Archives: Feb.
4-Feb. 11, 2005
Richmond ballpark questions
remain
Posted February 11, 2005
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The
Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League)
are proposing a $330 million development that
includes a new ballpark -- all without requiring
taxpayer dollars -- and some are expressing
hesitation at taking the team up on its offer.
There are some legitimate concerns, like the
financial wherewithal of the Braves and partner
Global Development, but some of the questions are
just silly. Paul Woody asks whether people will go
downtown to a ballgame and who Global Development
is. A quick search yields Global Development
involved in a number of stadium and arena deals,
including the new D.C. United stadium. Gee, Paul,
you think maybe folks go to downtown ballparks in
Memphis, Baltimore, San Diego and Louisville?
More on the specifics of the proposal here.
Meanwhile, The Diamond would be converted into the
anchor of a new sportsplex;
here are the specifics.
'Big boxes' part of D.C.
ballpark pitch
Posted February 11, 2005
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We're
starting to see some of the details regarding
private financing of a new ballpark for the
Washington Nationals. One proposal from developer
Herbert S. Miller finances the new ballpark on the
District's Anacostia waterfront partly by building
a $1.4 billion retail and residential complex
anchored by "big box" stores like Wal-Mart or
Costco. Miller proposes developing the land
surrounding the planned ballpark in Southeast with
the large-scale retailers, a variety of smaller
stores and restaurants, 450 loft apartments,
780,000 square feet of office space and a 250-room
hotel. He said debt service on the ballpark would
be paid partly by sales tax revenue from the
retailers, eliminating the need for a citywide
gross receipts tax on businesses. Meanwhile,
buyers of partial season tickets for the Nats were
hit by delays due to Ticketmaster problems.
Springfield hopes Cards can
pack 'em in -- safely
Posted February 11, 2005
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The
Springfield Cardinals (Class AA; Texas League) are
hosting the St. Louis Cardinals for two exhibition
games at the end of spring training, and the team
is trying to figure out how many bodies can fit
into Hammons Stadium. The Cards say the total
capacity is more than 10,000 (with seating for
7,500); the city wants to see some proof.
Meanwhile,
the Springfield Cards' front office is getting
ready for the 2005 opener.
Indy baseball in Topeka?
Posted February 11, 2005
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The
city of Topeka is proceeding with plans to develop
its riverfront with support from the Army Corps of
Engineers, and a new minor-league ballpark could
be part of those plans. Engineering firm Burns and
McDonnell analyzed the area and raised
possibilities that included riverfront area
parking, a pedestrian bridge, corporate
headquarter offices and a ballpark. Both the
Northern League and the Frontier League have
expressed interest in the area.
Ballpark funding remains
priority for Eastlake
Posted February 11, 2005
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A
U.S. congressman is attempting to include $4
million in funding for Eastlake Stadium, the home
of the Lake County Captains (Class A; Sally
League) in a $283.9 billion, six-year highway and
transit funding bill in the U.S. House of
Representatives. The move could end up being
controversial: it's hard to see how ballpark
funding would fit into a highway bill (i.e., it
reeks of pork), and it's very unusual for ballpark
funding to be done on the national level. Eastlake
cornered itself into a financial hole with the
construction of the ballpark, but it's hard to
argue national taxpayers should help out.
UPDATE: The federal angle exists because part
of the Eastlake facility is a park-and-ride
receiving federal transit funds. However, the
financial issues associated with the project stem
from the ballpark and not the park-and-ride.
Selig not joining Anaheim
battle
Posted February 11, 2005
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MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig says he has no plans to
intervene in the dispute between the Anaheim
Angels and the city of Anaheim over the team's
changing of its name to the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim. The city failed twice to convince a judge
to intervene in the case; next week the Anaheim
City Council will decide whether to bring the case
again to court.
Devil Rays take complete
control of radio broadcasts for 162 games
Posted February 11, 2005
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The
Tampa Bay Devil Rays rolled out a new business
model Thursday to broadcast their 2005 games on
the radio by taking the production in-house and no
longer selling their games' broadcast rights to a
radio station owner. Starting in the 2005 season,
the Devil Rays will control radio broadcasts by
selling ads, producing all content and
broadcasting all 162 regular- season games on a
new station -- WHNZ 1250-AM. They're hiring
several sales and production workers to handle the
job. The Rays hope to expand their radio network
past Tampa and into the Panhandle and the
Interstate 4 corridor.
Waterloo announces
million-dollar renovation of Riverfront Stadium
Posted February 11, 2005
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Yesterday
we reported on the first phase of a million-dollar
renovation of
Riverfront Stadium, the home of the Waterloo
Bucks (college wood bat; Northwoods League); today
we have details on the entire project. By the time
the project is completed in three to five years
you'll see new home and visitor locker rooms; new
umpire facilities; new grandstand roof, decking,
and seating;
press box improvements; two skyboxes; and more.
BART to the ballpark, what a
vision
Posted February 11, 2005
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San
Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales scored some major brownie
points with locals by pledging to bring major
league baseball and BART to San Jose. He's got a
better chance of attracting the BART line to the
area than convince the San Francisco Giants to
give up the Silicon Valley as part of its
territory; yesterday Bob DuPuy
once again said MLB has no intention of awarding
Silicon Valley to the A's. (Neighbors of the
proposed San Jose ballpark
aren't quite sure about the plan, either.)
Meanwhile,
A's owner Steve Schott expects the sale of the
team to Lew Wolff to go smoothly.
No one knows if baseball
team would work in Bowling Green
Posted February 11, 2005
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As
a local group works to bring a minor-league teams
to Bowling Green, the local paper questions
whether baseball would succeed. There are some
arguments pro and con: on the one hand, the group
has sold 1,400 season tickets and there are three
teams looking at a move there. On the other hand,
there's fear that a team would move in, fail, and
then leave the city with a ballpark. There's no
conclusion reached here, however.
Six teams teams in state to
form Ripken Sr. league
Posted February 11, 2005
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Welcome
another league to the ranks of college wood-bat
leagues. Six of Maryland's wood-bat collegiate
baseball teams announced that they have formed the
new Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The
league will include three teams that used to play
in the Eddie Brooks Baseball League, two from the
Clark C. Griffith Collegiate Baseball League and a
new Rockville-based team: the Bethesda Big Train,
College Park Maryland Bombers, Maryland Redbirds
(Towson), Rockville Express, Silver Spring-Takoma
Thunderbolts and Youse's Maryland Orioles of
Baltimore.
Baseball Notes
Posted February 11, 2005
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The
New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific
Coast League) will have 12 home games televised on
Cox Sports Television this season. Available on
Channel 37 in the Greater New Orleans area, Cox
Sports TV will be the home of the Zephyrs for the
third year, and will also replay each game the
next morning. In addition to the games, Cox Sports
TV will also feature a weekly program on the
Zephyrs - Inside Zephyrs Baseball - that will be
hosted by the TV and radio broadcast team of Tim
Grubbs and Ron Swoboda, and will include a segment
by Zephyrs reporter Tim Fanguy...The Winnipeg
Goldeyes (independent; Northern League)
announced all its games will be broadcast on 1290
CFRW under the terms of a new three-year deal.
Paul Edmonds will return for his 11th year
as the lone voice of the Goldeyes....
Miami-Dade unveils financing
plan for new Marlins ballpark
Posted February 10, 2005
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Miami-Dade
County officials unveiled Wednesday a financing
plan for a $420 million ballpark and parking
garage for the Florida Marlins east of the Orange
Bowl that roughly splits financing costs between
the team and the public and protects taxpayers
from cost overruns. Officials from the county,
Miami and the Marlins are finalizing the
non-binding agreement, which requires city and
county approval, expected in the next three weeks.
However, the deal could still run into trouble if
the state Legislature fails to grant the team a
$60 million state sales tax rebate, or if $28
million set aside for acquiring needed land does
not cover those costs.
Here are the specifics of the plan.
More from the Miami Herald.
Manchester ballpark: Costs
are up, but construction is on time
Posted February 10, 2005
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Costs
for the new ballpark for the New Hampshire Fisher
Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) are running about
$1.1 million over budget, but the team is covering
the costs per the contract with the city. The
largest cost, nearly $231,000, went toward
removing and disposing of asbestos found in the
soil. The ballpark is still scheduled to open
April 7.
Selig wants A's owner in
place before season
Posted February 10, 2005
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MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig wants to see Lew Wolff in
place as owner of the Oakland Athletics before the
start of the season in April. This is doable:
Wolff has already met with other MLB owners and is
close to finalizing a new lease with
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority.
Meanwhile,
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales says his city will
make a bid to MLB for relocating the A's to San
Jose -- a move Selig says won't happen as long
as Silicon Valley remains in Giants' territory.
Meanwhile, former A's slugger Reggie Jackson is
disappointed he didn't get a chance to bid on the
Athletics, as he was willing to pay $25 million
more for the team than Wolff is paying. A
Sacramento Bee columnist argues
Sacramento is the perfect home for the A's.
Reds want $$$ for Sarasota
upgrades
Posted February 10, 2005
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The
Cincinnati Reds want to see some changes to their
spring-training home, Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium,
before making a long-term commitment to staying
there. The Reds want the county to contribute $5
million and the state contribute $15 million
toward the $40 million renovation of the complex.
If this funding comes through, the Reds will sign
a 20-year lease to stay in Sarasota as well as
keep the Sarasota Reds (Class A; Florida State
League) in town. County commissioners aren't eager
to spend the money, but there are some definite
problems with the complex: Some training fields
flood for days at a time, the clubhouses are
cramped, workout facilities are shabby and the
stadium isn't well-equipped for the disabled. The
Reds' lease ends in 2008.
Centene adds name to Great
Falls ballpark
Posted February 10, 2005
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Centene
Corp., which plans to open a medical-claims
processing center in Great Falls, Mont. this
summer, has purchased naming rights to Legion
Park, the home of the Great Falls White Sox
(rookie, Pioneer League). The $200,000 deal with
the Great Falls Baseball Club and the city runs
for seven years. The move also closes the first
phase of renovations to the ballpark and lets
baseball supporters move on to the second phase of
renovations.
Coal group, power utility
look into naming stadium
Posted February 10, 2005
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Speaking
of naming rights: the West Virginia Power (Class
A; Sally League) have talked with the West
Virginia Coal Association and Appalachian Power
about buying the naming rights to the city's new
ballpark. No surprise there: it would make sense
for a power company to buy naming rights for the
home of the Power. Team officials say three firms
are interest in buying naming rights.
More on the new ballpark here.
Potomac Cannons to announce name change, new logo
Posted February 10, 2005
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Art
Silber, owner of the Potomac Cannons (Class A;
Carolina League), will announce the team's new
name and logo the 10th Annual Hot Stove Banquet
and Silent Auction on Sunday, February 13 at the
Hyatt Fair Lakes in Fairfax. The team is the
closest affiliate of the Washington Nationals, and
Nats officials are expected to speak at the
banquet as well.
Richmond Braves assume role
as developer
Posted February 10, 2005
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The
Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League)
didn't set out to develop the area around a
proposed new ballpark in the city's Shockoe Bottom
area, but management concluded the only way to get
a new ballpark was to work in conjunction with a
developer, Global Development, on the project. The
team says the new ballpark will be easier to get
to than The Diamond,
thanks to an abundance of parking in the area.
To sweeten the pot, the Braves say they'll
make a 25-year commitment to stay in Richmond
should a new ballpark be built.
Local citizens and business owners react to the
plan. With the announcement of the $330
million development, renovation of The Diamond is
officially off the table; some expect the Braves
would move rather than stay in a renovated Diamond
if the development effort fails.
Waterloo announces renovation plan for Riverfront
Posted February 10, 2005
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This
morning the mayor of Waterloo (Ia.) announced a
multiyear renovation plan for Riverfront Stadium,
the home of the Waterloo Bucks (college wood bat;
Northwoods League). The first phase of the
multiphase project calls for the construction of a
new building housing concessions and restrooms. In
addition, new fencing will enclose the ballpark
and four new ticket windows added. Apparently the
mayor of Waterloo invoked the name of Ballpark
Digest as a reason to fix up Riverfront; glad we
could help.
Out of left field, Sox want
ACC
Posted February 10, 2005
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The
Boston Red Sox are interested in bidding to host
the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament
at Fenway Park. The tourney is currently played at
the Baseball
Grounds of Jacksonville
under a contract running through 2006. Boston
College officials recently met with Red Sox
management about the tourney; it would be played
over six days when the Red Sox are on a West Coast
swing.
Baseball Notes
Posted February 10, 2005
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Webster
Garrison is the new manager of the
Vancouver Canadians (short season; Northwest
League). This is actually his second stint
managing the team; he was the Canadians' skipper
in 2001. Joining him: hitting coach Jeremy
Schied and pitching coach Craig Lefferts....New
hitting coach for the Lancaster Barnstormers
(independent; Atlantic League): Bert Pena,
manager of the Pennsylvania Road Warriors
for the past three seasons....As expected, former
major-leaguer Mike Marshall was named
manager of the El Paso Diablos
(independent; Central League)....
New ballpark plan for
Shockoe Bottom
Posted February 9, 2005
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We
reported the other day about the Richmond Braves
(Class AAA; International League) preparing a
ballpark plan, but this one is a doozy: the Braves
and developer Global Development are proposing a
$330 million development in the city's Shockoe
Bottom area that includes a 7,500-seat ballpark,
enhancement of the Slave Trail, a college
scholarship fund for inner-city children, a
community center and youth-league baseball field,
a village-style shopping area, about 1,200
apartments or condominiums, and renovation of the
facades of many buildings to their original state.
Private investment would pay for $250 million of
the project, with the ballpark costing about $40
million and infrastructure and debt service
costing $40 million more. (There is a public
component here: increased taxes in the area will
help pay down debt.) This will be a hard sell for
the Braves, if early reaction is any indication:
local community leaders spoke out against the
plan, saying they were not kept in the loop as the
plan evolved. The Braves would also renovate The
Diamond for use by Virginia Commonwealth by
removing the top deck; the area would also be
expanded into a sportsplex with the addition of
soccer fields and tennis courts.
Ports delay opener a week
Posted February 9, 2005
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Concerned
about delays in the construction of Banner Island
Ballpark, the Stockton Ports (Class A; California
League) are delaying their home opener by a week
to April 28 after a schedule change. The city is
still working to have the new ballpark open by
April 21, but previous delays in construction put
the Ports management on notice.
Portion of St. Louis
ballpark lawsuit dismissed
Posted February 9, 2005
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A
judge threw out portions of a suit and
counterclaim today over the funding of the new
downtown baseball stadium for the St. Louis
Cardinals, but left intact the major questions
raised in the case. At issue is the actual
standing of Proposition A, a measure approved by
city voters last fall requiring a vote of the
public before money can be spent on a ballpark or
stadium. Supporters of the proposition argue it
should be applied to funding for a new St. Louis
Cardinals ballpark; ballpark supporters say voter
approval applies only to future sports facilities.
St. Louis County has sold $45.7 million in bonds
as its contribution to the downtown stadium. The
ballpark opponents want the judge to put on the
ballot April 5 a measure that would let voters
decide if the $2.7 million in tourism tax money
due May 1 as a payment on the bonds should be
approved or rejected.
Giants
to host 2007 All-Star Game
Posted February 9, 2005
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MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig will be in San Francisco
today to announce SBC Park is hosting the 2007
All-Stat Game. No surprise: team president Peter
Magowan said months ago his people would be making
a strong play for the game. After that, don't be
surprised if the Washington Nationals don't make a
play to host the 2008 All-Star Game, although
traditionally the commissioner likes switching
games between American and National League cities.
Harrisonburg development
group faces
host of challenges
Posted February 9, 2005
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Speaking
of large developments: a proposal to build a new
5,000-seat ballpark in Harrisonburg, Va., as part
of a larger development is already getting some
mixed signals from city officials, who are
hesitant to put public funds into the $100-million
project. While James Madison University is looking
at some level of involvement, it’s unlikely the
project would go forward without the involvement
of the city or state. For starters, the proposed
site is zoned for residential and has a rural
nature to it (though the zoning issue can be
overcome). Increased traffic is a concern as well.
Then there's the issue of whether the market can
support what will probably be a Class A team:
the president of the college wood-bat Valley
Baseball League wonders whether a team could draw
3,000 fans a game, as predicted by outside
consultants. Finally, if the ballpark is built
with James Madison as a primary tenant, there will
be some ownership issues: most affiliated teams
shy away at being a secondary tenant because of
disputes over scheduling and sponsorship dollars.
The more logical path might be to pursue a
scaled-down ballpark to serve both JMU and the
VBL's Harrisonburg Turks.
Nats set ticket options,
work on FM radio deal
Posted February 9, 2005
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The
Washington Nationals, who are still without a
radio deal to broadcast their inaugural season in
Washington, are considering hiring Elliott Price,
who served as the voice of the Montreal Expos, to
be their play-by-play man, team president Tony
Tavares said. The Nationals are still trying to
finalize a radio deal after an apparent pact with
Clear Channel Communications fell apart nearly two
weeks ago. The leader is Infinity Broadcasting,
two sources said, which would likely put the games
on one of its FM stations. Meanwhile, MLB
officials continue to meet with Orioles owner
Peter Angelos regarding a settlement for bring the
Montral Expos to D.C.
This variety of
'Grasshopper' rattles the roof
Posted February 9, 2005
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We
frequently make the point that every ballpark
needs a signature item to differentiate it from
other ballparks, and management of the Greensboro
Grasshoppers (Class A; Sally League) are working
toward a unique signature item at First Horizon
Ballpark: a Grasshopper cannon. A Grasshopper
cannon was a small cannon used by the British in
the Battle of Guilford Courthouse; it was not
known for its accuracy, either, according to local
park rangers who have shot one. (In fact, it may
have killed more British than Americans when shot
into a melee.) Still, team owners are trying to
acquire a replica and will shoot blanks when the
Grasshoppers hit a homer.
Lease concessions OK'd for
Bluefish
Posted February 9, 2005
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The
Bridgeport (Ct.) City Council ensured the return
of baseball to Bridgeport next season, approving a
lease concession deal that will trim $75,000
annually from the rent paid by the Bridgeport
Bluefish (independent; Atlantic League) paid to
the city to use the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The
lease amendment cuts from $225,000 to $150,000 for
three years the annual rent for the ballpark and
pays off some $430,000 outstanding in payments for
the last two seasons, with the help of a $2
increase per car parking charge. The agreement
also forgives the team's failure to sell ballpark
naming rights.
Wolff Stadium looks like
Mission Impossible
Posted February 9, 2005
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When
it was first built, Wolff Stadium, the home of the
San Antonio Missions (Class AA; Texas League) was
the pride of the Texas League, but with new
facilities coming online in Springfield, Frisco
and Corpus Christi in recent years, Wolff Stadium
is now near the bottom of the league facilities.
Team president Burl Yarborough admits routine
maintenance is not being performed, but city
officials don't have the money to do anything
else.
Team, city sign lease for
Cohen Stadium
Posted February 9, 2005
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The
El Paso Diablos (independent; Central Baseball
League) and the city signed a lease for Cohen
Stadium calling for $30,000 per year in lease
payments. The one-year lease comes with two,
five-year renewal options and guarantees the city
about the amount it was receiving from the Class
AA Diablos of the Texas League. We've heard former
major leaguer Mike Marshall will be named manager,
perhaps as early as today.
Lancaster builder unveils
plans to convert burned-out bakery
Posted February 9, 2005
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The
story here isn't that Charter Homes plans to spend
$4 million in Lancaster to rehabilitate the former
Gunzenhauser Bakery into a 16,000-square-foot
corporate office housing 20 employees; it's that a
prominent Lancaster (Pa.) building is doing so
because of a new ballpark. Charter Homes President
Rob Bowman said Charter Homes wouldn't have
considered the site if it weren't for Clipper
Magazine Stadium, the new home of the Lancaster
Barnstormers: "Charter Homes wants to be part of
the conversation and part of the solution about
growth," he said. "We've got a lot of growth to
deal with, and we think reuse and rehabilitation
make sense." Another case of developer synergy:
developers want to build a hotel and water park
next to a new ballpark under construction in
Traverse City, Mich., for an independent Frontier
League team.
Isotopes continue strong
performance at box office
Posted February 9, 2005
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Corporate
Albuquerque continues to support the Albuquerque
Isotopes as the team gears up for its third
season. Season tickets sales, corporate sales, and
Isotopes Park Suite renewals are all progressing
at a strong pace. Nearly every Isotopes Park Suite
Holder has renewed or extended their current lease
agreement with the team. The average Suite lease
now extends into the 2011 season. The current
waiting list of would-be Suite Holders is in
excess of 50 individuals or corporations. We love
Isotopes Park,
as
you can tell from our account of the visit.
(Bonus:
new
photos of Isotopes Park, as the exterior has been
updated since our original visit.)
Schaumberg Flyers issue
challenge -- in auction
Posted February 9, 2005
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Want
to see how good your beer-league team is? Then
take on a team from the independent Northern
League, once decried by then-Twins president Andy
MacPhail as just a beer league. The Schaumburg
Flyers (independent; Northern League) are
auctioning a game on eBay; the winning bidder's
team would play the Flyers at Alexian Field on the
evening of May 11, complete with several perks:
regulation game under the lights, names and
lineups on the stadium PA system, professional
umpires and visitors clubhouse with attendant. In
addition, if the bidding team wins the game, one
of its players will be offered a 2005 Northern
League contract.
New Sand Gnats owner tossing
marketing pitch
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More
on John Simmons, the new owner of the Savannah
Sand Gnats (Class A; Sally League). Despite some
talk to the contrary -- started by Simmons
himself, by the way -- he's looking to leave the
team in Savannah's Grayson Stadium and work the
local market.
San Diego Chicken to make
first Petco appearance
Posted February 9, 2005
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The
Famous San Diego Chicken will make his first
appearance at Petco Field, home of the San Diego
Padres, this season. Ted Giannoulas made his name
working as a mascot for the Padres beginning in
1974, but there was a nasty fallout between him
and the radio station employing him. He last appeared in San Diego during
the Padres' final weekend at Qualcomm Stadium in
2003. UPDATE: We erroneously reported there
was a fallout between Giannoulas and the Padres,
which was not the case. Thanks to Ted Giannoulas
for writing in and providing the correct
information.
More on Ted Giannoulas from the San Diego
Union-Tribune.
Pittsfield's problems in a
nutshell
Posted February 9, 2005
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When
the Pittsfield (Mass.) Parks Commission tabled a
proposal to have the Berkshire Dukes (college wood
bat; NECBL) play at Wahconah Park on a three-year
lease, it showed some short-sidedness on the part
of councilmembers who either a) hate the mayor,
who worked out the agreement, or b) think a
minor-league team will move back to Wahconah in
its present condition.
Baseball Notes
Posted February 9, 2005
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Greg
Keagle is returning as manager of the Elmira
Pioneers (independent; Northeast League) for the
2005 season. Keagle, a former major leaguer,
pitched the only no-hitter in Pios history....
Dave Brundage is returning as manager of the
San Antonio Missions (Class AA; Texas
League) for his fifth season....New general
manager of the Huntsville Stars (Class AA;
Southern League): Tom Van Schaack, who
replaces Bryan Dingo, who resigned in
December to accept a position with Buffalo Rock.
Van Schaack was previously general manager of the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Class
AAA; International League) before being released
when ownership of the team was transferred to
Lackawanna County....New manager of the Boise
Hawks (short season; Northwest League):
Trey Forkerway. Tom Beyers, manager of
last year's team, returns as hitting coach....
Yonkers ballpark plan
revised
Posted February 8, 2005
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Realizing
a spring 2006 opening date was unrealistic,
developers of a proposed ballpark in downtown
Yonkers for an independent Atlantic League team
are working on a more realistic timeline for the
ambitious project. Baltimore-based Struever Bros.
Eccles & Rouse, chosen by the city early last
year, has included plans for the ballpark in a
wider proposal stretching toward the Hudson River
that includes opening parts of the Saw Mill River
that run under the city's downtown.
Tigers put political squeeze
on Troy ballpark plan
Posted February 8, 2005
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When
Troy (Mich.) city officials rejected a proposal by
an investment group to build a new ballpark on
city land -- costing the city nothing but
infrastructure costs -- many in the baseball world
were stunned. Here's what happened: the Detroit
Tigers worked hard to defeat the measure, not
wanting to see a Northern League team in its
backyard. The Tigers intervened in the debate over
a $17.5 million baseball stadium in Troy by
contacting members of Troy City Council and
funding a phone message delivered to thousands of
Troy residents listing reasons to oppose the
stadium.
Lackawanna County makes an
inside pitch for ballpark renovations
Posted February 8, 2005
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After
years of pressure from parent team Philadelphia,
officials from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red
Barons (Class AAA; International League) and
Lackawanna County say they're working on a $10
million plan to renovate parts of Lackawanna
County Stadium. The work will center on clubhouse
renovations, where moldy tiles and cramped
quarters are prevalent. In addition, ballpark
officials are working with HNTB on the unfinished
left-field party deck. Over $700,000 has been
spent on the deck; the issue is whether to finish
it or raze it.
Angelos talks to resume
Posted February 8, 2005
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Baltimore
Orioles owner Peter Angelos and Major League
Baseball president Bob DuPuy will resume
negotiations today in New York on a financial
protection package for the Orioles stemming from
the Montreal Expos' relocation to Washington. In
what many would see as supremely ironic, MLB
officials are impatient at the glacial pace of the
proceedings. MLB is believed to have offered
Angelos a substantial package of benefits for the
Orioles including guarantees to the team's annual
local revenue and future resale value, and a
dominant stake in a new regional sports TV
network.
Baseball update for Bowling
Green commission
Posted February 8, 2005
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The
Bowling Green city commissioners heard from a
local group wanting to bring a minor-league team
to downtown, as they laid out a plan for a $12
million, 4,000-seat ballpark. Their plan: work
with a developer on a larger mixed-use project,
with the city financing the ballpark. They also
said two teams were interested in the city; we can
presume there's a Sally League team interested in
looking at the city (and probably not the one
you'd think); you can also assume the independent
Frontier League has talked with baseball
proponents as well.
More from the Bowling Green Daily News.
Possible All-Star Game for
new Miami ballpark?
Posted February 8, 2005
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If
the Florida Marlins end up succeeding in their
plan to build a new ballpark next to the Orange
Bowl, they will put in a bid for a future All-Star
game, according to team officials. President David
Samson says it's very likely the team would be
awarded a future game.
Corpus Christi to vote on
$361K for ballpark
Posted February 8, 2005
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The
Corpus Christi City Council is looking at an
additional $361,369 expenditure on Whataburger
Field, the new home of the Corpus Christi Hooks
(Class AA; Texas League). If approved, the total
bill will be $27.676 million. This is the second
time city councilmembers have been asked to
approve additional payments for the ballpark; the
money will come out of a contingency fund
dedicated for this purpose. The stadium is being
built by Fulton/Coastcon and Hunt Construction
Group of Corpus Christi.
Dukes deal for Wahconah
crumbles
Posted February 8, 2005
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Dan
Duquette, owner of the Berkshire Dukes
(independent; NECBL), has scrapped plans to move
his team to Wahconah Park after the Pittsfield
Parks Commission voted 3-2 to table a proposed
license agreement between the city and Duquette
for one week after board member Eleanor Persip
requested more time to review it. She says she
didn't receive a copy of the three-year deal until
right before the meeting; Duquette and Mayor James
Ruberto say it was finalized three weeks ago and
there's no reason for a delay.
Downtown Fort Wayne sports
plan is hardly pie-in-sky
Posted February 8, 2005
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Columnist
Ben Smith says a plan to revitalize downtown Fort
Wayne with a sports complex and new ballpark for
the Fort Wayne Wizards (Class A; Midwest League)
makes a lot of sense, pointing out how well
downtown sports complexes have worked in
Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. There's
been a slight wrinkle in the plan, however: the
ballpark is now regarded as an optional move down
the road, not anything that could happen in the
next five years.
New turf for stadium to cost
city extra $53K
Posted February 8, 2005
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Sand
and garbage under parts of the Smith-Wills Stadium
field could cost the city an extra $53,000 to
install artificial turf. The complicating factor:
Smith-Wills was built on a former landfill that
hasn't quite settled yet. Smith-Wills is home to
the Jackson Senators (independent; Central
Baseball League). If the expenditure is approved
by the City Council today, the price of the
project would go to about $821,000. The turf will
allow the stadium to be used for other events such
as soccer, softball and concerts.
Open records lawsuit still
under review in Jackson
Posted February 8, 2005
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Chancellor
James Butler said Monday that he needed more time
before deciding whether the Jackson Sun should
have access to financial records for the West Tenn
Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League)
documenting the team's losses. The team filed the
records to show losses, thus triggering a clause
in their lease allowing them to leave Pringles
Park. The city admits it is keeping the records
private at the request of Diamond Jaxx ownership;
the team is vying for the Greenville (S.C.)
territory.
Fort Worth Cats to retire
Maury Wills’ jersey
NEW!
Posted February 8, 2005
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The
Fort Worth Cats announced today that the
organization is going to retire Maury Wills’ No. 6
Cats jersey during a pre-game ceremony before the
Fort Worth-Shreveport game, June 18 at LaGrave
Field. This marks the third jersey retired in the
history of the Cats. In 2003, the Cats retired
Bobby Bragan’s No. 10 jersey. The team retired
Duke Snider’s No. 4 Cats jersey in 2004. Wills,
the first African-American to play for Fort Worth,
was the starting shortstop for the Cats in 1955.
He ended up batting .202 in 123 games. Wills
finished the season with seven home runs and 39
RBI in 326 at bats. He led the Cats with 12 stolen
bases.
Baseball Notes
Posted February 8, 2005
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Tim
Wood has resigned as general manager of the
Savannah Sand Gnats (Class A; Sally League)
effectively immediately due to personal and family
reason. Wood joined the Sand Gnats' staff in May
2004. Assistant general managers Brian Sheaffer
and Bradley Dodson will oversee the team's
business operations....George Fisher will
be joining the Evansville Otters
(independent; Frontier League) as a field coach
for the 2005 season. Fisher is a former Otter
pitcher who was selected to the Frontier League
All-Star Game during the 2002 season....
Yanks 90% toward new home
Posted February 7, 2005
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The
New York Yankees are close to a deal for a Yankee
Stadium replacement, as team officials hope to
sign a memorandum of understanding with the city
and state before opening day, April 3. The
Yanks will pay the entire construction bill for
the stadium, which has increased from a projected
$750 million to $800 million. Officials have said
it could be open by 2009. The city and state would
turn over land in Macombs Dam Park, across from
the current stadium, build garages for 12,000
vehicles, provide tax-free financing and pony up
$200 million to $300 million for infrastructure
improvements.
D.C. seeks 'signature'
ballpark
Posted February 7, 2005
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We've
noted this before: D.C. officials want to see a
unique ballpark for the Washington Nationals, not
just another retro design. Right now the district
is seeking design plans through an open process,
which means you'll see proposals from the big boys
-- HKS, HOK, HNTB -- as well as some smaller firms
(like 360 Architecture) looking to make their
name. This article is fascinating if you're
interested in sports architecture: it's clear the
likes of Peter Eisenman think they're too good for
sports architecture (who slams sports architects
as "interested mainly in cranking them out"), but
that's a pretty unfair criticism: when you see the
plans prepared by HOK for the new Miami ballpark,
you'll be blown away.
Mixed bag of baseball
proposals in Greenville
Posted February 7, 2005
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Greenville
News sports editor Bart Wright slams MiLB
officials for not being more open in their
decision-making process as the West Tenn Diamond
Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League), Capital City
Bombers (Class A; Sally League) and Hagerstown
Suns (Class A; Sally League) vie for the
Greenville territory. We've taken MiLB to task
before regarding this issue, but in their defense
this is a very unique situation and the rules of
franchise relocation simply were not designed in
anticipation of this sort of complicated decision.
Millions of dollars are at stake here, and all
three proposals have some pretty compelling
arguments behind them. But Wright is wrong when he
writes there's no deadline to decide. There is a
deadline: MiLB officials are working toward a
decision to be announced by Thursday, if not
before.
Also, we want to clear up one bit of misinformation making
its way onto this site last week. Based on
published reports and interviews with local
officials, we reported the city of Greenville was
looking at not extending water service to a
proposed Powdersville ballpark, where Mandalay
Sports want to move the Suns. This is simply not
true: No one has ever contacted any of the
Greenville Water System staff concerning water for
the Powdersville site at any time. There is a lot
of misinformation floating around out in
Greenville regarding a ballpark decision (some of
it pretty nasty; you should see the stuff we pass
on), and we regret passing along some of it.
Oakland hazy on plan to fund
ballpark
Posted February 7, 2005
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If
the Oakland Athletics are to stay in the Bay Area,
a new ballpark must be built, according to
team officials. So far local officials agree and
are working on a financing plan to place a new
ballpark next to Network Associates Coliseum, but
the details have not yet been made public. It's
clear that a new ballpark must be part of a larger
development that will generate additional revenue
to partially offset the cost of the ballpark;
coming up with details on such a development is a
huge sticking point.
Oakland officials say they have a year to come up
with a plan. Meanwhile, some neighbors of a
proposed A's ballpark site in San Jose are
organizing in opposition to the project,
saying it would disrupt their lives.
Charleston ballpark naming
rights up for bid
Posted February 7, 2005
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The
owners of the West Virginia Power (Class A; Sally
League) are negotiating with three companies who
want to buy the right to name the team’s
new East End
ballpark, according to Power GM Andy Milovich.
He declined to name the interested companies, or
how much they will have to pay to put their name
on the new field. They hope to announce the new
name within the next few weeks.
Owensboro waiting on city
workshop to decide future of possible team
Posted February 7, 2005
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The
committee working to bring an independent Frontier
League team to Owensboro (Ky.) is waiting to hear
from the city regarding site and finding issues.
The baseball group has based its financial plan on
a site for a ballpark to be donated either by city
or county government and that local government be
responsible for installing utilities on the site.
A new ballpark could be rolled into an expansion
of the city's recreational services, which would
also include a new arena. The goal is a
$9.5-million, 4,000-seat ballpark.
Appraisals, financing survey
next up for Cooper Stadium
Posted February 7, 2005
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Franklin
County officials are still grappling with the
future of Cooper Stadium, home of the Columbus
Clippers (Class AAA; International League). The
next step: hire companies to conduct land
appraisals and gauge private-sector financial
support for a new ballpark. There are several
alternatives floating around Columbus, including
an extensive renovation of Cooper or a brand-new
ballpark in downtown Columbus. Cooper Stadium is
the oldest ballpark in the International League,
dating back to 1932.
Redesign delays cost
Stockton millions
Posted February 7, 2005
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One
reason why construction of a new ballpark for the
Stockton Ports (Class A; California League) was
delayed: last fall City Hall officials ordered a
redesign of the ballpark to eliminate a second
deck of seating but also be flexible enough to
allow future expansion to host a Class AAA team.
The redesign delayed construction, while at the
same time steel prices soared, helping raising the
ballpark's budget from $16.6 million had swelled
to $22.4 million. (There were some other issues
raising that price, including unexpected pollution
on the site requiring additional cleanup.) It
doesn't sound like the Pacific Coast League is
interested in placing a team in Stockton:
Sacramento could nix any move because of
territorial issues.
Norwich Navigators have been
a good neighbor
Posted February 7, 2005
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Keith
Hallal, general manager of the Norwich Navigators
(Class AA; Eastern League), lays out his case for
the Navigators being a good corporate citizen of
the area and not being a tax drain on local
taxpayers. He's right: the 'Gators have more than
paid their way when it came to Dodd Stadium and
the city's operating budget. And although new
owner Lou DiBella has indeed hinted that the
Navigators would look for a new home should some
lease changes not be made, it's clear the first
choice for team officials is to stay in Norwich.
Need realistic options for
new Battle Creek ballpark
Posted February 7, 2005
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The
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays earn some kudos from
the local newspaper for making a commitment to the
area, first by extending the team's lease on C.O.
Brown Stadium and then working for a new ballpark.
The issue, according to the newspaper, is how to
fund the ballpark: the paper doesn't want to see
any public money (past infrastructure investments)
used on any new facility.
Cutters offer unique Valentine's Day gift
Posted February 7, 2005
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Want
to impress your sweetie next week? The New Haven
County Cutters (independent; Can-Am League) are
offering a Valentine’s Day Gram delivered by their
mascot, Tripper. Tripper will be bringing along
with him two tickets to a 2005 Cutters game, a
souvenir mug filled with candy and a personalized
card. On top of that, Tripper will show off some
of his moves he is planning to use during the
upcoming season with a dance with the recipient.
Cap this experience off with a picture with
Tripper. What woman could resist? The Valentine’s
Day Gram package costs only $24.95 and can be
ordered by calling 203/777-5636.
Baseball Notes
Posted February 7, 2005
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Andy
Dunn is getting a serious promotion: he's the
new director of stadium operations for the
Washington Nationals. He's been in charge
of operations for the Brevard County Manatees
(Class A; Florida State League) for the past
several years. Buck Rogers replaces him as
director of Florida operations....The new radio
play-by-play team for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays:
Andy Freed and Dave Wills.... |