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 […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Decision due on Saints ballpark this week
A decision on the design-build team for a new downtown St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark should be made by St. Paul officials by the end of the week. Three groups ended up bidding on the project: Ryan Cos./AECOM/Julie Snow Architects; Knutson Construction Services/Populous/HDR; and PCL Construction/DLR Group. All three have ties to the […]
Carlsbad in, Las Cruces out in latest Pecos League shuffle
Just when you think the independent Pecos League was on the brink of stability, another franchise shuffle occurs, with the Carlsbad Bats replacing the Las Cruces Vaqueros in the league lineup for 2013. League commissioner Andrew Dunn says the prospect of competing with a Triple-A team in nearby El Paso in 2014 was not a […]
Goodbye RiverHawks; name-the-team contest on in Rockford
The Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) are no more, after Rock River Valley Baseball decided to launch a name-the-team context for 2013. “I cannot stress enough that the professional baseball team will be here for many years to come, and we will continue to be involved and visible in the greater Rockford community,” said Rock […]
Three firms bid on Saints construction project
The decision to open the design/build contract for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark yielded three bids, including a proposal from Ryan Cos., which was awarded the original contract. Officials from the city’s Parks and Rec Department are reviewing the proposals from Ryan, Knutson Construction and PCL Construction to design and build […]
Letter of intent signed for new Malden ballpark
An executed letter of intent between National Grid and developer Alex Bok pushes a proposed $50-million ballpark project in downtown Malden (Mass.) closer to reality. A sterling lineup of politicos, including Rep. Ed Markey and Attorney General Martha Coakley, was on hand to commemorate the occasion yesterday. Bok, who has been working on a Boston-area […]
Slammers: Big plans for 2013
The continuing effort to stabilize pro baseball in Joliet was boosted after new Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) ownership and management met with local fans. In theory, Joliet should be a good baseball market if the numbers are correct. And while indy baseball initially did OK at Silver Cross Field during the early days of […]
Skylands Park debt sold; Atlantic League interested in placing team there
In a fairly unimportant move, the tax lien on Skylands Park, the former home to pro baseball in New Jersey’s Frankfort Township, has been sold; the real news is that Frank Boulton confirms interest in placing a team there in 2014. It’s no secret that the independent Atlantic League has been working on a scaled-down […]
Parkersburg mayor: Let’s study ballpark feasibility
A proposed independent Frontier League ballpark in Parkersburg (W.Va.) could be the subject of a feasibility study under a plan floated by Mayor Bob Newell. The city has already held several meetings on the subject, with little input or opposition from the public. Now, says Newell, it’s time for the Wood County Economic Development Authority […]
AWBL adds Renterias to investor mix
The independent American West Baseball League announced that former major leaguer Edgar Renteria and his brother, Edinson, have invested in the circuit and plan on setting up shop in Fullerton. Edgar Rentería played for the Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds. During that […]
New for 2013: UC Health Stadium
The home of the Florence Freedom (independent; Frontier League) has a new name, as UC Health buys naming rights to the Cincinnati-area ballpark. The deal is set to run for 10 years. Other terms of the naming-rights agreement were not released. “This puts us on very stable financial footing,” Freedom owner Clint Brown told the […]
Local residents: Loudoun Hounds, stay off our lawns!
If a new ballpark is announced, you can bet the NIMBY folks will appear shortly — and this is what’s happened after the Loudoun Hounds (independent; Atlantic League) announced plans for a new ballpark at One Loudoun Place. Residents of Potomac Green, a planned community serving the 55-and-older crowd a half mile from the proposed […]
Worcester aims for 2014 ballpark deal
There will be no pro ball at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field in 2013, as local officials reject overtures from the independent Can-Am League to return to Worcester in 2013. The reality, says City Manager Michael V. O’Brien, is that it’s too late for the league — or any other league, for that matter […]