After unveiling $8 million in improvements to Covaleski Stadium last season, the South Bend Silver Hawks (Low Class A; Midwest League) are pushing out more ballpark fun this season. New owner Andrew Berlin says he’s spend $2 million on additional ballpark improvements this season and wants to see the city do even more in the […]
Tag Archives | class a
Is Bakersfield on cusp of new ballpark?
The sale of the Bakersfield Blaze (High Class A; California League) is in final stages of MLB approval — which means speculation about the team’s next phase, a new ballpark, is close to beginning. It’s an open secret in MiLB circles that the sale of the team included plans for a new privately financed ballpark, […]
New for 2012: CMC–NorthEast Stadium
The home of the Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League) has a new name, as the team sold naming rights to Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast. The former Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium will be known as CMC–NorthEast Stadium when the Intimidators’ season starts Thursday, April 5. “Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast has had a long and distinguished history of […]
This year’s big summer concert: Wilco and Andrew Bird
We’ve been bemoaning the lack of any big summer concerts at minor-league ballparks, but we have a good one to report: Wilco and Andrew Bird at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Playing the home of the Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League) makes sense for the Chicago-based Wilco, which has been on continuous tour […]
Winchester ballpark back on city agenda
A new ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) in Winchester, Va., is alive after city officials meet in executive session with Bruce Quinn to discuss alternative sites. The move last night by the Winchester City Council was a surprise: the executive session wasn’t on the agenda and certainly not publicized. But […]
New Intimidators lease: $1, plus ballpark maintenance
The Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League) are set to sign a new lease for Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium for $1 per year, with the team picking up maintenance costs. The five-year lease calls for the city to pick up maintenance costs for the first three years, shifting to Smith Family Baseball for the final […]
Oscar Tavares becomes Internet meme — but not under his name
Oscar Tavares, a star last season with the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League), inadvertently became an Internet meme over the weekend because of how he was labeled during a St. Louis Cardinals spring-training game broadcast. Tavares, who had a strong season for the River Bandits in 2011 (.386, 8 home runs […]
What should Wilmington expect for new-ballpark attendance?
Mandalay Baseball Properties is projecting 350,000 fans showing up to Class A games at a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark. How realistic is this projection? As you’ll recall, Mandalay is working with the Atlanta Braves on a plan to bring in a High Class A Carolina League team to a new waterfront ballpark in Wilmington. Last […]
Work continues on Suns lease extension
Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) ownership and Hagerstown city officials are closer to finalizing a two-year lease extension for Municipal Stadium as a prelude to new-ballpark talks. Suns owner Bruce Quinn met yesterday with Mayor Robert Bruchey II and the five-member Hagerstown City Council to discuss a lease extension, made necessary after Winchester […]
Downtown Augusta ballpark back up for discussion
The on-again, off-again downtown ballpark for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) will be up for discussion again, even though the preferred site looks to be taken over by a local college. Mayor Deke Copenhaver and Ripken Baseball have long eyed a 16-acre site once slated to serve as home of the Georgia Golf […]
Tebow to the Storm?
Clever: The Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League) have landed squarely in the news, offering to trade its Rally Cop to the Denver Broncos for the suddenly expendable Tim Tebow. “We’re not sure about Tim’s baseball past,” said Storm Vice President/General Manager Chris Jones, “but we are sure he could bring some of […]
Captains unveil whale of a ballpark fish sandwich
The Lake County Captains (Low Class A; Midwest League) unveiled a whale of a sandwich for the 2012 season, as the Moby Dick features five quarter-pound fish filets and six ounces of clam strips, among other ingredients. The Moby Dick features a 15-inch sesame-seed hoagie roll, five quarter-pound fish filets, eight slices of cheese, six […]
New for 2012: San Manuel Stadium
The home of the Inland Empire 66ers (High Class A; California League) will be renamed San Manual Stadium after a naming-rights sale to a local Indian tribe, according to a newspaper report. The new name of the ballpark, currently known as Arrowhead Credit Union Park, will be unveiled Thursday, according to the San Bernardino Sun. […]