Recent
Visits |
O'Brien Field, Peoria Chiefs
The minor-league baseball season may be over, but
the far-flung correspondents of Ballpark Digest
still have a boatload of ballpark visits to share
with you over the next few weeks. We kick off the
series with Gus
Venditto's photos of O'Brien
Field, the home of the Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A;
Midwest League).
With a wraparound
concourse and trademark palm trees in the
outfield, O'Brien Field is regarded as one of the
nicest facilities in the Midwest League. It
features all you'd expect from a modern ballpark:
an outfield berm for family seating, 20 suites,
party decks and a massive scoreboard.
Keyspan Park, Brooklyn
Cyclones
How do you
honor the contributions of Brooklyn to baseball
history after the borough went without
professional baseball for the better part of 50
years? If you're Fred Wilpon and you own the New
York Mets, and you're a Brooklyn-born baseball
lover with the money and power to place a
minor-league team right in Coney Island where the
history of baseball and hot dogs intersect with
the Atlantic Ocean and famous boardwalk
attractions, you build Keyspan Park, the home of
the Brooklyn Cyclones (short season; NY-Penn
League). After six seasons, it's still one of the
great ballparks of minor-league baseball:
Visitors will
immediately recognize that a minor-league ballpark
in the middle of a metropolis makes for a unique
experience -- and putting one into the middle of
Coney Island is almost overwhelming.
Finch Field, Thomasville
HiToms
Finch
Field, the home of the Thomasville HiToms, was
extensively renovated before the 2006 season,
and the
resulting transformation is nothing short of
amazing. Finch Field went from a ballpark with an
uncomfortable grandstand and a lot of history to a
great little ballpark with a comfortable
grandstand, improved concessions and a boatload of
charm. Plus, the HiToms and the local community
managed to achieve this extreme makeover for $1.4
million -- surely one of the biggest ballparks
bargains in recent years.
|
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The
Fine Print |
Obligatory legal information:
This site is copyright 1998-2006 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:
April 16-22, 2006
Twins ballpark
passes key committee, moves on to full House
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The
Minnesota House Tax Committee passed a bill
allowing Hennepin County
to issue a 0.15 sales tax (excluding food, medicine
and clothing) without a referendum to help pay for
a new Minnesota Twins ballpark in downtown
Minneapolis's Warehouse District. On Thursday the
committee defeated an amendment that would have
forced a referendum; today the committee passed
the bill, sending it to the full House for its
approval. Hearings in the Tax Committee were viewed as a major roadblock to
passage of the measure; the committee is chaired by Rep. Phil Krinkie,
an outspoken ballpark opponent, and the committee
is considered to be more conservative and anti-tax
than the House as a whole. State law calls for a referendum
on any local sales-tax initiatives, but the Twins
and ballpark proponents say they don't want the
ballpark to be delayed by a cumbersome public
vote. (The unstated reason: the fear it would be
defeated.) Both votes passed by a 15-13 measure The state Senate still needs to debate
the measure,
but leaders there are more confident of passage.
More from AP.
RELATED STORIES:
Twins put on heat in ballpark pitch;
Hennepin County Board OKs Twins ballpark plan;
Will new Twins ballpark go green?;
Hearings this week could determine fate of new
Twins ballpark;
Sviggum says Twins bill will get fair shake;
Hennepin County board OKs revised Twins ballpark
plan;
Politics, tax tangle Twins' quest for new park;
Senate panel OKs Twins ballpark plan;
Twins ballpark initiative resuming;
Supporters say Twins ballpark bill has enough
votes to pass;
Twins ballpark proposal picking up steam in
Minnesota Legislature;
Twins laying off threats, for now;
It's back! Twins ballpark issue still with us;
Twins are hearing dreaded 'C' word again;
Twins ballpark lunch ends on glum note;
Twins make pitch in court to leave Dome;
Small-market Twins might be on verge of being
overrun economically;
Expect a plan but no ballpark;
Pawlenty steps in for Twins ballpark;
Twins ballpark financing deal unlikely to be
renewed;
Minnesota House GOP opposes special session for
Twins ballpark;
Bonoff won despite supporting ballpark;
Hennepin County gives go-ahead for study related
to Twins ballpark;
Don't leave Twins special session up in air;
Selig seeks action on Twins ballpark;
Twins to Las Vegas? Looks like a long shot;
Twins could be hot commodity;
Metrodome board questions Twins' motives in court
case;
Reggie Jackson: I'll buy the Twins;
Stadiums a political juggling act for Pawlenty;
Selig keeps close tabs on Twins ballpark situation;
Twins sue to get out of Metrodome lease;
MLB officials, Pawlenty discuss Twins ballpark;
Minnesota stadium special session looks doomed;
Minnesota special session may not include Twins
ballpark;
Twins: Ballpark costs to rise $30 million if
approval is delayed;
Stadium proposals jostle for support in Minnesota;
Twins ballpark may slip this year;
Will special session be called to pass Twins
ballpark legislations? Odds seem to be dropping;
Best-kept secret about the Minnesota ballpark;
Possible Twins site has new life;
Roof or no? The debate rages in Minnesota;
Ballpark deal: Pohlad must share;
Hennepin County takes first step toward new Twins
ballpark;
Few want to pay for Twins ballpark;
Minnesota Twins, Hennepin County reach agreement
on ballpark funding;
Twins back Minneapolis ballpark location;
What's up with a Twins ballpark?;
Ballpark tax plan is calling for a first
Bob Wirz: Two Indy
broadcasters hit the bigs
Posted April 21, 2006
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Dame Fortune has struck
not once, but twice this season for broadcasters
with Independent Baseball roots. Both the Toronto
Blue Jays and Houston Astros have new radio voices
who have come out of the Independent ranks,
although the Indy path was paved in different ways
for the two men: Warren Sawkiw as a player and
Dave Raymond as a broadcaster.
Florida spring-training
funding bill may get vote today
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Tax incentives to help Winter Haven, Sarasota and
other cities keep their spring-training baseball
teams could face a critical vote in the Florida
House as early as today. The bill's survival
likely will depend on whether other sports teams
are able to catch a ride on the ballpark-funding
bandwagon. The bill would give up to $15 million
in sales tax revenues over 30 years to help fund
new stadiums or improvements in five spring
training cities: Winter Haven, Sarasota,
Bradenton, St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale. A
representative from Port St. Lucie is seeking to
add St. Lucie and Tradition Field to the bill,
even though renovations to that ballpark are
already completed. Even if the bill clears the
Legislature, it may not be a done deal. Earlier
this month, Gov. Jeb Bush described the bill's
outlook as "cloudy," meaning he could veto it.
RELATED STORIES:
Polk County commits $23 million to sports
facilities, including new Indians spring complex;
Goodyear inviting Dodgers to move;
Dodgers confirm contact from Glendale regarding
Cactus League shift;
Cardwell says spring-training attendance remains
consistent in Florida;
Florida lawmakers approve spring-training
facilities bill;
FAU considering a deal with Indians for
spring-training complex;
Goodyear chooses site to build spring-training
complex;
Moving away from tradition;
Baseball complex proponents envision many pluses
for Casa Grande;
Tradition and economics in Florida;
Plan for a new Reds spring-training complex in
Sarasota move forward;
Mum's the word in spring-training facility bidding
war;
Indians signal they may consider Winter Haven
contract;
Dodgertown is a little less blue;
State should spring for aid to teams;
Glendale says it will be talking to teams about
spring-training site;
Details emerge on Sarasota County, city plan for
stadium, event center, ballfields;
Sarasota eyes ambitious plan to convert arena site
to keep Reds;
Cactus League may grow as cities plan new parks;
Three-city race for new Arizona spring-training
ballpark?;
Apopka making its pitch for Indians spring
training;
Reds, Pirates team up to seek better facilities;
Lee County game for third team;
Spring-training facility not in city's best
interests;
Baseball, stadium would benefit city;
Cleveland Indians scout training site in Cape
Coral
County money just part of
Indians spring site's need
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Funding committed Wednesday
by the Polk County Commission for a new
spring-training facility in Winter Haven is only a
small part of what will be needed if the Cleveland
Indians commit to stay in town. Polk County would
contribute $8 million toward a $50-million
facility, with the state providing $15 million
should a sales-tax rebate pass. That leaves a
little more than half of the cost of the facility
still up in the air, but the city is expected to
pass some sort of funding measure should the state
measure pass. The city wants to overhaul the Chain
of Lakes complex into a destination mixed-use
development.
Goodyear's Cactus League
radar is pointed directly at Dodgers
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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More
on the possibility of the Los Angeles
Dodgers moving spring-training operations to
Arizona. Both Goodyear and Glendale have
approached the Dodgers about a move from venerable
Dodgertown in Vero Beach. Despite the tradition, a
move makes sense -- the Dodgers draw fewer than
5,000 fans a game at spring training, and Holman
Stadium is a charming, antiquated facility. There
are two big issues: the Dodgers would need to
repay Vero Beach for renovations to Dodgertown,
and the Dodgers would need to find another team to
make the move to Arizona: MLB virtually requires
team move in tandem for scheduling purposes. With
momentum increasing on a new facility in Winter
Haven, the chances of the Indians moving lessen
every day. The Orioles have been quiet about their
plans, though renovations funds for Fort
Lauderdale are part of a state proposal referenced
above. A remote possibility would bet the Houston
Astros, but that would require them getting out of
an Osceola County Stadium lease. The Chicago White
Sox have expressed an interest to move to the
Phoenix area (at one point they floated a proposal
to share Scottsdale Stadium with the Giants or
have Scottsdale build a new facility; the high
price of land in that part of Phoenix nipped that
proposal in the bud).
Forums planned on Cobb Field
proposal
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Billings
is hosting a series of community forums to help
the public learn more about a proposal to rebuild
Cobb Field, the home of the Billings Mustangs
(rookie; Pioneer League). The City Council is
considering a plan to place a bond issue for about
$12 million on the November ballot. If voters
approve the bond issue, the aging ballpark would
be replaced after the 2007 season. Patrick Zohn of
Gateway Consulting Group of Cleveland will provide
information on the proposal and will listen to
comments during seven public meetings scheduled
for April 25 through May 2. Zohn authored a
$60,000 Cobb Field feasibility study that the City
Council received last fall. Zohn was also hired to
conduct the public education campaign for the new
ballpark.
RELATED STORY:
Poll finds support for bonds for Cobb Field;
Council vote sets stage for Cobb debate;
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
Forbes: Net worth of MLB
teams grows again
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Baseball
owners continue to slam the ball out of the park.
Team values increased an average of 15 percent for
the second consecutive year, to $376 million, in
the Forbes 2006 survey of Major League Baseball's
30 franchises. Overall operating income increased
to $360 million ($12.1 million per team) from $132
million ($4.4 million per team) the previous year,
as revenue increased faster than player salaries.
The biggest winner was the Washington Nationals,
whose value rose 42 percent; a new ballpark was
the chief reason for the increase. One cloud on
the horizon: the Oakland Athletics, Minnesota
Twins and Kansas City increased in value by 20
percent, but much of that was due to baseball's
revenue-sharing system -- and
the Yankees are expected to pay much less than
this year's $77 million when construction on a new
Yankee Stadium begins.
Progress is made on Braves
sale
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Time
Warner, seeking a buyer for the Atlanta Braves,
has made significant progress in negotiations with
both Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and
Colorado-based Liberty Media, people familiar with
the talks said Thursday. Blank and Time Warner
have closed the gap that earlier divided them on
financial terms, putting a possible deal within
striking range. But Time Warner could opt to
instead include the team as part of a larger
transaction being negotiated with Liberty Media.
Blank is a founder of Home Depot, and Liberty
Media is a wide-ranging cable and media firm with
existing ties to Time Warner; it also holds stakes
in the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado
Avalanche. Blank would need to finance a deal;
Liberty would Time Warner stock it already owns to
help fund a deal.
RELATED STORIES:
Blank breaks off negotiations to buy Braves;
Blank gains on Braves purchase
Lerner adds two more to
group bidding for Nats
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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The
family of Washington area developer Theodore
Lerner has added two prominent African Americans
to its bid to buy the Washington Nationals,
according to several sources. Rodney E. Slater,
51, a secretary of transportation under President
Clinton and a partner with the law firm of Patton
Boggs LLP, and B. Doyle Mitchell Jr., 44,
president and chief executive of Industrial Bank
NA, have joined several other minority partners in
the Lerner effort, according to the sources, who
spoke on condition of anonymity. Both commissioner
Bud Selig and D.C. elected officials have said
minority participation in any group landing the
Nats is a requirement. The league is believed to
be nearing a decision on the Nationals' sale. MLB
President Robert DuPuy told Congress on April 7
that he expected Commissioner of Baseball Bud
Selig to decide on the new owner within two weeks.
However, Selig and DuPuy have now scheduled
meetings next week with the Lerners and with
another front-running group led by local
businessmen Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients,
according to sources familiar with the sale
process.
RELATED STORIES:
Hey, MLB: Nats need an owner now;
New Nats owner might find cracks in the foundation
Indiana State students
present report on bringing minor-league baseball
to Terre Haute
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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A
team of Indiana State University students have
studied the feasibility of minor-league baseball
in Terre Haute and come to the conclusion that it
could financially work if there is significant
support from private and civic sources. Terre
Haute has been without pro baseball since the
Terre Haute Huts folded in 1956. Their proposal
calls for using ISU’s Sycamore Field as their home
field. They found the costs for upgrading that
facility, buying a franchise and paying the
operating expenses and fees for a team in the
independent Frontier League would be $6.35 million
for the first year and $1.5 million for each
following season. If the team came from the
Midwest League -- which is comprised of farm clubs
affiliated with major league teams -- the
first-year price tag would jump to $15 million and
the annual expenses afterward would be $3.2
million. Terre Haute itself only has 59,614
residents, so the entire Wabash Valley would need
to support a team.
RELATED STORIES:
Class presents baseball team project for Terre
Haute;
Students pitch bringing pro baseball to Terre
Haute
Mets' ballpark figure is
$266 million
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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The Bloomberg administration's deal with the Mets
for a new ballpark will cost the city and state a
combined $266 million, while providing the team
with $298 million in savings from the use of
tax-exempt bonds, a new report released yesterday
revealed. The IBO's analysis shows the new Mets
stadium will cost the city $177 million. By
comparison,
the Yankees' deal will cost $155 million. The
City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the
two deals, but several members of the Queens
delegation are threatening to postpone the vote on
the Mets.
RELATED STORIES:
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
Skeptics ask why, not when
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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The folks in San Antonio sound a little
irritated at how things are going down in their
pursuit of the Florida Marlins: despite putting up
what they think is a solid offer ($200 million
toward a $300-million ballpark, although no one
realistically thinks a new MLB ballpark can be
built for so little, no matter how much Nelson
Wolff argues otherwise). The Fish have been
upfront about wanting to keep the team in South
Florida: owner Jeffrey Loria has roots there and
it has the potential to be a great market.
More from USA Today.
RELATED STORIES:
Development OK'd for potential Marlins ballpark
site in Hialeah;
Hopes fade in pursuit of Marlins;
Marlins have until May 15 to decide about San
Antonio move;
Wolff plans to give Marlins a
deadline;
Loria wants Marlins' fate decided soon;
House-hunting for Marlins on hold, for now;
Willis, ballpark deal key issues for Marlins;
Is Texas big enough for three MLB teams?;
San Antonio makes first pitch to Marlins owner;
Loria: Marlins seriously talking with San Antonio;
Will Florida Marlins jump into San Antonio's net?;
San Antonio officials get an invite
Nolan Ryan backs San Antonio Marlins idea;
City and county forming teams to lure Marlins;
San Antonio bid for Marlins on hold;
Wolff reveals site possibilities for San Antonio
ballpark;
Plan would provide $200 million toward new Marlins
ballpark;
Spurs looking to be part of ownership if San
Antonio lures Marlins;
San Antonio to Marlins: Include locals;
Marlins move may spur border battle;
Wolff makes ballpark pitch to Marlins;
San Antonio under 'serious consideration' for
Marlins relocation;
Marlins front office meets with Homestead
officials;
Marlins to Oklahoma City?;
Half-cent hike in Miami-Dade
might help fund a Marlins ballpark;
Owner laughs off idea of his
track as Marlins ballpark site;
Marlins, FAU to discuss
stadium options;
Norfolk session pleases
Marlins;
Possibility of Marlins
ballpark deal called remote
Grasshoppers
continue to attract fans at new ballpark
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Such
a problem to have: At 6,367 fans a game, the
Greensboro Grasshoppers (Class A; Sally League)
rank second among the 60 full-season Class A teams
nationwide in attendance. They trail only the
Dayton Dragons (Class A; Midwest League), who have
sold out all 434 home games in franchise history
and who stand at 7,874 per game in 2006. Among all
120 active minor-league clubs, Greensboro is 13th
at the gate. The Grasshoppers' attendance is 20
percent ahead of where it was after eight home
games in 2005, First Horizon's inaugural campaign.
Concessions revenue is up 10 percent. In the most
recent home game, when it attracted 10,137, the
Grasshoppers did $35,400 in walk-up ticket sales
-- three times the per-game budgeted figure and
nearly $8,000 more than the previous club record.
Sheppard to return to
Yankees mike tonight
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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The
voice known to millions of New Yorkers as the
voice of the Yankees will return tonight to the
mile after missing the opening series at Yankee
Stadium due to complications with an artificial
hip. Bob Sheppard doesn't like to give his age,
but a former Yankee official confirmed that Oct.
12, 1910, is correct. That would make him 95,
although it doesn't show: Before the injury he was
in good enough shape to wait in the back row of
the Yankee Stadium press box and spring to the
elevator for the final out in an attempt to beat
traffic.
Baseball receives mixed
grades on a diversity report card
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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The
University of Central Florida's Institute for
Diversity and Ethics said yesterday that 3 percent
of pitchers, 1 percent of catchers and 11 percent
of infielders were black last year, based on
40-man rosters listed in 2005 media guides. That
compares with 26 percent of outfielders. In 1983,
6.6 percent of pitchers were black, the study
said. The institute issues regular report cards
for college and professional sports to evaluate
hiring and on-field opportunities for women and
racial minorities. Major League Baseball received
an overall C-plus in gender and racial diversity
on and off the field - the same grade it received
last year. The sport's B-plus for racial diversity
was slightly higher than in the previous year,
while baseball fell from a C to a D-plus for
gender diversity.
Good job from Spirit; let's
see more
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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The
North Shore Spirit (independent; Can-Am
Association) hit a home run Tuesday night when
they hosted the first round of the Beanpot
baseball tournament. Here's hoping they take the
cue from the surprisingly large number of fans who
showed up, with very little notice, and do more
with the baseball community. The Spirit are making
a concerted effort to expand their fan base, and
that would seem to be the right thing to do.
They've tapped into the Boston radio market now
that 1510 The Zone is broadcasting their games.
And they're hoping the exposure will help people
from outside the immediate Lynn area find their
way to Fraser Field this summer.
Fremont better than Las
Vegas for A's fans
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Well,
duh. The thesis here is that Oakland probably
won't be the site of a new ballpark for the
Oakland Athletics, and if they're not going to
stay at McAfee Coliseum, they're better off in
Fremont than in Las Vegas. If you're an A's fan in
the East Bay, of course you would prefer the team
not move to Las Vegas.
All aboard the Barons
special
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Streetcars
from the Electric City Trolley Museum’s collection
could be carrying museum passengers between
downtown Scranton and Lackawanna County Stadium,
the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
(Class AAA; International League) as early as
June, with dedicated baseball excursions to Red
Barons games starting later in the summer, county
officials said Thursday. Trolleys currently
take riders on a 10-mile round trip, between the
museum’s station near the Steamtown National
Historic Site and a spot near the Lackawanna
County Visitors Center in Moosic. A new,
2,000-foot extension will carry the line to a new
station and trolley restoration facility, adjacent
to the ballpark off Montage Mountain Road. The new
tracks and trolley barn are part of a $2 million
project bankrolled by capital funds from the
county and the state.
Bellingham Civic
construction on schedule
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Construction
to renovate and remodel Bellingham's Civic
Athletic Complex is on schedule or ahead of
proposed timelines according to city officials.
The $6.9 million project, which broke ground in
February, is expected to give a much-needed
facelift to Civic Stadium, Joe Martin Field and
the parking lot near the two facilities. Work on
Joe Martin Field has been accelerated and the city
would like to have much of the plaza area and
middle grandstand seating finished by June before
the start of the Bellingham Bells (summer
collegiate; West Coast Collegiate Baseball League)
season.
The Bells filed a lawsuit against the city
of Bellingham on April 12 for breach of contract
because of the renovations being made to the
baseball park.
Ballpark Notes
Posted April 21, 2006 (feedback)
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Jacques
Doucet will become the new voice of the
Capitales de Quebec (independent; Can-Am
Association) during the home radio broadcasts on
INFO 800. For 33 years Doucet was the voice of the
Montreal Expos, a gig that ended abruptly
with the transfer of the Montreal team to
Washington. Doucet is a member of the Quebec Hall
of Fame since 2002, the Expos Hall of Fame since
2003, and the Baseball Canada Hall of Fame since
2004....
Polk County
commits $23 million to sports facilities,
including new Indians spring complex
Posted April 20, 2006 (feedback)
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Working
off the official agenda, the Polk County
Commission approved spending $23 million in
tourist tax funds to three sports complexes,
including a new spring-training complex for the
Cleveland Indians to replace
Chain of Lakes Park.
Wednesday's vote by the County Commission follows
approval of the package by the Polk County Tourist
Development Council. The new Winter Haven complex
will provide a new home for the Cleveland Indians
or any other major league team that may decide to
train there. That project will involve a four-way
financial partnership involving between $35
million and $52.5 million. The partnership would
include Polk County, which has committed $8
million; Winter Haven; the state and the baseball
team or teams. A bill making its way through the
Florida Legislature could make $500 million
available to Florida cities for spring-training
facilities. The Indians would need to make a
long-term commitment to the complex. Los Angeles
is the team most likely to take off for Arizona;
here's a look at their status from the Vero Beach
newspaper.
RELATED STORIES:
Goodyear inviting Dodgers to move;
Dodgers confirm contact from Glendale regarding
Cactus League shift;
Cardwell says spring-training attendance remains
consistent in Florida;
Florida lawmakers approve spring-training
facilities bill;
FAU considering a deal with Indians for
spring-training complex;
Goodyear chooses site to build spring-training
complex;
Moving away from tradition;
Baseball complex proponents envision many pluses
for Casa Grande;
Tradition and economics in Florida;
Plan for a new Reds spring-training complex in
Sarasota move forward;
Mum's the word in spring-training facility bidding
war;
Indians signal they may consider Winter Haven
contract;
Dodgertown is a little less blue;
State should spring for aid to teams;
Glendale says it will be talking to teams about
spring-training site;
Details emerge on Sarasota County, city plan for
stadium, event center, ballfields;
Sarasota eyes ambitious plan to convert arena site
to keep Reds;
Cactus League may grow as cities plan new parks;
Three-city race for new Arizona spring-training
ballpark?;
Apopka making its pitch for Indians spring
training;
Reds, Pirates team up to seek better facilities;
Lee County game for third team;
Spring-training facility not in city's best
interests;
Baseball, stadium would benefit city;
Cleveland Indians scout training site in Cape
Coral
If Springdale ballpark built
team will follow, planners are told
Posted April 20, 2006 (feedback)
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More
specifics on the proposed
ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas. Springdale
Chamber of Commerce President Perry Webb says he's
got a commitment from a Class AA team to move to
Springdale should the tax referendum funding the
project be approved by voters; it's widely
believed the team in question is the Wichita
Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League), who currently
play at venerable
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Ballpark
designs will be presented to the Springdale City
Council on May 23, at which time aldermen will be
asked to set a special city election for July 11.
Voters will be asked to extend Springdale’s 1
percent sales tax dedicated to the city’s $105
million street improvement project. Mayor Jerre
Van Hoose has said he expected the street
improvement sales tax to expire in 2012, but
extending the tax for two to three years could
raise $25 million to $30 million to build a
ballpark.
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Bond underwriters to study Springdale ballpark
funding options;
Turn-back funds to go for Springdale ballpark;
Springdale ballpark site under contract;
Springdale: Chamber fielding baseball inquiries;
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Springdale: Sports park feasible, study claims
Development OK'd for
potential Marlins ballpark site in Hialeah
Posted April 20, 2006 (feedback)
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Hialeah
and the Florida Marlins got a boost Wednesday when
Miami-Dade County Commissioners agreed to allow
development on a swath of land in the western
portion of the city. The property, which includes
1,140 acres between Florida's Turnpike on the
west, Northwest 97th Avenue on the east, Northwest
170th Street on the north and Northwest 154th
Street on the south, had been located outside the
"Urban Development Boundary," meaning building
could not occur there. Commissioners voted 12-1 to
move the property, which includes an old landfill
and is zoned for industrial and office space, into
the development boundary. The Marlins began
meeting with Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina in
January about the possibility of building a
ballpark in the city, and the western site was
among the potential locations. Robaina said he
would not support raising city taxes or putting a
referendum on the ballot. He has maintained that
the city would provide the land, if the Marlins
and Miami-Dade County put up money for the
ballpark. Much to the chagrin of San Antonio
baseball proponents,
Marlins President David Samson once again says the
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