Drawing on the colorful history of baseball in the area and the scenic nature of McCormick Field, the Asheville Tourists (Low Class A; Sally League) unveiled a new logo, color scheme and identity. “We’re extremely excited to introduce our new identity program,” said Brian DeWine, president of the Tourists and DeWine Seeds Silver Dollar Baseball. […]
Archive | Features
Yanks, Mandalay agree to buy SWB Yankees, unveil ballpark renovations
In a sweeping compromise, the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball will buy the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) and oversee a $40-million renovation of PNC Field. The Yanks and Mandalay will exercise their option to buy the troubled Triple-A franchise for $14.6 million. As part of the compromise agreement, first reported here last […]
Barons reach deal to play at new ballpark
The last piece in a new downtown Birmingham ballpark is in place, as the owners of the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) confirm they’ve reached initial agreement with the city on a lease, clearing the way for construction to begin. A letter of intent was signed yesterday. The participation of the Barons was key: […]
Compromise on the way in SWB ballpark squabble?
Concessions by the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball regarding the terms of a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) lease may keep the team at a renovated PNC Field for 30 years. The pair have an option to buy the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and have shown a clear inclination to do so, but a purchase […]
SI Yankees, NYC spar over rent, comps
The Staten Island Yankees (short season A; NY-Penn League) and New York City are disagreeing over the team’s rent, which is partially based on ticket sales, as the city wants to count comps as part of the total attendance figures. The issue: whether 1,756 tickets designated by the SI Yankees as comps should be included […]
Lake County Captains unveil logo overhaul
The Lake County Captains (Low Class A; Midwest League) unveiled a new logo, colors and team identity today, dropping the cartoonish riverboat captain and embracing a more modern design. The new primary logo solidifies the Captains nautical theme and the organization’s ties to Lake County. The primary colors in the new scheme will be navy […]
Birmingham formally approves downtown ballpark; next up, the Barons
A vote by the Birmingham City Council approving a new downtown ballpark may have been an important step in the process, but the real work is just beginning: finalizing the financials and coming to a lease agreement with the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League). The Barons are key to the ballpark actually being built; […]
First look: Proposed Orlando ballpark
Armando Gutierrez Jr. continues his attempt to bring affiliated ball back to Orlando, this time with a little taste of what a new Orlando Yankees (High Class A; Florida State League) ballpark would look like. Gutierrez’s plan relies on receiving free land from Orange County at the corner of the Beeline (OK, the BeachLine) and […]
Bevos to Tucson for 2011
With so much uncertainty surrounding a proposed new ballpark in Escondido and concern about wear and tear at The Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League), the decision apparently has been made to relocate the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) temporarily to Tucson Electric Park for the […]
Birmingham City Council to vote on new ballpark next week
The Birmingham City Council is expected to vote on a proposed new downtown ballpark next week, but before then the city will hear a report on the potential economic impact of a new facility. As city approval comes closer, we’re receiving further specifics about the project. First, the ballpark would actually be built by a […]
Grasshoppers unveil 2011 pledge: $100K if the team makes the playoffs
We have our first noteworthy promotion of the 2011 season: The Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) will donate $100,000 to 20 local charities — as chosen by season-ticket holders and sponsors — if they make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. The winners will be announced at a date […]
Kirk pitches Frederick on AtL ballpark lease; will settle for Keys
Atlantic League mogul Peter Kirk has pitched Frederick (Md.) officials on taking over the lease at Harry Grove Stadium for an independent-league team — but will settle for buying the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) as a consolation prize. Kirk certainly is one of the more interesting people in baseball, and he’s seizing […]
Counties continue spat; SWB Yankees likely to be sold this week
It’s increasingly likely that the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball will exercise their option to buy the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) before a Friday deadline, but that’s not stopping the owners of the team, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, from squabbling over the proceeds. You know the drill. Lackawanna and Luzerne counties jointly […]