Future of Plant City Stadium in play
The future of Plant City Stadium, former spring home of the Cincinnati Reds, surprisingly lies in the future of softball in future Olympics. The Reds trained at 6,700-seat Plant City Stadium between 1987 and 1996, before moving on to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. After the Reds departed, the International Softball Federation set up shop […]
Proposed Colorado Springs ballpark in trouble?
A tepid response from Colorado Economic Development Commission officials on state funding of a new Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark s raising issues about the proposal’s future. As you’ll recall, the city’s requested $82 million in sales-tax incentives from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade to help […]
Fredericksburg ballpark deal moves forward — slightly
A day after a local investor was brought into the mix, the Fredericksburg (Va.) City Council voted to approve the broad outlines of a Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark deal — but an attempt to buy the land fell short. The broad outlines of the plan: a group that includes the Sun […]
Key to new Sounds ballpark: Significant contribution from team owners
As the dust settles on the proposal to locate a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark in Sulphur Dell, one key is emerging: it will take a serious commitment from team owners to make it work. It’s not that there’s a gap in an financial plan — heck, there’s no financial plan […]
Cardinals hold topping-out ceremony for Ballpark Village
Big milestone for the St. Louis Cardinals, who held a topping-out ceremony with developer Cordish Companies on the Ballpark Village development adjacent to Busch Stadium. A nearly one-hundred foot long A-frame roof truss was carefully lowered into place on the northern end of the retractable skylight roof opening to symbolically mark the ceremonial end of […]
Future of Cohen Stadium in play with departure of Diablos
Cohen Stadium, home to two incarnations of the El Paso Diablos, may end up staying intact as the City Council reviews redevelopment plans for the surrounding area. The independent American Association Diablos wrapped up their season and history this weekend, as the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will be relocating next season to […]
Charlotte set for final games at Knights Stadium
With the team scheduled for an Uptown move in 2014, the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) are set for one final homestand at Knights Stadium. Now, Knights Stadium has never been one of our favorite facilities, but we expect some tears to be shed at the ballpark’s final days. There’s little doubt the facility […]
Nine innings, nine new car leases from Lake Monsters
Monster promo for the Vermont Lake Monsters (short season A; New York-Penn League): the team is pairing with The Autosaver Group to give away a two-year lease to one of nine brand-new vehicles: Nine Innings of Winning. The promo is slated for Sept. 1. Fans in attendance (18 years or older) will have the opportunity […]
Local investor boosts Fredericksburg ballpark plan
The addition of local businessman Ron Rosner to a group privately financing a new Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark has earned support from skeptics of the project. Their worry: the Suns would not have the financial wherewithal to go through with the project. The addition of Diamond Nation to the project lent […]
Spat over financials could delay opening of new Vikings stadium
A request for financial data from Zygi Wilf and family for an audit could delay the opening of the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, which will also serve as winter home of Golden Gophers baseball. The project is currently on hold, pending an audit of the Wilf finances. The new stadium is designed to house baseball […]
Poll: Little support for public funding of new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark
A poll of Tampa residents reveals little appetite for public funding of a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, as residents would rather use proceeds from a downtown tax district to house the homeless or transit upgrades. Now, it’s not unusual to see ballpark funding plans receive poor ratings in polls — people love the idea […]
Arizona Fall League to woo MiLB fans
Designed to raise awareness of some of the best baseball very few see, the Arizona Fall League is partnering with 26 MiLB teams to educate minor league executives, fans and sponsors about the Phoenix-based circuit. A total of 26 MiLB teams from the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, Double-A Texas League, and Class A California League […]
Report: Fort Worth Cats players, vendors go unpaid
A report from WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth says Fort Worth Cats (independent; United League Baseball) players, coaches and vendors are going unpaid at the end of the season. From the WFAA website: “My last paycheck, I took it to the bank Tuesday afternoon and it would not clear,” said first base coach Mike Ford. News […]