Frisco RoughRiders sale approved by Texas League, MiLB
The sale of the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) to a new ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju has been finalized and approved by the Texas League and Minor League Baseball. That means the new group is now in charge after Major League Baseball did not object to the sale. This […]
Miss Babe Ruth sidelined by injury
Your injury report for the day: Miss Babe Ruth, the Labrador Retriever bat and ball dog for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League), may have her 575-game streak broken while recovering from a recent ear surgery. Babe, who has entertained millions of Grasshoppers fans for 575 consecutive home games, had the 90 minute […]
Cleveland’s League Park restoration to be celebrated Saturday
After years of restoration work, League Park will be holding a grand opening this Saturday to celebrate the former home of the Cleveland Indians. The Indians played at League Park between 1901 and 1946. This was actually the second League Park at the site. The first opened in 1891 and was a wooden facility holding 9,000 […]
Duluth approves first round of Wade Stadium renovations
A $4.6-million renovation of Wade Stadium, home of the Duluth Huskies (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) will begin this fall and extend into next spring. The renovation work will be done in two parts, with $2.3 million coming from the state and $2.3 million coming from Duluth. The historic ballpark, which opened in 1941 with assistance […]
Palisades Arcadia Baseball closes on purchase of Dayton Dragons
Palisades Arcadia Baseball has completed the purchase of the Dayton Dragons (Low Class A; Midwest League) from Mandalay Baseball Properties, with Palisades now owner and operator of the team. The agreement has been approved by the Midwest League and the offices of Minor League Baseball, and unopposed by the Office of the Commissioner of Major […]
Populous lands Columbia ballpark design contract
A new ballpark in Columbia (S.C.) for a team owned by Hardball Capital’s Jason Freier will be designed by Populous. There is a history between Freier and Populous: the Kansas City-based firm designed award-winning Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League), another team owned by Freier. (Disclosure: Populous is […]
What a difference a new ballpark makes
As we approach the end of the season, the two biggest success stories, the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) and El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), have one thing in common: a new ballpark. No secret to the business strategy here: build a new ballpark and see a huge jump in attendance […]
Selig visits Oakland on farewell tour
Bud Selig was at O.co Coliseum last night on his Farewell to Major League Baseball tour and expressed regret he was leaving office without a final solution to the Oakland Athletics ballpark situation. He was blunt in an assessment of his performance regarding the A’s, where there’s been a lack of concrete new-ballpark developments in […]
LeClair: Rays had better move fast if they want Carillon Business Park ballpark
It’s a site that generated zero enthusiasm from the Tampa Bay Rays, but developer Darryl LeClair wants team ownership to know that they need to move really quickly if they want to build a new ballpark at Carillon Business Park in St. Petersburg. The Carillon Business Park is on the northern edge of St. Petersburg, […]
Birmingham set to approve Negro Southern League museum funding
Birmingham officials are expected to approve a museum honoring the Negro Southern League, to be built near Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League). The museum, which has a price tag of $2.8 million, will be run by the Public Athletic, Cultural and Entertainment Facilities Board of the City of Birmingham, […]
More Astrodome seats may be sold by Harris County
More Houston Astrodome seats may be sold to fans, as Harris County continues to clear the Astrodome decks while another renovation plan is worked out. The first sale of Astrodome memorabilia — seats, field equipment, groundskeeper astronaut helmets — yielded a profit of approximately $650,000 for the county, and with roughly 4,000 seats still in […]
River Cats prep for Raley Field upgrades
The Sacramento River Cats (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are planning some serious upgrades to Raley Field this offseason, adding an enclosed 5,000-square-foot club with a bar and patio. The 5,000-square-foot club, overlooking left field and open to all season-ticket holders, already has a naming-rights partner and will be called the Western Health Advantage Legacy […]
Price tag for new Fredericksburg baseball complex: $61M
The price tag on a baseball complex that includes a new ballpark for the relocating Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) in Fredericksburg, Va., is now $61 million, and the city may look at a special tax district to cover the cost of the project. Diamond Nation has proposed a complex that includes a […]