Osceola County delays vote on new Nats spring facility
A final decision on a new Washington Nationals spring-training facility in Kissimmee has been delayed a month by Osceola County commissioners, as local business groups ask for time to review the agreement. The new facility would cost $98 million ($88 million from tourism taxes, $10 million from the state) and be located south of the […]
Prepping for the MLB All-Star Game
What does it take for Major League Baseball to prepare for an All-Star Game? In the case of this week’s event at Citi Field, it takes 20 or so clubbies to prep for player needs, never more the hordes needed to outfit the rest of the ballpark. The Wall Street Journal ran a piece detailing […]
Skeeters awarded 2014 Atlantic League ASG
Live today from the Fox Valley Stadium press box today, so postings will be minimal. First off: the Sugar Land Skeeters are hosting the 2014 Atlantic League All-Star Game. “We are delighted for Sugar Land to be awarded the 2014 All-Star Game,” said Opening Day Partners President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Danos. “The quality […]
Saints add $1M to new ballpark funding
With a projected $9 million funding gap that needs to be addressed, the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) upped their contribution to a new Lowertown ballpark by $1 million — but the city may want more. The issue: the cost of preparing the site for construction has risen sharply since the original budget was […]
United League Baseball to finish season with four teams
As we suspected, the traveling McAllen Thunder won’t finish out the season for the independent United League Baseball season, leaving the circuit at four. We already knew the Alexandria Aces would not complete the 2013 season, and to keep the league at an even number of teams for 2013 the McAllen team suspended operating as […]
Demise of Admirals spurred by player strike over unpaid wages
Before the independent Pacific Association suspended the Vallejo Admirals, the team was crippled by a player strike and a front-office exodus over unpaid wages and salaries. When Pacific Association commissioner Mike Marshall announced the team’s suspension from the league, he referenced the team’s unpaid bills, ranging from player wages to front-office salaries to ballpark rent. […]
Crawdads hosting 2014 Sally League All-Star Game
The Hickory Crawdads are hosting the 2014 South Atlantic League All-Star Game at L.P. Frans Stadium on Tuesday, June 17th. This marks the third time the Crawdads have hosted the game. “On behalf of the ownership group we look forward to hosting the 2014 South Atlantic League All-Star Game in Hickory,” said Crawdads owner Don […]
PETA: Save the rays at the Trop
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants to see the Tampa Bay Rays remove a “touch tank” from Tropicana Field, saying that it puts the 30 or so rays living there in danger of bring struck by a ball. Since the touch tank was installed, two batters have managed to hit a ball […]
AppleSox, Corcoran continue quest for new ballpark
The quest continues: Wenatchee AppleSox owner/general manager Jim Corcoran is once again seeking an improved home for his summer-collegiate West Coast League team. The AppleSox currently play out of Paul Thomas Sr. Baseball Stadium on the Wenatchee Valley College campus, a limited facility: 520 fixed seats and 680 bleacher seats, only one source of running […]
Pacific Association suspends Vallejo Admirals
The Vallejo Admirals will not be part of the independent Pacific Association until the team comes current on its bills to players, staff and the city for the ballpark lease. From a league press release: “Pacific Association Commissioner Mike Marshall informed the Admirals’ ownership that effective July 15th all future Admirals’ games would no longer […]
Legal settlement could pave way for new Oakland waterfront ballpark
The settlement of a lawsuit concerning Howard Terminal on downtown Oakland’s waterfront could clear the way for a new Oakland A’s ballpark near Jack London Square — if Lew Wolff is interested. Oakland officials had pitched MLB on the desirability of a waterfront ballpark, and now the way is cleared for it to happen — […]
Crane: Astros close to finalizing Palm Beach training site
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane says the team is close to finalizing a deal with Palm Beach Gardens for a new spring-training facility that could open in 2017. The new complex, to be shared with the Toronto Blue Jays (though, we hear, the agreement is not final), would be located within a close drive of […]
Tourism Board approves new Nats spring ballpark
The Osceola County Tourism Board has signed off on a $98-million plan for a new Washington Nationals spring-training facility in Kissimmee, but the proposal is sure to face close scrutiny from the full county Board of Commissioners. The board has a budget: $88 million from the tourism board ($50 million on hand, $38 million to […]