With no redevelopment money available for a new ballpark, Oakland officials are floating a plan to use foreign investments to pay for new sporting facilities — including a new Athletics ballpark. It’s a wonky plan, to be sure. The federal EB-5 program basically allows foreign investors and their famlies to buy a green card if […]
Tag Archives | new ballpark
November big month for Marlins
It’s shaping up to be a big month for the Florida Marlins, as the team has announced some ballpark news and scheduled an event to unveil new unis and switch to the Miami Marlins. At the ballpark yesterday, the team unveiled an official address — 501 Marlins Way — as well as three new streets […]
Zion, Fielders headed for court?
After a horrific 2011 season, it doesn’t look like the city of Zion (Ill.) and the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) owners have settled their differences — and their paths may cross next in court. You know what a nightmarish season the Fielders had. Opening the 201 North American League season with a […]
Tampa: We could have $100M for new Rays ballpark
Money currently generated by a downtown Tampa TIF district to pay down convention-center bonds could be used in 2015 and beyond for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, according to city officials. The tax-increment financing district currently generates some $13.5 million a year, and the Tampa Convention Center bons are slated to be paid off […]
Hounds add Hondo as team ambassador
The Loudoun Hounds (independent; Atlantic League) added former Washington Senator Frank Howard to the team’s front office as a corporate adviser and ambassador, as the team preps for a 2012 debut — somewhere. Howard’s duties will include public and media appearances on behalf of the Hounds, as well as offering his accumulated wisdom toward bringing […]
Researching ballpark sites in Nashville
There’s another run at a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark, as Populous is hired by Metro to determine the best sites in Davidson County for a new facility. If this sounds familiar, it is: the previous owners of the Sounds retained Populous to come up with a ballpark plan. The result […]
New Marlins ballpark under budget, 80 percent completed
Work proceeds on the new Florida Marlins ballpark slated to open for the 2012 season: construction is 80 percent completed and so far under budget, according to team president David Samson. Samson led media on a tour of the $515-million facility today, and it certainly looked like a facility under construction: almost all the seats […]
Budget issues postpone Squirrels ballpark to 2015 at earliest
The earliest a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark could open in 2015, as political and budgetary considerations will delay debate of a regional funding plan until 2012 at the earliest. The issue: some of the counties in the general Richmond area expected to contribute to the funding of a new ballpark […]
Boise in search of new ballpark site
Yet another baseball study is underway in Boise, as the Better Boise Coalition will embark on a search for an appropriate location for a new Boise Hawks (short season A; Northwest League) ballpark, but there’s really one obvious location: downtown. The Hawks have been playing at Memorial Stadium since it opened in 1989, a rather […]
Eiseman: We’re not tied to Augusta riverfront location
Showing flexibility as the city begins serious discussions on a new ballpark, Ripken Baseball Vice President Jeff Eiseman says a new proposed Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark doesn’t need to be located on a downtown riverfront location. “In an ideal world, the Golf & Gardens would work, and could work, but there […]
Augusta ballpark back in play?
Despite an overwhelming lack of enthusiasm among city voters for financing a new Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark, the issue will once again be discussed at an Augusta Commission meeting Tuesday. There’s not been much traction on a proposal to build a new downtown ballpark on a 17-acre parcel to replace Lake […]
Milam ballpark proposal taking shape
Developer Chris Milam may not have been well-known in Minor League Baseball circles when it was announced he was buying the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), but he has some impressive connections in the industry; meanwhile, his plan for a Vegas sports complex with a new ballpark is taking shape. Milam, a […]
Long Island ballpark plan resurrected
Talk about a dramatic rise from the dead: Nassau County officials revived a plan for a new ballpark on Long Island, as a $400-million bond issue subject to voter approval would include $50 million for a new minor-league ballpark and $350-million Nassau Coliseum replacement. No word on the potential tenant. For years the New York Mets […]