Archives: June 18-24, 2005
Fremont politicians make a pitch for A’s
Posted June 24, 2005
Two Fremont elected officials have made another pitch to lure the Oakland Athletics to southern Alameda County. County Supervisor Scott Haggerty and Fremont Mayor Bob Wasserman sent letters this month to A’s managing partner Lewis Wolff asking the club to look at building a new baseball-only stadium in Fremont — possibly near the future Warm Springs BART station or at the new Pacific Commons development off Auto Mall Parkway. Apparently Wolff is open to discussions with Fremont officials: the team rejected a plan to build a new ballpark in the parking lot of the Coliseum area, and no other sites in Oakland have been proposed by either the team or local officials. Wolff says the team is currently looking at sites in its territory, which would include Fremont.
Pitching for Aug. 9 tax vote, Hays says
Posted June 24, 2005
The race is one! North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays wants a Aug. 9 vote on a 1 percent sales tax that would help pay for a proposed new ballpark for the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League). It’s interesting little was done on the proposal — and Hayes seemed happy to let an opening date slip by a year or two when cost estimates came in higher than expected — until Little Rock civic leaders decided to dust off their plans for a new ballpark, either in downtown or in War Memorial Park, near the team’s current home, venerable Ray Winder Field.
Plans to build ballpark in D.C. receive a boost from Supreme Court
Posted June 24, 2005
As we reported yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court broadly upheld the powers of local governments to use the power of eminent domain to buy land for economic development. In D.C., anti-ballpark forces were planning on legally challenging eminent domain in an effort to prevent the condemnation of several parcels of land in Southwest D.C. eyes for a new Washington Nationals ballpark. The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to bring the District’s plans to build a baseball stadium closer to fruition. The ruling angered property owners who could be displaced, including those who have fought plans to build the Washington Nationals’ new baseball stadium in Southeast near the Anacostia River waterfront. The court said a commercial venture that brings tax revenue or jobs to the city is a public good and, thus, is eligible to benefit from the power of eminent domain. More from the Washington Post.
Play Ball falls behind on paying bills
Posted June 24, 2005
Play Ball Missoula, the nonprofit group responsible for building Play Ball Park, the home of the Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League), is behind on payments to contractors, resulting in one construction firm filing a lien on the property. The debt resulted from higher-than-expected construction costs and a lack of follow-through on the part of some donors, and has hampered completion of ballpark. It doesn’t sound the contractors are actually upset with Play Ball Missoula, and the debt is not overwhelming: $187,000.
Making virtual reality a part of the real game
Posted June 24, 2005
More on the decision by the Kansas City T-Bones and the Schaumburg Flyers (both independent; Northern League) to play the first two innings of a July game using joysticks on XBoxes instead of on the first. The thing is, this would have been a really cool promotion if you played the two innings on XBox and broadcast the game on the big screen; what fans, players and coaches object to is having the two innings count in the official standings. Let’s say the Flyers put up a less-than-l33t player, whose pitcher gets shelled. Those stats will count in the season stats for the pitcher, who had absolutely nothing to do with the performance. That’s just wrong. Jeff Zillgitt blames the whole thing on Bill Veeck; that, too, is wrong. This is one of the few defenses of the game we’ve seem; our voluminous email on the subject on the issue is running 95 percent against and 5 percent resigned to the game — not exactly a ringing endorsement for the Northern League.
Officials want The Diamond to sparkle
Posted June 24, 2005
Lake Elsinore officials continue their quest to privatize The Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm (Class A; California League). The city took out several ads in trade magazines seeking proposals for privatization of the sports complex; Concerts, swap meets and soccer games are just some of the ideas several businessmen have for turning the complex into an active, year-round venue.
Old hurler has stories to tell
Posted June 24, 2005
Anyone attending Reading Phillies (Class AA; Eastern League) games has seen the "Broadway" Charlie Wagner Press Box. Charlie Wagner is still going strong at 92 and is the oldest surviving Red Sox player (he broke in with the Sox in 1938). A former roommate of Ted Williams, Wagner still regularly attends Reading games and plans on being in Philadelphia this weekend when the BoSox visit the Phillies.
Companies say stadium deals well worth cost
Posted June 24, 2005
The whole purpose of buying naming rights is marketing: companies can raise their public image by associating their name with a public venue. Plus, the money paid by these companies can reduce the amount taxpayers pay for the venue. So why is a Ralph Nader group continuing to criticize firms that buy naming rights?
Angels playing right angle
Posted June 24, 2005
The controversy over Arte Moreno adopting the moniker of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim seems to have died down a little, but it’s sure to come up tonight when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit Angel Stadium. The argument here is the Angels actually have more of a connection to Los Angeles than do the Dodgers because the old Angels were a mainstay in the Pacific Coast League and the expansion team has no other roots than LA, while the Dodgers relocated from Brooklyn. Not so sure I buy that argument — the Dodgers have been in Los Angeles for almost 50 years, and the new Angels have nothing to do with the old Angels except for the name.
Maybe the grass is greener here
Posted June 24, 2005
At some point the powers that be in baseball will realize that Oakland is the best place for the Oakland Athletics, argues Gary Peterson. He’s right that there are probably not 30 great markets for major-league baseball (Tampa Bay and Miami arguably are on the cusp, while Minnesota and Kansas City have their moments), but he is a little too quick to dismiss Las Vegas and Portland as possible markets in the future.
Enjoy a kosher nosh at the ballpark
Posted June 24, 2005
Most teams will offer a kosher item or two at the ballpark (indeed, you can find kosher dogs at almost every MLB ballpark and many larger MiLB parks as well), but the New Haven County Cutters (independent; Can-Am League) go a step beyond and offer The Kosher Food Stand, located along the first base side of Yale Field. The stand, run by Stan Hochman of Chai Caterers, is open Sundays through Thursdays all season long. Kashrut supervision is provided by the Vaad Hakashrus of Fairfield County. Regular selections include hot dogs, sausage and peppers (kosher, of course!), barbecue hero, knishes, cookies, chips, Israeli chips. Rotating specials include such entrees as meatballs, chicken cutlets and grilled vegetables in a pita.
NLR’s ballpark plans rouse Little Rock task force
Posted June 23, 2005
Now that North Little Rock officials are running into some roadblocks on financing a proposed new ballpark for the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League), officials in Little Rock are making another run at keeping the team there. One idea that’s resurfaced: building a new ballpark at War Memorial Park, near the team’s current home — venerable Ray Winder Field — which would give a boost to Little Rock’s midtown area. Previous proposals from Little Rock officials called for a new downtown ballpark.
Businesses resist as D.C. collects on ballpark fee
Posted June 23, 2005
Apparently all those business owners who readily agreed to a ballpark fee for larger businesses when the District was making a deal with MLB for the Expos are having second thoughts about that support, as the District government’s effort to collect the first installment of a business tax to build a new ballpark has outraged some company owners, confused others and renewed a political discussion about restructuring the tax. One fair complaint about the tax: All businesses that gross more than $16 million pay the same amount — $16,500 — no matter if they make one dollar more or $100 million more. Look for the D.C. Council to restructure the tax soon.
Navs commit to Norwich through 2009
Posted June 23, 2005
The Norwich Navigators (Class AA; Eastern League) have reached an agreement with the City of Norwich on a new lease to play at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium through the 2009 season. The agreement was formally announced by Lou DiBella, president and managing partner of the Navigators, at a ballpark news conference on Wednesday with state and city officials and local dignitaries. As part of the new lease, the city and the Navigators expect to collaborate economically in making substantial improvements to the ballpark, including the installation of an LED scoreboard to allow the display of advertisements and modern graphics, new ballpark signage throughout Norwich and a new ballpark store. Plus, the team announced it will seek a new name as well. More from the Norwich Bulletin, as businesses hail the decision to stay.
Best team in baseball is second in Second City
Posted June 23, 2005
I tell you, the Chicago White Sox get no respect. Here’s a team with a 10-game lead in a competitive division, and yet the Sox are second fiddle to the Cubs in their own town. The White Sox had drawn 885,906 through Tuesday night’s game, an average of 24,609 per home game. The Cubs, who began the day three games above .500 and 8.5 games behind St. Louis, have already drawn 1,354,376, an average of 37,622 per game.
New Yankee Stadium needs same old feeling
Posted June 23, 2005
George Vescey comes out in favor of the design of a new Yankees Stadium, saying continuity is important when it comes to institutions like the Yankees and a more radical design would have broken that continuity. It’s OK for the New York Mets to push the envelope — no one wants a carbon copy of Shea Stadium, apparently — but it’s important for the Yankees to play in a ballpark reminiscent of the original Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, new ballparks for the Mets and Yankees apparently equals good politics for Mayor Mike Bloomberg: he leads his closest opponent for reelection by 13 percentage points.
Revenge of the nerds
Posted June 23, 2005
Yes, the independent Northern League is known for its crazy stunts, but there’s always been one rule guiding the craziness: a zany promotion should never interfere with the product on the field. Yes, there are times when this boundary is pushed (like when teams sell a preseason at-bat), but by and large the promotional; craziness is left in the stands. That’s why many fans — and more than one Northern League owner/GM/pr person, judging by our voluminous email on the subject — are upset about the plan by the Kansas City T-Bones and the Schaumburg Flyers to have fans play two innings of a Northern League game on Microsoft XBoxes, with the play shown on the ballpark scoreboard and the results counting in the scorebooks.
Supreme Court, 5-4, back seizure of property for development
Posted June 23, 2005
A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that local governments may seize people’s homes and businesses against their will for private development. The 5-4 ruling represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas. The power of eminent domain is an important one for cities seeking to build urban ballparks.
Phillies trying to land more fans
Posted June 23, 2005
Wow. Are Philadelphia Phillies fans this fickle? Despite a pretty decent record and efforts by the front office to remain competitive (in retrospect, letting P Eric Milton go was a shrewd move), the Phillies are averaging 10,000 fewer fans a game this season at Citizens Bank Park. The team expects to pick up the pace during the next month, when the Phillies play host 23 of the following 29 games.
U of Minnesota baseball stadium study set
Posted June 23, 2005
The University of Minnesota is in the process of hiring a company to do a feasibility study for the funding of a privately financed ballpark on campus. As envisioned by the U, the $8 million ballpark would be part of a larger athletic park. If the study concludes such a project is not feasible, the U may revisit a proposal by the St. Paul Saints (independent; Northern League) to share a ballpark on the U’s St. Paul campus.
Road takes its toll
Posted June 23, 2005
It’s hard enough being a road team in independent baseball; it’s even harder to a foreign road team in a startup league. Players for the Japanese Samurai Bears (independent; Golden Baseball League) are finding life on the road isn’t so great; what began as a relatively clever marketing ploy when the Tiajuana franchise dropped out of the league is now a grind for the players. The team’s record — 6-18 — is about what you’d expect for a road team, and the Bears were no-hit the other night by Chico Outlaws right-hander Seth Johnson.
51s up for sale
Posted June 22, 2005
Mandalay Baseball Properties, the majority owner of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), has hired Lehman Brothers to broker the sale of the team. The asking price of the 51s is $20 million, which seems a little steep for a team with no ballpark to their name and no prospects of a new one. Recent PCL franchise sales are not a good guide for pricing the 51s: the Salt Lake Stingers sold for $20 million this offseason, but the Portland Beavers (in a transaction that still needs to be closed) franchise is being sold for closer to $10 million. One wild card for a buyer: if MLB does move a team to Vegas, the owner of the 51s will be due territorial-rights payment that could be close to $10 million. Another wild card: whoever buys the team will be forced to stay at Cashman Field, as the league is highly unlikely to give permission for a move. Mandalay also owns the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League), the Dayton Dragons (Class A; Midwest League), the Erie SeaWolves (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Hagerstown Suns (Class A; Sally League) and has rumored to being interested in bringing a Class AA Southern League team to Baton Rouge, La.
Cobb Field rebuild possible between seasons
Posted June 22, 2005
Niels E. Valentiner of VCBO Architecture in Salt Lake City is proposing a modest retooling of venerable Cobb Field, the home of the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). As you’ll recall, last year Billings voters rejected a complete rebuilding of the ballpark, which opened in 1948. Valentiner’s plan would be to demolish the wooden grandstand and replace it with a new one, leaving intact the parking lot, playing field and outfield configuration. He envisions the total cost of the project as $8 million. Take a look at our Cobb Field photos: the old ballpark is truly one of a kind, and it seems a shame to tear down such a great old ballpark when an even more modest and sensitive remodeling would accomplish the same thing.
Japan not committed to World Baseball Classic
Posted June 22, 2005
Japanese baseball officials continue to be unimpressed with MLB’s financial structuring of a proposed World Baseball Class next spring, leaving MLB officials to put a deadline of June 30 on a decision whether to hold the tournament without Japanese participation. Under the plan formulated by the commissioner’s office and the players’ association, Japan would host one of the four first-round groups of the 16-team tournament for national teams. Both Nippon Professional Baseball and the Japanese players’ association expressed concerns about the tourney; many Japanese stars, like Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki, seem reluctant to play.