Franchise owners offer $12.1M toward new El Paso ballpark
To close a funding gap in construction of a new downtown El Paso ballpark, team owners MountainStar Sports have offered to pay $12.1 million to cover the overages. Under the proposal, the city would borrow $60.8 million toward the new ballpark instead of the original $52.8 million. (Why is the city borrowing more? Municipalities typically […]
Book news; welcome to a new advertiser
Some news coming out of August Publications and Ballpark Digest today: please welcome a new advertiser to these pages, and afterwards check out our latest book release. The advertiser is the Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League), who are seeking to fill some positions in their front office. Check out the ad in the column […]
Naming rights under debate in Frederick
With naming rights to Harry Grove Stadium assets potentially drawing $251,000 annually, city officials are sparring over how much of that to keep and how much to share with the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League). The ballpark name won’t change, but naming rights to parts of the facility could be placed on the […]
Cardinal Stadium should be torn down: Engineers
Though Cardinal Stadium, former home of the Louisville Redbirds (Class AAA; American Association), is rapidly deteriorating and should be town down soon, according to an engineering report. The facility, known as Fairgrounds Stadium when it opened in 1957, was home to pro baseball in Louisville between 1982 and 1999, when the team moved to Louisville […]
Testing at new Saints ballpark site yields unexpected contamination
City officials knew that the site of a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark was polluted, but further testing indicates far more contamination on the site than originally anticipated. Before it hosted a manufacturing plant, the Lowertown site hosted a coal gasification plant, where coal was converted to coal gas, which could then […]
Sinkhole impacts last night’s Indians-Rangers game
It’s been a rough year for the grounds crew at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, with last night’s batting practice scrapped after a bad pipe behind the pitchers mound caused a sinkhole in the turf. The issue: the broken pipe flooded the middle of the infield, causing a sinkhole. It was caught before the game, as […]
Navigators prepay seven-year lease on Fraser Field
The North Shore Navigators (summer collegiate; Futures League) are committed to Fraser Field through 2020 after agreeing to a new lease that calls for a $45,262.15 prepayment. Prepaying the rent didn’t field the Navs any breaks on the total amount, but it does give Lynn the money to buy a new synthetic turf to replacing […]
Downtown tax for new Rays ballpark looking iffy
If a new downtown Tampa ballpark is to happen, it probably won’t happen with the help of downtown property taxes, as politicos eye alternative uses of the proceeds of a TIF district. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and his staff have held out the possibility of using the proceeds of a downtown TIF, Downtown Tampa Community Redevelopment […]
Biloxi group wants referendum on new ballpark
A local group is seeking to ask voters to approve public funding of a new Biloxi ballpark and will work to gather 1,500 signatures to force a referendum. The Steps Coalition has announced it will work to force the referendum, but it must be done quickly: 1,500 signatures must be gathered by June 18. If […]
Nats call up beer vendor from the minors
Here’s the most unusual promotion from the minors this season: Beer vendor Vince Rainey has been called up from the High Class A Florida State League by the Washington Nationals. The 25-year-old Rainey has been a fixture at Jackie Robinson Ballpark for more than a decade, hawking his wares at Daytona Cubs games after first […]
Parkersburg businesses polled on ballpark viability
Proponents of a new Parkersburg (W. Va.) ballpark are polling local businesses to determine their potential financial support for a pro team and a pro venue. Several business groups, including the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Marietta Chamber of Commerce, Belpre Chamber of Commerce and the […]
MLB pitches youth academy for Tiger Stadium site
Officials with Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy are preparing a plan for a baseball academy at the old Tiger Stadium site, but Detroit officials are dismissing the plan as a “scam.” Darrell Miller, MLB vice president of youth and facility development, has been touring Detroit sites for a potential youth-baseball academy and has discussed […]
In memoriam: Pete Vonachen
Pete Vonachen, the guiding spirit behind the Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) since 1983, passed away yesterday at the age of 87. Vonachen was already an important member of the Peoria community when he bought the then-Peoria Suns in 1983; he was a high-profile restaurateur and entrepreneur with several businesses to his name. […]