum of understanding
finalized soon that will allow work to begin on the field at historic
Duncan Park Stadium so student athletes can
use it next spring. The district and city will likely share the estimated $3
million it will cost to completely renovate the ballpark. The city will use
hospitality taxes to finance its portion. Some fundraising to finance the
renovations would be done, as well. Architect Donnie Love, who specializes in
historic preservation for McMillan Smith and Partners, plans to preserve the
historic characteristics of the ballpark while bringing it back to top
condition. The stadium will have to be completely renovated, with extensive work
planned for the plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, and heating and air
conditioning. Also planned are new siding, new locker rooms and shower
facilities, reconstructing the dugouts and changes to the building code. That
the venerable old facility -- which opened in 1926 and was the longtime home of
minor-league baseball in Spartanburg -- will be rebuilt is a tribute to the many
volunteers who refused to let an old ballpark die.
Price
not set for likely shuttle from RFK
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Washington
Nationals fans likely will be able to park near RFK
Stadium and take a shuttle to the team's new ballpark next year, but it's
still unclear how much they will be charged. The D.C. Sports and Entertainment
Commission, which has oversight of the RFK Stadium
lots, will allow fans to park near RFK Stadium but
has asked the team to pay as much as $5 a spot for the rights on game days. The
sports commission has offered to provide 1,000 spaces for free, while charging
the team $5 a space for 2,500 additional spaces. The team, however, has argued
against the $5 a space charge because it likely already will incur costs by
operating the shuttle service. The Nationals and the city have been scrambling
to identify thousands of parking spaces in anticipation of Opening Day.
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memories;
Nationals choose
Centerplate to manage concessions at new ballpark;
Lessons for the
Lerners: what to steal from other ballparks;
Nats ballpark to have extensive seating for
wheelchairs;
Metro, District and Nationals talking possible
'ballpark fare';
Signing off on the last beam;
Top price for ducats at new Nats ballpark: $400;
Nationals' transition extends off field;
National crisis: Capital franchise in turmoil;
Ballpark brings hope but no guarantee;
Nationals
ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening;
Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
District not over park cap;
New Nats ballpark to feature cherry blossoms
beyond left-field fence;
As ballpark rises, battles over land continue;
For Nats' home, a rapid ascent;
Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say;
Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
With new Nats ballpark, name of the game is money;
D.C. Council approves ballpark parking garages;
The D.C. ballpark parking debate;
Severe penalties await city if parking garages
aren't provided, Gandhi warns;
Ballpark garages proposal rejected;
Fenty promotes aboveground parking to end fight
over new Nats ballpark;
New Nats ballpark construction on schedule for
2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
ballpark;
Mayor proposes lifting cap for DC ballpark parking;
DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
country;
Legislation would revive condo and garage
development at new DC ballpark;
New focus at D.C. ballpark: parking;
D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Proposed sale a great opportunity for Jaxx
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The
local newspaper says the sale of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern
League) is a great opportunity for Jackson, Tenn. to retain baseball. We agree
that it's a great opportunity, but it will be a great opportunity for whatever
city lands the Diamond Jaxx in 2009 or beyond, because we're convinced the team
will be on the move. As well it should be: the team is well-run and did all the
right things this past season and still suffered at the box office. You can do
all the right things and fail; that seems to be what happened at Pringles Park.
RELATED STORIES:
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
sold
Aviators grounded?
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The
future of the Coastal Bend Aviators (independent; American Association) under
the current ownership looks bleak, though no formal announcement has been made
as to whether the team will play at Robstown's Fairgrounds Field next season.
Nueces County still is trying to collect $20,000 from the American Association
baseball team for rent this past season. The club has laid off employees, and
the main Aviators phone number was disconnected Wednesday. Calls to General
Manager Bob Flanagan's cell phone went to a message that it was not receiving
calls. The team's manager, John Harris, said he has not been told anything about
the club's future. According to league commissioner Miles Wolff, owner Horn Chen
is deciding whether to field a team next season -- but the phone disconnection
certainly is a sign of where he's headed.
Under new owner, the Bowie Baysox pull them in
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The
Bowie Baysox (Class AA; Eastern League) may not have had the most successful of
seasons on the field, but an eclectic variety of promotions -- including a bad
breath competition -- drew more than a quarter-million fans to Prince George’s
Stadium this year. The Baysox, despite finishing fourth in the Eastern League’s
Southern Division with a record of 72-68, drew 287,000 fans this season, up
almost 2,000 from 2006, meeting expectations for the Class AA team.
Despite bank sale, Patriots park name likely to remain
same
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The
name is expected to remain the same at Commerce Bank Ballpark, home of the
Somerset Patriots (independent; Atlantic League), as ownership said its
Bridgewater ballpark will keep its identity for the foreseeable future, even
though Commerce Bank was sold Tuesday to Toronto-based TD Bank Financial Group.
Commerce Bank agreed to pay the team $3.55 million within the next 15 years for
the right to display its name and brand on the 6,100-seat ballpark.
Playoffs launch; TBS officials should be pleased
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This
is the first season where TBS is broadcasting postseason games, and officials
there should be pleased as punch with the launch of the playoffs last night,
especially when it came to the markets represented. Going by
2006
Census figures, five of the six largest U.S. cities have teams in the
playoffs; going by TV DMAs all eight teams are in the top 18 markets, with the
top five spots directly represented. If TBS can't make ratings hay out of those
kinds of numbers there's something seriously wrong with baseball and the type of
fans attracted to the game. One thing we didn't see a lot of on yesterday's TBS
broadcasts: the "superfans" who bring color and life to the ballpark. This
Christian Science Monitor article details superfans Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers (Wrigley
Field), Freddy Schuman (Yankee Stadium),
Charlie Gifford (Fenway Park) and John Adams (Jacobs
Field), drummer extraordinaire, who will be throwing out the first pitch at
the Indians/Yankees matchup. Can't say we were altogether thrilled with the TBS
broadcasts in general: it would have been nice to see more baseball people in
general (and no, we don't count Dick Stockton as a baseball person) and heard
some more stories about the players and the game.
Oxford agrees to $200K annually for Ole Miss ballpark
expansion
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The
city of Oxford has agreed to provide $200,000 annually to the University of
Mississippi to help with renovations at the Rebels' ballpark. The city has been
making payments on a 1988 bond issue that financed work at Oxford-University
Stadium. That money came from the city's 2 percent food and beverage tax
approved by the Legislature. Oxford will make the final payment on the bond
issue this year. The city had previously agreed to continue the support for the
baseball park. However, Ole Miss Athletic Director Pete Boone recently asked the
city to consider borrowing $3 million in a lump sum so the university could get
the money sooner.
Schools vote for override of NCAA baseball rules
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Thirty
NCAA Division I schools have submitted votes requesting an override of a portion
of the recent legislation affecting college baseball, the total necessary to
force the Division I Board of Directors to review the rule, according to The
NCAA News. The override campaign has been championed by Mississippi State coach
Ron Polk. A longtime critic of the NCAA, Polk mailed an 18-page letter to 1,421
influential people last month with the hope of educating them about the impact
of the new rules. At the Board of Directors’ Nov. 1 meeting, the board can do
one of three things: accept the override and rescind the legislation; take no
additional action; or revise the proposal.
We covered the rule changes earlier
this year.
Lexington scraps plan for VBL team
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Jim
Crothers was so close to putting a Valley Baseball League team in Lexington that
he gave his unborn squad a name and a Web site. But Crothers’ dream and the
VBL’s plan of adding a 12th team will have to wait at least another year because
the field the franchise hoped to use won’t have lights this summer. Crothers,
who would have been president of the Rockbridge Rapids, said Wednesday that he
and his ownership group this month withdrew a proposal to join the VBL because
Washington & Lee University decided not to install lights at Captain Smith
Field. VBL officials and owners say they've been hearing requests from Major
League Baseball, which helps fund the VBL, to add more teams so scouts could
watch more players in a concentrated area.
Ballpark
Notes
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Melissa
McCants, a native Charlestonian who possesses 13 years of professional
baseball administrative experience – all with Charleston clubs – has been
promoted to Director of Special Events for the Charleston RiverDogs (Low
Class A; Sally League). She previously served as the RiverDogs’ assistant
director of special events while operating a multi-city, web-based company that
consolidates deals, events and classifieds. McCants replaces Mimi Wilborn who,
with her husband, is moving to Augusta, Ga.....
Rays to unveil new name, logo, unis next month
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The
Tampa Bay Devil Rays will announce their new name (Tampa Bay Rays, though this
has been a foregone conclusion for some months now, as we first reported earlier
this year), colors (predominantly blue), logo (see above) and uniforms (see
below) at Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 5:30
p.m. Rays players and manager Joe Maddon will be joined by former players Wade
Boggs, Fred McGriff and Dave Martinez to model the new uniforms and there will
be live entertainment, a fireworks show, and activities for fans of all ages. As
you'll recall, the new
ownership
of the Devil Rays undertook a review of the team name and look last year after
taking control of the team. We were never fans of the original D-Rays look,
especially the funky logo; it was not distinct enough and hard to read from a
distance. The new Rays look addresses that shortcoming with greatly simplified graphics; as
you can see from the uniforms below the Rays logo dominates in a uni with more of a
classic look. We're not sure we like the new cap logo: it's simplified to the
point of being bland, and perhaps a more classic look (like the intertwined logo
used by San Diego or St. Louis) would have made the new cap design stand out
more. Still, the new look is an improvement over the existing design. UPDATE:
Yeah, we know the same guy who did the San Diego uniform design is working with
the Rays (as well as designs for some minor-league teams), but that doesn't mean
he hit a homer with this design. And we do like the blue.
This week's podcast:
Diamond sales, hail to the (new) chief, and other
ballpark news
Posted Oct. 3, 2007 (feedback)
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On
this week's Ballpark Digest podcast: a Diamond
(Jaxx) sale; a change at the top of Minor League
Baseball; the curious status of the new Oakland
ballpark; international relations taking a hit;
some news from the heartland; and a lament for
Skip Caray. Publisher
Kevin Reichard and Senior Editor Dave Wright
discuss the hot topics in the baseball and
ballpark worlds in the weekly Ballpark Digest
podcast. To directly
subscribe to the feed using Firefox or Internet
Explorer,
go to this page and click on the "Subscribe Now"
button. You
can listen directly to the podcast on your own PC
via this link
(it's a standard MP3 file), or
you can subscribe
via iTunes, Feedburner or your personalized Google
home
page. (We're finding out from the stats that
subscribing via Google is proving to be a very
popular option.)
Comments are welcome.
More information on Ballpark Digest podcasts here.
Big-name players check Augusta ballpark potential
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Jim
Jacoby, the visionary and president of the Atlantic Station development in
Atlanta, and former Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening, seen as a pioneer in
"smart growth" land planning, met with members of the committee planning a new
downtown ballpark for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) and
other leaders Tuesday. Both are potential investors and advisers in the ballpark
project, which would be funded by a public-private venture with Ripken Baseball,
owners of the team. The current proposal calls for a $20 million to $25 million
mixed-use ballpark to be built on a 17-acre site between 11th and 13th streets
on the Savannah River. The 5,000- to 6,000-seat ballpark would replace
12-year-old Lake Olmstead Stadium, but the proposal is in its preliminary
stages.
RELATED STORIES:
Augusta
developer wants contributions for new ballpark study;
Augusta ballpark
study might start soon
Wolff 'hopeful,' if not optimistic about 2008 Ottawa team
Posted Oct. 3, 2007 (feedback)
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Can-Am
Association Commissioner Miles Wolff didn't sound too optimistic about landing a
lease at Lynx Stadium next season after meeting with Ottawa city officials,
including Mayor Larry O'Brien. The big issue, according to Wolff: the ownership
of the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League), moving out of town to play
next season in Allentown, Pa., is suing the city over lost parking; the city,
meanwhile, says the team has a lease to play in Ottawa through 2009. Until that
lawsuit is resolved, the city doesn't want to make a commitment to another team.
Further complicating matters is a proposal to dome the ballpark.
Given all this uncertainty, it will be difficult to
plan out the 2008 season for the independent circuit: still up in the air is the
status of the Nashua Pride as well.
More from the Ottawa Sun.
RELATED STORIES:
Can-Am talks with city can't
go into extra innings;
Lynx Stadium roof
project and Can-Am baseball to co-exist: proponent;
League makes first
pitch to councillors over Lynx Stadium;
Developer hopes to help settle dispute between
Lynx, city;
Spirit gives up ghost in Lynn;
Ottawa to land Nashua Pride?;
Shuttle off to Lynx Stadium?;
Honestly, you can't really blame him;
Wolff: Don't close down Lynx Stadium
MLB "shatters" attendance record
Posted Oct. 3, 2007 (feedback)
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Yesterday
Major League Baseball issued a press release announcing its attendance record
had been shattered and made this stunning (and totally unverifiable) claim: "The
large increase in attendance can be attributed to increased competitive balance
throughout Major League Baseball brought on by the economic reforms of the last
decade." The claim was picked up and amplified by sycophantic sites, pushing the
meme that this is baseball's Golden Age. Compare that, though, with the claims
by more than one franchise that they're losing money and can't afford to keep
their free agents or build new ballparks. (Yes, Carl, we mean you.) So which is
it? MLB press releases touting attendance have an instant lack of credibility
because what's being pushed are tickets sold, not actual turnstile counts, and
too many times we've been at the ballpark when the announced crowd is 10,000 and
the actual crowd is under 1,000. (Yes, Jeffrey, we mean you.) At some point or
another Bud Selig needs to decide whether it really is baseball's Golden Age or
whether the game is in financial trouble: the negotiating table for a new
Florida Marlins ballpark would be an excellent place to begin.
How Arte Moreno packed Angel Stadium
NEW!
Posted Oct. 3, 2007 (feedback)
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Shortly
after buying the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from Walt Disney in 2003, Arte
Moreno did the unthinkable: He cut ticket and beer prices -- and then he spent
$145 million to sign four of baseball's hottest free agents and fortify an
already formidable team. Today the Angels' $102 million payroll is among Major
League Baseball's heftiest, and ticket prices are in the middle of the pack. Yet
the gamble seems to have paid off. Moreno routinely fills
Angel Stadium to near capacity, has
tripled ad revenues, and says the Angels will earn $11 million-plus this year
after years of losses. Last year a family of four spent less on an Angels game
than all but four of the major league's 30 other teams, according to Team
Marketing Report. Not bad for a team that just won its third division title in
four years. Winning helps; so does a cut-rate $6 Angels cap that Moreno figures
will turn kids into walking advertisements. He also has reached out to
Hispanics, signing the likes of slugger Vladimir Guerrero -- even though doing
so busted the budget in 2004. The Angels begin the divisional playoffs at
Boston's Fenway Park and then return to
Angel Stadium;
the worry is that Angels fans will sell their tickets to Red Sox Nation and
partially damage the home-field advantage.
Back the 'Pigs, see playoff game
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Boy,
talk about leveraging your parent team: Under an arrangement between the
Philadelphia Phillies and the the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA;
International League), access to Phillies regular-season and playoff tickets
before they go on sale to the public is a perk for suite owners, club-seat
season-ticket holders and front-row seat holders at Coca-Cola Park. That gave
them first access to Phillies playoff tickets -- a hot commodity, to be sure.
That's Cub$ with a $
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Cubs
fans will turn Chicago into a field of green -- spending up to $100 million on
postseason-related merchandise and activities as the club makes a World Series
run, sports business analysts say. The partying began Friday, when the team
cinched the Major League Baseball Central Division. It begins postseason play
tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the first round alone, fans will
drop at least $10 million, said Tim Mahon, principal and director of Anderson
Economic Group's Chicago office. Of course, all the playoff teams are
experiencing a spiff;
here's an account of how businesses near Fenway Park are pleased as punch.
Norwich ballpark fence to stay put
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Dodd
Stadium will get a new playing field for the 2008 season, but the Connecticut
Defenders (Class AA; Eastern League) and visiting teams still might be
frustrated at deep fly balls caught at the warning track. The City Council added
a resolution to the agenda late Monday and authorized the Stadium Authority to
hire Sports Turf Specialties of Plainville, Mass., for up to $231,476 to replace
the playing field at Dodd Stadium. But the council also voted 5-2 to remove
language from the resolution that would have spent another $60,000 to relocate
the outfield warning track and move the fences in to generate more home runs and
offense.
Aging Grayson getting $5 million makeover
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Part
of the history and unique charm of Savannah's Grayson Stadium is found in the
jagged bricks where the grandstand suddenly ends on the third-base side -- a
casualty of World War II. Before exposed brick became trendy for interior
designers, this was major reconstruction in 1941 interrupted by war and left
unfinished to this day. The brickwork serves as a reminder of the war, the
disastrous 1940 hurricane that tore up the former Municipal Stadium, and the man
who helped lead the charge to rebuild it, General William L. Grayson. While
construction workers won't be touching those bricks today or tomorrow,
renovations to the ballpark -- originally built in 1926 and one of the oldest
active minor-league facilities in the country -- are ongoing this off-season.
Ballpark Notes
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Michael
Wood has been named general manager of the Corpus Christi Hooks
(Class AA; Texas League). Wood, 38, who assumes day-to-day operational
leadership of the club, is one of four original Hooks employees. J.J. Gottsch,
Vice President Ken Schrom and Director of Community Relations Elisa
Macias are the others. Wood began his career as clubhouse manager for the
Arkansas Travelers in 1992. After 11 years in ticket operations with the Texas
Rangers, he moved to Corpus Christi in January of 2004 and directed the original
season ticket assignment process at Whataburger Field....Bob Shinn is the
new head groundskeeper at Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder
(Class AA; Eastern League). Shinn served as Assistant Groundskeeper for the
Trenton Thunder from 2005-2007. He is a 2006 graduate of Delaware Valley College
with a degree in Turf Management. Shinn did a Graduate Internship with the
Philadelphia Eagles, working at Lincoln Financial Field and the fields at Eagles
training camp in Lehigh, PA. Shinn is a Burlington, NJ native who currently
resides in Burlington.
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx sold
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The
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League) have been sold to a group
headed by Reese Smith III, a minority partner in the Nashville Sounds (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Jaxx drew
113,351 fans last season, worst in the 10-team Southern League and far short of
the 200,000-person draw that the team says it needs to break even. No surprise:
Owner Bob Lozinak has had the team on the market for several years, and a deal
last year to sell the team to an Orlando group fell through after Orlando
officials decided not to pursue a new downtown ballpark. The D-Jaxx are
committed to one more season at Pringles Park, but after that it's open to
speculation. One scenario that was floated last month (the sale of the team has
been an open secret in minor-league circles) has the Sounds moving because they
can't procure a new ballpark and Greer
Stadium doesn't meet MLB Class AAA facility guidelines, with the Diamond
Jaxx moving to Greer Stadium.
(If you're the new mayor of Nashville, you can see the appeal to this plan: you
get to keep credit for keeping baseball in the city without springing for
a new ballpark.)
In this article from The Tennessean, Sounds GM Glenn Yaeger dismisses that
possibility, and we're guessing PCL President Branch Rickey III would fight to
keep a good market like Nashville in his circuit, but stranger things have
happened. As always, the purchase must be approved by the Southern League, MiLB
and MLB.
More from the Jackson Sun.
Rosenblatt group sends petitions to NCAA
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The
Save Rosenblatt Committee mailed its appeal to the NCAA Monday along with the
signatures of more than 14,000 people who want the College World Series to stay
at
Rosenblatt Stadium. Jason Smith, the group's
chairman, said the NCAA is negotiating with the city on a new ballpark "because
it is the only option that has been presented," but many wonder whether the NCAA
would consider staying at a renovated 'Blatt if it were an option. The Save
Rosenblatt Committee is working with an architect on a renovation plan for
Rosenblatt Stadium that would meet the needs
of the NCAA. It will be a tall order.
Rosenblatt Stadium is an older ballpark with
a traditional setup; i.e., no wraparound concourse and concessions located under
the grandstand. It's also landlocked, and we're guessing larger neighbors --
like the
local zoo -- won't contemplate a move to free up more land.
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ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Goals unmet on ballpark construction jobs for D.C. workers
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D.C.
residents have worked about one-third of the total hours of skilled labor needed
to build the new Washington Nationals ballpark, despite an agreement between the
city government and labor unions that half of the hours would go to city
workers. The data, provided by the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission,
which is overseeing the construction, show that city residents have worked 32
percent of the nearly 650,000 hours worked by journeymen, which include those in
trades such as ironwork, electrical, roofing and plumbing. Officials at
Clark/Hunt/Smoot, the three-company conglomerate that is building the stadium,
said that the subcontractors have had trouble finding enough skilled laborers
and that the unions have failed to provide them.
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Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
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Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
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2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
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DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
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development at new DC ballpark;
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D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Bears have a sunny outlook
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The
management of the Yakima Bears (short season; Northwest League) are pretty happy
about how their 2007 season went. "There was more of a buzz during the summer,"
Bears general manager K.L. Wombacher said during a recent interview. "People
seemed more interested in the team and eager to come to the ballpark. They
seemed to actually care." Yakima's official season attendance was 70,117, its
highest since 1999. It represented the third consecutive increase, and was
18,573 -- or 36 percent -- more than watched the Bears in 2004. Still, it's a
far cry from 1993, when Yakima's official attendance was 86,822, or an average
of 2,285 for the 2,654-seat ballpark.
Can-Am talks with city can't go into extra innings
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Can-Am
Association officials say they need to decide
by next Monday if Ottawa is to field a team in the independent circuit next
season and are pressing city officials to make a decision regarding a lease at
Lynx Stadium. We're not so sure the deadline is all that firm -- the league gave
the owners of the Nashua Pride until Oct. 24 to decide whether the team would be
playing next season -- but it should cause Ottawa officials to decide whether to
leave Lynx Stadium basically the way it is and feature indy ball or to move
ahead with a $40-million plan to dome the facility. There are a lot of moving
parts at play here -- the owners of the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International
League) are still suing the city and are under lease, and the team's equipment
may be sold if a deal is not struck. Get three lawyers in a room and a deal
become complicated very quickly.
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Groups benefit from Revs
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Every
professional baseball team does charity work of some sort, but the amount raised
by the York Revolution (independent; Atlantic League) is noteworthy. Fundraisers
through the Revolution home games garnered more than $184,000 for local
nonprofits and organizations during the season, with the York City School
District getting the most. The district received $64,170 from the proceeds of
parking at Small Field next to the stadium, according to a news release from the
baseball team. During the season, 21,390 cars parked there during games, it
said.
Ballpark Notes
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The
Orem Owlz (rookie; Pioneer League) announced that Aaron Wells is
the team's new general manager. Wells just completed the 2007 Pioneer League
championship season as the Owlz athletic trainer. Wells' previous experience
includes working for the University of Nebraska football and baseball teams, the
Lincoln Saltdogs (independent; American Association) and the Arkansas Travelers
(Class AA; Texas League)....The Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern
League) announced that Steve Rudenstein has been named the team's new
director of broadcasting. Rudenstein was the broadcasting and media-relations
assistant for the Thunder during the last two seasons. He was also the broadcast
intern for the Thunder during the 2003 and 2004 seasons....The independent
South Coast League announced the winner of the 2007 Salesman of the Year
Award is Charlotte County Redfish General Manager Steven Tricarico. In
addition to the award, the SCL has promoted Tricarico to Vice President of Sales
and Marketing effective immediately....Jim Leyland signed a two-year
extension to his contract as manager of the Detroit Tigers....The
Duluth Huskies (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) announced that Field
Manager Adam Stahl will return for his second season leading the Huskies.
Stahl led the Huskies into the Northwoods League playoffs for the third time in
franchise history in 2007 by winning the North Division’s Second Half Title and
accumulating the best overall record in the North Division with a 41-27 mark....Todd
Marlin is the new general manager of the Bridgeport Bluefish
(independent; Atlantic League). Marlin began his baseball career in 1998 as an
intern with the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League's inaugural year. In 2003,
he was named General Manager of the Pride and in 2005 Marlin was named Atlantic
League Executive of the Year.
O'Conner nominated as MiLB president
Posted Oct. 1, 2007 (feedback)
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Minor
League Baseball's board of trustees nominated Pat O'Conner to replace Mike Moore
as MiLB president. Four sought the position, which was open after Moore
announced his retirement: interviewed by a nominating committee were Memphis
Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) president and general manager Dave
Chase, Red Sox executive Jeremy Kapstein and former NBA D-League President Phil
Evans. O'Conner was a safe and obvious choice: he's been a key part of the
success of Minor League Baseball over the last several years while serving as
MiLB COO, and there wasn't a compelling reason to deny him a turn in the
president's chair. The nomination is expected to be easily ratified as
baseball's Winter Meetings in early December.
Omaha and the CWS: City bids for 20-year deal
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The
College World Series in an oddity in the NCAA world: instead of rotating the
championship around the United States (and, not so incidentally, setting up
bidding wars between cities), the sports giant settled on Omaha as a permanent
home decades ago. But the NCAA is a business, and even though the College World
Series reached the level of institution decades ago (mostly thanks to Omaha's
generous support), the folks at the NCAA want more -- hence Omaha's frantic
efforts to come up with a new, fancy ballpark to replace
Rosenblatt Stadium. On the NCAA's wish list
for a new facility: The Omaha World-Herald says the NCAA has asked for a
25,000-seat ballpark with open concourses with views of the field, skyboxes, fan
festival areas and improved locker rooms. Removable seats in the outfield --
and, possibly, along the foul lines -- would allow the seating to be
substantially cut back at other times if a new park becomes home to the Omaha
Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), the Creighton Bluejays or both. One
big issue will the level of the NCAA's commitment: NCAA officials say they're
willing to sign a 10-year lease, but Omaha wants 20 years.
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Costner: Save
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New downtown Omaha ballpark would be near Qwest;
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Rosenblatt demolition among Omaha ballpark
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Petition drive aims to save Rosenblatt;
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ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Triple-A baseball OK'd for Reno
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No
surprise, really: Washoe County signed an agreement with the city of Reno to
allow the proceeds of a countywide car-rental tax to be used for building a
Triple A ballpark in downtown Reno. SK Baseball managing partner Stuart Katzoff
said site work likely will begin in December for the ballpark, which will have
room for up to 10,000 spectators for a first-game opener in April 2009. It will
house the relocated Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), which
SK Baseball already owns. There was a slight urgency to the proceedings: a
rental-car tax used to help pay for the ballpark would have expired over the
weekend if the project had not been approved Friday.
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project;
Officials still hold hope for Triple-A franchise
in Reno;
Sparks still in hunt for Triple-A team
Fremont not ready to declare proposed A's 'baseball village' utopia
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The
Oakland A's announced last fall that they wanted to build a 145-acre "baseball
village" on vacant land adjacent to the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge
west of the Nimitz Freeway. But the team has yet to submit an application to the
city, and meanwhile officials, city staff and environmentalists are finding
problems -- especially with the idea of bringing thousands more cars to a city
that's already choked with traffic on two freeways, Interstates 680 and 880.
"It's definitely not a done deal," said City Councilwoman Anu Natarajan. "I'm
cautiously optimistic, but we still have major, major concerns." This is the
most pessimistic coverage we've yet seen on the new-ballpark proposal.
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Fremont looking more and more like future home of
Oakland A's
Frontier League still on tap in suburban Detroit
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Investors
in suburban Detroit are still working on bringing an independent Frontier League
team to Oakland County's Waterford Township. Summit Place, plagued by high
vacancy rates, is being targeted for demolition, and an ownership group led by
Tim Nick, a local restaurant owner, is arguing for a ballpark in its place.
Detroit is one of the few large urban areas where there's not an affiliated or
independent team in the area; the Detroit helped kill a ballpark proposal in
Troy in recent years, but it's hard to say whether the Tigers have that much
pull in Waterford Township.
Expert coming to see proposal
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Former
Maryland Gov. Parris N. Glendening, regarded as a pioneer in "smart growth" land
planning, will be in Augusta on Tuesday to look at the Garden City's proposed
downtown ballpark project. Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver and baseball legend Cal
Ripken Jr., part of the group that owns the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A;
Sally League), are urging construction of a new ballpark on Georgia Golf Hall of
Fame property along the Savannah River. The proposed ballpark, which could serve
many uses, would seat 5,000 to 6,000 people and cost about $20 million to $25
million. It would be funded through a private-public venture with Ripken
Baseball, and Richmond County voters ultimately would have the final say.
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Sponsorships available -- inside the ballpark, that is
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Many
in baseball were a little surprised when the New York Yankees decided to keep
the Yankee Stadium moniker for their new
ballpark. We weren't: that ballpark name is one of the most powerful
marketing tools for the Yankees, and while there would have been a short-term
financial benefit to selling naming rights, it could have resulted in a
longer-term branding erosion. Besides, the Yankees will do pretty well with the
sale of suites and sponsorship rights for every visible square inch inside the
ballpark. They'll have a powerful ally, as Creative Artists Agency (CAA) was
signed by the team to push sponsorships. Speaking of suites:
the Yankees have opened a showroom in Rockefeller Center to promote suite sales.
In other Yankees news, Harold (Hal) Steinbrenner was named chairman of Yankee
Global Enterprises LLC.
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ballparks
Pride announces season-ticket drive; Hobson's future in doubt
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The
Nashua Pride (independent; Can-Am Association) is asking the local community and
businesses to purchase 830 season tickets before an Oct. 24 deadline imposed by
the Can-Am Association. "During a meeting with Mayor Streeter and a group of
local businessmen, I have informed the mayor that the Pride is no longer
economically viable in Nashua," said Pride owner, John Stabile. "The Pride
franchise needs a renewed commitment from the residents of the Nashua area and
its business community prior to the league’s extended deadline on October 24th.
This commitment needs to come in the form of 830 new season ticket holders.
Without this level of support, it will not be financially feasible for us to
continue operating in Nashua for the 2008 season." Presumably the pitch for
season tickets is in conjunction with a plan to sell $800,000 in limited
partnerships in the Pride. Meanwhile, manager Butch Hobson -- the face of the
Pride the last few years --
is fielding offers from independent American Association and Atlantic League
teams.
Atlanta Braves mark end of an era with TBS
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It
was pretty amazing when a crappy Atlanta Braves franchise became America's Team
thanks to national broadcasts on Superstation TBS, but that era is now done as
yesterday's TBS broadcast was the last for the Braves. Ted Turner certainly
caused some friction with his fellow owners when he pushed the Braves on TBS,
and new MLB television agreements led to the demise of the relationship.
It also marks the end of Skip Caray, one of our favorite announcers, as a
national figure.
Auditor: Tax bills take hit due to ballpark
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The
downtown ballpark for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League)
has put a burden on Manchester taxpayers, but residents may get their money back
over time, according to Manchester's independent city auditor. Payments from the
minor-league ballclub and neighboring developers have covered all of the city's
costs to date on the $27.5 million ballpark project, auditor Kevin M. Buckley
found. That money, however, has not rolled in quickly enough to keep the project
from driving up the tax rate, he said. The impact on the city tax rate could
still be wiped clean, Buckley said, if riverfront developers keep moving forward
with their plans to build luxury condos near the ballpark. That work has been
slow, and success is not guaranteed. Not taken into account: the proceeds from
the sale of land near the ballpark and the taxes generated by fans and visiting
players.
Baseball owner loves his ballpark
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When
Frank Burke first purchased the Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA; Southern League)
13 years ago, the team played at Engel Stadium on the outskirts of downtown
Chattanooga. As Burke put it, the ballpark, built in 1929, was a “a great place
to play baseball and an awful place to operate a minor league baseball stadium.”
So in 2000 he left behind the cavernous park -- 471 feet to straightaway center
field -- with its roaming camels donning Lookouts caps and built his own
ballpark. BellSouth Park (now AT&T Field) cost $10.2 million to construct; Burke
and his two partners put up every penny.
Few will benefit from Harrison Square
Posted Oct. 1, 2007 (feedback)
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An
associate professor of labor studies at Indiana University-Purdue University
Fort Wayne comes down hard against Harrison Square, the downtown Fort Wayne
development that includes a hotel, condos and a new ballpark for the Fort Wayne
Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League). The argument here is that there's plenty
of empty storefronts in the area so there's no need for new downtown retail, and
the presence of an existing ballpark
makes the new ballpark redundant. If every city thought this way there'd be no
new buildings and stagnation everywhere.
Hall of Fame makes bad call
Posted Oct. 1, 2007 (feedback)
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Barry
Bonds says Marc Ecko is an "idiot" for heeding the results of an Internet poll
calling him to place an asterisk on the ball Bonds hit for his 756th career home
run before donating it to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ecko paid for the
ball and is welcome to do what he wants with it, but we're a little disappointed
to Hall of Fame officials eager to accept a defaced baseball. "Our
responsibility as a history museum is to present every story in proper context,"
Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey said, "and this ball allows us to do
that." We've not been thrilled with how Bonds has conducted his career, but he's
right: Ecko is an idiot and we're disappointed in Hall of Fame officials for
their decision as well.
Webster ballpark project derailed
Posted Oct. 1, 2007 (feedback)
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The
nonprofit group building a ballpark at Empire Park for the Webster Yankees
(summer collegiate; NYCBL) will have to restore the more than half-acre of
wetlands it illegally filled during construction and find a new site for its
project. An engineer working for the Webster Yankee Stadium Corp. is drawing up
a permit, which Supervisor Ronald Nesbitt said he would file with the state
Department of Environmental Conservation soon in order to repair the six-tenths
of an acre of wetlands. The field, which was going to have the dimensions of the
Yankee Stadium field, would have been home to the amateur Webster Yankees.
Fans gather for 50th anniversary of Giants' last home game in New York
Posted Oct. 1, 2007 (feedback)
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Lost
in the commotion over the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers 50 years ago was the
accompanying move of the New York Giants as well. Perhaps it's because the
Giants never really had the mythical fan following the Bums did, or maybe it's
because New York City actively pushed the Giants out by virtually eliminating
parking at the Polo Grounds, making the Giants a cinch to move -- and the only
issue was whether Horace Stoneham would move the team to Minneapolis/St. Paul --
where a new ballpark awaited and Stoneham already had business interests -- or
San Francisco.
More on the move of the Giants.
More on the move of the Dodgers.
Ballpark Notes
Posted Oct. 1, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Laredo Broncos (independent; Frontier League) announced that field
manager Angel “Papo” Davila's contract will not be renewed. Davila led the
Broncos to a 41-54 record in 2007 and missed the playoffs. “Papo did a
very good job in assembling a very good team but for some reason, nothing ever
clicked during the season. I felt a change is in place to be able to bring back
a championship to Laredo.” General Manager Jose Melendez said. The Broncos had a
very successful run in 2006 as they were eliminated in the championship round by
the Edinburg Coyotes, led by former Broncos field manager Dan Schwan....The
Florida Marlins announced the extension of the contracts of four baseball
executives through the 2015 season: Larry Beinfest, who was named
President, Baseball Operations; Michael Hill, who was named Vice
President, General Manager; Dan Jennings, who was named Vice President,
Player Personnel and Assistant General Manager; and Jim Fleming, Vice
President, Player Development and Scouting and Assistant General Manager....The
St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) have named Jack
Weatherman the club’s Director of Corporate Sales. Weatherman, 28, began his
baseball career with the Saints in 2004 as an Account Representative. In 2005 he
was the Corporate Sales Manager handling both tickets and sponsorship. At the
end of the 2005 season Weatherman took over as Director of Promotions.....The
Batavia Regional Recreation Corporation announced Friday that David
Wellenzohn has been named as the general manager of the Batavia Muckdogs
(short season; NY-Penn League) effective immediately. Wellenzohn's extensive
sports experience includes stints with the Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA;
International League), the Wichita Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League), and
General Manager of the Jamestown Jammers (short season; NY-Penn League)....Good
news: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) General Manager
North Johnson returned to BB&T Coastal Field on Thursday, fully
recovered from a bout with mononucleosis that sidelined the four-time Executive
of the Year since mid-August....MiLB.com named "Billy Donovan Night,"
a promotion from the Fort Myers Miracle (High Class A; Florida State
League), as the best of the season as determined by an online fan poll. Any fan
purchasing a ticket could negotiate their way out of the deal after consulting
with a lawyer....The Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express will host
the 31st annual Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminar next year in
Texas. The seminar will take place from September 30-October 3, 2008, at the
Renaissance Austin Hotel in the capital city of the Lone Star State.....
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