Archives: July 23-July 29, 2005
Perfectly logical to move the A’s to Sacramento
Posted July 29, 2005
Marcos Breton argues that Sacramento would make a perfect home for the Oakland A’s should they fail in procuring a new ballpark in Oakland. Breton is right: Sacramento has proven it can support baseball — the Sacramento River Cats (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are one of the top-drawing squads in minor-league ball — and the Sacramento market is truly big-league if you look at the success of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings as an example. It’s also nice to see Breton acknowledge that a new facility would be needed; Raley Field is great (we visited last week and will be writing up an account shortly), but it’s not a major-league facility.
Lugnuts, Lansing agree to 10-year lease extension
Posted July 29, 2005
The Lansing Lugnuts (Class A; Midwest League) and the City of Lansing have signed a letter of understanding extending the Lugnuts commitment in Lansing through 2020. This agreement is an early renewal of the existing lease, which was set to expire in 2010. The new agreement is the culmination of work and planning over the past 12 months. The first step was an audit by HNTB, the ballpark’s original architects, outlining the improvements necessary to keep Oldsmobile Park in state-of-the-art condition. The Lugnuts launched the improvements to the ballpark, making a $500,000 investment to the stadium by installing a new top-of-the-line scoreboard system. Earlier this year, the City upgraded the suite level of the park and announced that it will be installing a new field this fall, currently being grown by Michigan State University.
A key component of the new agreement is a commitment by the City to invest $3,000,000 over the next three years to upgrade and improve Oldsmobile Park. Beyond that, the new agreement provides for significant capital resources to maintain the park in top condition for the duration of the lease.
The new lease agreement will take effect on January 1, 2006 and will be presented to the City Council in the next few weeks for its approval.
Butler, Blagojevich discuss baseball strategy for Marion
Posted July 29, 2005
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was in Marion to discuss other ways the state can help the city out once it builds a new ballpark for the relocated South Bend Silver Hawks (Class A; Midwest League). Blagojevich successfully turned away allegation that he provided state funding for the ballpark as payback for a political favor, but he sure is spending a lot of time making sure the needs of Marion are filled by the state.
PGE Park’s turnstiles getting a workout
Posted July 29, 2005
It looks like Portland has rediscovered the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and PGE Park: Over the last dozen games, the Bevos have averaged nearly 7,000 fans, including a crowd of 15,724 on July 4. Overall, attendance is up 11 percent this season. On the ownership side, things are still muddy; despite an announcement early in the season that a sale was imminent, the deal still has not closed, much to the chagrin of TIAA-CREF, the largest creditor for the Beavers.
Two college leagues make pitch for Sedalia
Posted July 29, 2005
Two college wood-bat leagues have approached Sedalia’s Liberty Park Stadium about placing a team there next season. The established MINK League and the new Central Plains Baseball League both want a lease, but they differ on the details: the Central Plains Baseball League would want to serve alcohol, but the MINK League would not. You can look for a more formal announcement of the Central Plains Baseball League (which is targeting cities in Kansas and Missouri) on Aug. 15.
Comcast suit against Orioles tossed; team free to expand cable network
Posted July 28, 2005
A Comcast lawsuit against the Baltimore Orioles over the team’s establishment of a cable network was tossed out by a Montgomery County (Md.) Circuit Court judge, who ruled Comcast has no right to stop the Orioles from being part of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). MASN currently broadcasts Washington Nationals games under the ownership of the Orioles and MLB; the Orioles are expected to move to the network once their Comcast deal expires after next season, but Comcast sued to prevent the Orioles from moving. Comcast has refused to televise any Nationals games (which hasn’t done much to dampen attendance, apparently), and that’s not likely to change with the decision anyway.
HNTB selected for Cobb Field renovation
Posted July 28, 2005
The Cobb Field selection committee has chosen an architectural team for a replacement home for the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). The committee, which includes City Council members, city staff, city Parks Board members and volunteers, chose HNTB Architects of Kansas City, Mo., for the job. That firm will work with CTA Architects Engineers of Billings and Gateway Consulting Group of Cleveland, Ohio. The first step is for Gateway to prepare a feasibility study outlining financing alternatives, which should be completed in October.
Three bid on control of The Diamond in Lake Elsinore
Posted July 28, 2005
Three firms submitted bids to Lake Elsinore outlining plans for The Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm (Class A; California League). Each of the plans focuses on developing the land surrounding The Diamond, located on the south side of town, and maximizing use of the ballpark itself. The most unique bid came from Florida-based Jeffrey Industries International, which is proposing to use the balpark as a venue for an international baseball winter league when the Storm doesn’t play, and as the hub for a sports and entertainment complex that would include a hotel, condos, restaurants, theaters and other facilities.
Should Owensboro fund ballpark study?
Posted July 28, 2005
The debate in Owensboro, Ky., is whether to fund a feasibility study for a new ballpark. City and county officials have committed to funding a $70,000 feasibility study of a downtown arena. Adding a ballpark study to the arena study would cost the Owensboro City Commission and Daviess Fiscal Court about $5,000 to $7,000 more each, but a private group is willing to pick up the additional costs.
Suns to "Ballpark-Size" intern for a month
Posted July 28, 2005
In a nod to Morgan Spurlock’s movie “Super-Size Me,” Suns intern Joel Pagliaro will eat nothing but ballpark food served from Municipal Stadium’s concession stands for the entire month of August. In the popular movie documentary Super-Size Me, Spurlock ate three meals from McDonalds per day for 30 consecutive days and had routine medical checkups to monitor his health. Likewise, Pagliaro will receive a physical examination both before and after his Municipal Stadium diet. As you’ll recall, Sperlock experienced massive weight gain, lethargy and impotence from his experience; Pagliaro has much to look forward to.
Bad News Bears to take field for Rox
Posted July 28, 2005
The Brockton Rox (independent; Can-Am League) signed actors Gary Lee Cavagnaro and David Pollock to play in Monday night’s game against the Elmira Pioneers. Both actors appeared in the original Bad News Bears movie in 1976, and both will be playing in the field, reprising their childhood roles as the pitching battery. The issue is: do one-day contracts like these (in games that do count in the standings) cheapen independent baseball? We think they do.
Medford ballpark gets a boost
Posted July 28, 2005
The replacement to Miles Field, the former home of the Medford Athletics (short season; Northwest League), is in some financial straits after organizers spent $3.2 million on a new youth-baseball facility with only 500 seats. Organizers want another $2 million to add seas and parking to Harry and David Field. Seats must be expensive in Oregon: the local county already chipped in $900,000 to add 300 seats the facility. (That’s $3,000 a seat for those of you scoring at home.) The whole thing smells of a boondoggle, as the original cost estimate for the entire installation — seats and all — was $1.3 million.
Marlins still talking new ballpark; resolution could be "months" away
Posted July 27, 2005
The Florida Marlins signed a two-year deal with Puerto Rico-based Banco Popular North America, and in the course of promoting that deal team president David Samson said he was in daily discussions with Miami-Dade County leaders on how to close a $45 million funding gap for a new Marlins ballpark near the Orange Bowl. The county commission is in recess for the summer, but Samson says that hasn’t stopped the team from working on financing. Still, he admitted a solution could be months away.
Aurora ballpark won’t open until 2007
Posted July 27, 2005
The independent Central Baseball League won’t be adding a team to Aurora, Col., until the 2007 season, as Aurora officials and National Sports Services are still working on a final design for a ballpark, to be located in 140-acre Signature Park just south of Buckley Air Force Base. More from the Denver Post.
NASCAR’s Tim Sauter signs with Gary
Posted July 27, 2005
NASCAR Busch Series Driver Tim Sauter has signed a contract with the Gary-SouthShore RailCats (independent; Northern League). The driver of the Lester Buildings #56 Chevrolet will make his professional baseball debut on August 4 at U.S. Steel Yard when the RailCats take on the Kansas City T-Bones at 7:00 p.m. Sauter will start the game as the designated hitter and lead off the bottom of the first inning. Says Sauter: "This is going to be fun. I can’t wait to join my new team and I know that more than a few people are having some fun at my expense over this, but I fully intend to get on base one way or another and let my teammates bring me around for the go-ahead run."
Sidewinders will distribute $100,000 in casino chits if game rained out
Posted July 27, 2005
Here’s one outlandish-sounding promotion that may succeed for fans. Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) fans are guaranteed to have a good time rain or shine at Tucson Electric Park this monsoon season as the Sidewinders introduce "Rain Out-Pay Out." If any Sidewinders game is officially called due to rain during the remainder of the season, all fans 21 and over in attendance will receive an equal share a $100,000 Sun Dollars from Casino del Sol or Casino or the Sun for entertainment at either casino.
"Over the prior five seasons we have played some of our best baseball and hosted some of the best promotions, only to host a few thousand fans instead of the several thousand fans expected for that nights game," said Jay S. Zucker. "We need to remind the fans that the monsoons are a neighborhood sized storms and passing through our town very quickly, so we introduced a $100,000 incentive to share among the fans that weather the storm."
Fans must be present at the time of the cancellation to be eligible for the pay out and will be given their share of the Sun Dollars as they exit the stadium. To be considered an official rainout, the game must be called by an umpire due to rain after the game’s start but prior to the losing team’s turn to bat in the 5th inning.
The Sidewinders returned home last night. There’s a chance of rain every day for the next two weeks, by the way.
Business travelers: the Can-Am Grays
Posted July 27, 2005
Here’s your annual look at an independent-ball road team, this time the Can-Am League Grays. The team was forced into existence after the Bangor Lumberjacks dropped out of the league right before the season opener. The team is playing .500 ball, as the Can-Am officials wisely set the team up with a decent manager and some good players, as opposed to just using the team as a traveling patsy a la the Washington Generals. The Grays aren’t the only road team in indy ball this season; the Golden Baseball League features the Japan Samurai Bears.
Barnstormers management to meet with ballpark neighbors
Posted July 27, 2005
Management from the Lancaster Barnstormers (independent; Atlantic League) will be meeting with neighbors of Clipper Magazine Stadium to address any concerns regarding crowds at the ballpark. Meeting organizers are not expecting huge numbers of complaints, though residents are welcome to air any they have; the biggest issue seems to be baseball fans parking in the streets instead of in free parking lots.
Cards introduce family brick plan for new ballpark
Posted July 27, 2005
In an effort to link family memories with St. Louis Cardinals baseball, the Cardinals have launched the Family Art Brick Paver program. Families can purchase their own brick and decorate it however they want. The bricks will then be put inside the new stadium in the Family Pavilion to make up the Wiffle Ball Diamond. There are only 2,000 brick pavers available, and team officials believe they will go quickly.
McCourt to develop area around Dodger Stadium?
Posted July 26, 2005
During our recent visit to Dodger Stadium we noted the oasis-like quality of the 300 acres comprising the Dodger Stadium campus, and apparently Frank McCourt noted the same thing, as he’s working on a redevelopment plan for the area. No surprise: when he purchased the Dodgers, McCourt noted the development possibilities for the area, which sits close to downtown Los Angeles. Overall, the Chavez Ravine area is in pretty bad shape (driving to the ballpark will put you by more than one boarded-up apartment building), but the area does have location, location, location going for it. Any development plan would leave Dodger Stadium and some parking intact, of course; the likely additions would be high-end housing and retail.