The El Paso City Council will vote tonight to terminate the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association) lease for Cohen Stadium, paying $300,000 to the team. The Cohen Stadium lease runs through 2016, and in the past few years the team has made some significant investments in the ballpark, including a new scoreboard (which can […]
Tag Archives | american association
Goldeyes welcome 5-millionth fan
What a great journey: the Winnipeg Goldeyes (independent; American Association) welcomed the 5-millionth fan in team history during today’s matinee. The Goldeyes were not an original member of the revamped independent Northern League, but entered the league in the second season after beginning life as the Rochester Aces, featuring a much younger Doug Simunic as […]
New for 2013: Mackleboar
The St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association), following a proud team tradition, have yet another clever name for the team’s porcine mascot: Mackleboar. The Saints revealed the name at the World’s Largest Game of Catch today in downtown St. Paul. The name was selected out of over 600 entries in the Name the Pig Contest […]
Pat Salvi launches food/beverage company
Pat Salvi, who has emerged in recent years as an investor in independent and summer-collegiate baseball, is upping the ante with the formation of a food and beverage company. His first effort with Salvi Food & Beverage, LLC: Bringing Ben’s Soft Pretzels to the ballparks in Gary, Indiana and Schaumburg, Illinois. While Ben’s Soft Pretzels […]
Saints schedule umpireless game
The St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) are scheduling an exhibition game without umpires, with a judge in a robe calling balls and strikes. The “Umpireless Game” is set for Saturday, May 11, with the Gary SouthShore RailCats in town for a preseason match. In this unique twist a judge in a robe will stand […]
Saints ballpark renderings released; environmental study approved
The City of St. Paul has concluded a basic environmental assessment of the site for a proposed St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark will suffice, paving the way for detailed planning to begin. At the same time, the city released some renderings of the ballpark plan, revealing a much more conventional design than originally […]
Goodbye Pheasants, welcome back Canaries
One of the more ill-conceived name changes in baseball has been reversed, as the Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; American Association) are back and the Pheasants are gone. Canaries has been a traditional name of pro baseball teams in Sioux Falls (that and Packers), and dropping the Canaries name was assumed to have hurt the team […]
U.S Steel extends RailCats naming-rights deal
Some continuity here: U.S. Steel and the Gary SouthShore RailCats (independent; American Association) announced a new 10-year naming-rights agreement, keeping U.S. Steel Yard the name of the RailCats’ home stadium through the 2022 season. U.S. Steel has held the naming rights to the ballpark since it opened in the 2003 season. The original 10-year contract […]
Did bidding process save money on new Saints ballpark? City says no
Though the end contract with Ryan Companies to design and build a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark came in $500,000 under original estimates, St. Paul officials say a competitive bid process didn’t actually save any money. City of St. Paul officials initially awarded the design/build contract to Ryan on a no-bid basis, […]
New turf installed at QuikTrip Park
A new million-dollar-plus synthetic-turf field has been installed at QuikTrip Park, home of the Grand Prairie AirHogs (independent; American Association), and is ready for action. The installation of the $1.1 million project was completed by Hellas Sports Construction. The project began in November. “The field looks great,” said AirHogs president Scott Berry. “I think the […]
Saints ballpark negotiations fall behind schedule
Negotiations between the city of St. Paul and Ryan Companies have fallen behind schedule, but no one seems to concerned that the opening of the new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) could be delayed. Officials from both entities had expected to wrap up contract language by Jan. 26, but as of today the work […]
Edinburg to negotiate new lease with RoadRunners ownership, passes on American Association
Despite having problems with unpaid rent at Edinburg Baseball Stadium, the Edinburg City Council decided to go ahead with lease negotiations with the Edinburg Roadrunners (independent; United League Baseball) for 2013 and beyond. Problems with unpaid rent at the end of the 2012 season caused the council to terminate the ballpark lease with Edinburg Equities, […]
Ryan awarded Saints ballpark design/build contract
Not a surprise: the Ryan Companies/AECOM/Julie Snow Architects bid was approved by St. Paul officials for the design/build contract for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark. The group received initial approval for the contract before a public outcry and pressure from Gov. Mark Dayton forced city officials to put the project out […]