Last season was a good one for Minor League Baseball’s national Licensing Program, which generated an estimated $54 million in sales of licensed merchandise in 2012 — the third-highest amount ever. The 2012 figure is a 3.3 percent increase over 2011 and ranks as the third highest yearly total since the program’s inception in 1991. […]
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Astros to buy Corpus Christi Hooks
After naming Reid Ryan as president of the Houston Astros, owner Jim Crane added another Ryan-related asset to his portfolio with the purchase of the Corpus Christi Hooks (Class AA; Texas League). It’s been a stated goal of Crane to control his team’s farm system a la the St. Louis Cardinals — where Astros GM […]
Hillsboro Hops unveil uniform designs
The Hillsboro Hops (short season A; Northwest League) unveiled their new uniforms today, as work continues on the team’s new home. Pretty much what you’d expect from the logo design. The ballpark construction is in the final stages: the turf and seating are in, and the lights were tested for the first time this week. […]
Sounds extend Greer Stadium lease — but no new ballpark is in sight
The Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) extended their Greer Stadium lease through 2016, but talks with the city for a new ballpark have ground to a halt. Both sides admit there have been no talks about a new ballpark since the Sounds released a viability study in December 2011, which laid out several […]
Dash set to welcome millionth fan to BB&T Ballpark today
Nice milestone: The Winston-Salem Dash (High Class A; Carolina League) are poised to welcome the millionth fan to BB&T Ballpark tonight. Since BB&T Ballpark’s opening in April 2010, the Dash pace all 30 High Class-A teams in attendance. Winston-Salem has drawn more than 300,000 fans in each of the facility’s first three full seasons. These […]
New GreenJackets ballpark plan unveiled
Proponents of a new ballpark for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) unveiled a new financing plan calling again for a new TIF district with a lesser impact on the local school district. In March Aiken County shot down a proposed TIF district extension for Project Jackson, a mixed-use development, with commissioners saying […]
Sigh: Grizzlies Kiss Cam video a hoax
The viral video garnered over 1.5 million YouTube views and showed up in tons of Facebook feeds, but the couple breaking up at a Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) game actually work for the team. It was too good to be true: the video showed a couple on the Kiss Cam having a disagreement […]
New downtown ballpark under consideration in Colorado Springs
Business and political leaders are growing more enamored of the idea of a new downtown ballpark for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), to the point of seeking public input on the issue. The Sky Sox currently play at Security Service Field, where the team has made plenty of investments in […]
New for 2013: Dozer Park
The Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) have sold naming ballpark rights to Caterpillar under a 10-year, $2-million deal, with result being Dozer Park. “The company was founded on the bulldozer,” said Jim Baumgartner, Director of Corporate Affairs. “We wanted to choose something that represents Caterpillar’s heritage but also represents Peoria. This is our […]
Sale of Las Vegas 51s finalized; new owners pitch Summerlin ballpark
With the $20-million sale of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) completed, the new owners are pitching a new ballpark in suburban Summerlin as the ideal way to revitalize the franchise. The 51s are mired in a rundown facility, Cashman Field, and efforts to bring a new ballpark to Las Vegas over […]
Augusta GreenJackets sale finalized
The sale of the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) was finalized yesterday, with Agon Sports & Entertainment taking the reins from Ripken Baseball. Agon is led by Jeff Eiseman, who will be the new president of both Agon Sports and the GreenJackets, and Chris Schoen, but the ownership group also includes other local […]
Despite county action, North Augusta ballpark project very much alive
Far from being a dead end, Project Jackson — a multiuse North Augusta (Ga.) development that includes a new Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark — is still very much alive, as officials visit Fluor Field to see how a ballpark can transform a neighborhood. The last time the ballpark project was in […]
Williamsport sells naming rights to Bowman Field
The buyer and the new name haven’t been disclosed, but the city of Williamsport has sold naming rights to Historic Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters (short season A; NY-Penn League). The new name will be “______ Park at Bowman Field.” The sale price: $150,000 over five years. The new name won’t be officially […]