Archives: Feb. 4-Feb. 11, 2005
Richmond ballpark questions remain
Posted February 11, 2005
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.