Archives: Dec. 10-16, 2005
Making a tip-top Trop
Posted December 16, 2005
The new ownership of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays is serious about enhancing the fan experience at the Tropicana Dome. The renovations will include major overhauls to the interiors of the premium Kane’s Club seating area behind home plate, luxury suites and the soon-to-be-renamed Platinum Club along the first-base line on the 200 level. Four rows of seats will be removed in front of the latter and retractable glass doors will be installed along most of the club’s viewing area into the ballpark to give it a more open feel. Also, the restrooms are being upgraded, the exterior is being repainted and painted cinder-block walls on the 100 and 200 levels will be covered with stucco or drywall. More from the Tampa Tribune.
Museum, dining wanted at new Sounds ballpark
Posted December 16, 2005
A museum celebrating Nashville baseball history, an in-ballpark restaurant, a nearby grocery store and great views of downtown, the Cumberland River and the two bridges bracketing the site were all mentioned by residents providing input on the design of a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark and an adjoining development, as the Sounds held a public design workshop yesterday. More than 100 people met at the Nashville Public Library to share ideas about the Nashville Sounds’ proposal for a $43 million, privately funded ballpark surrounded by housing and retail establishments. The plan is in the hands of the Metro Council, which is expected to discuss it Tuesday but won’t take a final vote on the deal until at least mid-January. More on next week’s vote from the Nashville City Paper.
York school board rejects payments in lieu of taxes
Posted December 16, 2005
The York City school board voted unanimously to reject a proposal to be paid fixed sums instead of property taxes from the owner of a proposed ballpark for an independent Atlantic League team. Under the proposed agreement, the school district would receive $60,800 per year for five years starting in 2007. Currently properties on the ballpark site are taxed at $38,000 per year, but that rate would go up immensely once a new ballpark is built, Officials with the York County Economic Development Corporation, which will own the ballpark, say the facility will be tax-exempt, but school-board officials don’t believe that to be the case.
Donors don’t pay up, so UVSC holds on to ballpark naming right
Posted December 16, 2005
Developers who pledged big dollars to help pay for Utah Valley State College’s $4 million ballpark, which is also the home of the Orem Owlz (rookie; Pioneer League), still have not forked over the promised dough, leading college officials to scrap the naming-rights deal. More than eight months after the stadium’s debut, UVSC officials have not collected dollar one of the $1.7 million pledged by Craig Pickering and Heath Johnston, co-developers of the massive Parkway Crossing student-apartment complex west of the Orem campus. The college has scraped to pay the yearly $384,000 bond repayment and may seek another naming-rights deal.
Roger Ames purchases Glens Falls Golden Eagles
Posted December 16, 2005
Roger Ames, of Newport, Vt., will become the new owner of the Glens Falls Golden Eagles (summer collegiate; NYCBL). Ames is buying the team and a semi-pro football team from Charles Adams, the current president of both franchises. The Golden Eagles have played in the New York Collegiate Baseball League for the past two years, while the Greenjackets are a member of the North American Football League. Ames also is starting an NYCBL franchise in Little Falls, which will replace Plattsburgh in the Eastern Division for 2006.
Robinson to return as Nats manager
Posted December 16, 2005
Frank Robinson will return as manager of the Washington Nationals next season, but most of his coaching staff was released. Bench coach Eddie Rodriguez and pitching coach Randy St. Claire will return, but first-base coach Don Buford, hitting coach Tom McCraw, bullpen coach Bob Natal and third base coach Dave Huppert will not return.
Nats could do worse than Griffith
Posted December 16, 2005
Dick Heller facetiously suggests the former Griffith Stadium site — now home to the Howard University Hospital — be used as the site of a new Washington Nationals ballpark. Really, his point is to contrast baseball in D.C. during the Griffith era rather than making a serious proposal; he’s also using the article to reminisce about his carefree youth, riding the streetcar to the ballpark and buying a scorecard for a dime.
"Futures at Fenway" next summer
Posted December 16, 2005
The Boston Red Sox will be showcasing future BoSox next summer at the first "Futures at Fenway" doubleheader on Aug. 26 at Fenway Park. The Lowell Spinners will host the Oneonta Tigers in a 2 p.m. NY-Penn League game, followed by the Pawtucket Red Sox hosting the Rochester Red Wings in an International League clash. Still to be scheduled: a Portland Sea Dogs/New Hampshire Fisher Cats match.
Be careful what you wish for
Posted December 16, 2005
Whoever buys the Atlanta Braves will be filling some awfully big shoes. Under the ownership of Ted Turner and Time Warner, the Braves have been one of the most successful teams in pro sports, consistently winning divisional championships and continually fielding entertaining and competitive teams. The new owners will face some hard issues: attendance at Turner Field really isn’t what it should be, and both GM John Schuerholz and manager Bobby Cox are nearing retirement age.
Moving on is par for the course
Posted December 16, 2005
The Kinston Indians (Class A; Carolina League) is facing a familiar issue: filling a front-office position after an employee left to move their way up the baseball ladder. Today, Marty Wheeler spends his last day as the Indians general manager after accepting the same title with the Nashua Pride (independent; Can-Am Association) . Wheeler resigned after barely a year on the job to pursue an opportunity he said he couldn’t turn down. His departure follows that of Clay Battin a year earlier. Battin, who took the GM position after Kinston fixture North Johnson ended his 17-year tenure as GM, resigned less than a year later to pursue opportunities outside baseball.
World Series trophy to be exhibited at Pitch & Hit Club annual dinner
Posted December 16, 2005
The 2005 World Series Trophy will be on display at the 60th Annual Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago Awards Dinner set for Sunday, January 15, 2005 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The 2005 trophy was made of brass and pewter, weighs 30 pounds (14 kg) and has an estimated value of $15,000. A small charitable contribution gives you an opportunity to take a picture with the trophy. This will be one of the last photo opportunities for the year. Fox broadcaster Steve Lyons and Chicago Radio Personality Tom Shaer will double team the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Tickets are $50 for individuals, $500 for a table; check out pitchandhit.org for more information.
Atlanta Braves may be up for sale
Posted December 14, 2005
Time Warner is putting the Atlanta Braves franchise on the market and may include the Turner South cable network as part of the deal. The Braves have been a cornerstone of Time Warner sports broadcasting since the days of Turner Broadcasting and Superstation TBS, but in recent years the luster came off "synergistic" ownership of sports teams by media entities, and Time Warner is looking at a breakup of all its operations, including the publishing and AOL divisions. New York-based Allen & Co. is the investment banker hired to shop the team and Turner South, but no formal discussions have been held yet with any prospective purchaser. No word on whether the minor-league teams owned by the Braves — the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League), the Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League) and the Rome Braves (Class A; Sally League) would be part of the deal, but we can assume they would be.
Baseball’s future in Jackson up in air
Posted December 14, 2005
The Jackson (Tn.) City Council took no action on a proposed lease between the city and the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League). Though the present lease expires tomorrow, the council is not expected to act on anything until Friday. Jaxx owner Bob Lozinak has sweetened his offer to the city with the following: the team would sign a new four-year lease, and if the Jaxx were to leave for any reason after the 2006 season, they would agree to pay the city $300,000 for each year remaining on the contract. Increased attendance — a minimum paid attendance of 225,000 and an actual gate attendance of at least 175,000 in 2006 — would automatically add an additional year to the lease agreement. There are still some disagreements: Should the city want to buy the team, Lozinak wants to keep a purchase price of $12.5 million (which must be exercised by June 1, 2006), but the city values the team at $8.5 million (which, we must admit, is more keeping with the real market value of the team at this time). And the city wants a "no shop" clause, where ownership cannot talk to other cities about moving his team for at least two years. (We know ownership has been talking with a group seeking to bring a team to a new ballpark in Biloxi.) United League officials toured Pringles Park earlier this week, while the American Association has been approached about placing a team in Jackson as well. One thing to note: MiLB and MLB officials are loathe to let a team move if there’s debt service remaining on a ballpark (and $5 million is still owed on Pringles Park), but if the team is evicted, there’s a not a lot they can do to deny a move, even this late in the offseason.
MLB opposes moving Nats ballpark site
Posted December 14, 2005
COO Bob DuPuy says MLB won’t accept a new Washington Nationals ballpark next to RFK Stadium, despite what negotiator Jerry Reinsdorf told the D.C. Council last week. "The deadlines negotiated in the baseball stadium agreement are important to the long-term success of this franchise," DuPuy wrote in a letter to council chair Linda Cropp. "It does not appear to us that those deadlines could possibly be met if the district were now to propose that the site be changed." Placing the ballpark next to RFK instead of in southeast D.C. will save money but could lead to construction delays of up to two years — and the lease agreed to by D.C. and MLB officials calls for a 2009 opening of the new ballpark. There are still a host of issues to be resolved with the Southeast site: funding of a much-needed Metro station expansion is not part of the overall budget of the new ballpark, and Mayor Anthony Williams expects the federal government to pick up the costs. More from the Washington Times, which is advising baseball officials carry a big stick.
Richland County ballpark plans move forward
Posted December 14, 2005
A plan for a new ballpark in Richland County (suburban Columbia, S.C.) advanced when the county and developer Alan Kahn agreed to prepare a proposal for debate in January. It sounds like there’s support for the proposal among county officials. The ballpark for the Columbus Catfish (Class A; Sally League) would be part of a larger $100-million development; the $37 million project would be partially funded by tax-increment financing. The county will take up the more solid proposal during a regularly scheduled January retreat.
Marlins fans make their voices heard
Posted December 14, 2005
Florida Marlins fans aren’t happy about the fire sale conducted by team officials after it became clear there was an impasse over a new ballpark in Miami. Gone are Carlos Delgado, Luis Castillo, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and other fan favorites. Season-ticket holders are especially steamed because they can’t seek refunds for 2006 ducats. Fans peppered president David Samson with some angry questions, booed each other at times and expressed displeasure with the dismantling of the roster and the decision to explore relocation. MLB’s Bob DuPuy says baseball would prefer the team stay in south Florida.
Can-Am close to placing team in Skylands Park
Posted December 14, 2005
Apparently it’s never too late to firm up plans for 2006: potential team owner Floyd Hall says he’s close to a deal to place an independent Can-Am Association team in Skylands Park, the former home of the New Jersey Cardinals (short season; NY-Penn League), for the 2006 season. League commissioner Miles Wolff didn’t sound as optimistic, saying it would be difficult. One big issue: whether the league would add a traveling team or another franchise to the mix.
Idaho Falls ballpark work may be delayed a year
Posted December 14, 2005
Renovation of McDermott Field, the home of the Idaho Falls Chukars (rookie; Pioneer League), may be delayed a full year after the bidding process was halted. According to GM Kevin Greene, contractors said they didn’t have enough time to evaluate the project requirements and didn’t feel the project could be competed by the beginning of the Pioneer League season. This raises a big problem for the team: many fans bought season tickets for 2006 expecting a renovated ballpark.
Money mounts for Lehigh Valley minor league baseball
Posted December 14, 2005
Two of the remaining obstacles to bringing minor league baseball to the Lehigh Valley have fallen, with baseball partners Joe Finley and Craig Stein putting down a $750,000 deposit on a Class AAA ballclub and the state Legislature making additional money available for stadium construction. The nonrefundable deposit was made earlier this month, while another deposit for the same amount is due next year, with the deal closing in 2007. The name of the team moving to Allentown hasn’t been revealed, but sources say it’s the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League).
Nuts renew lease, but issues remain
Posted December 14, 2005
Michael Savit, the new owner of the Modesto Nuts (Class A; California League), signed a one-year lease for John Thurman Field under the same terms of the 2005 lease: the city gets the greater of $75,000 or 7.5 percent of all team revenues and the team also pays $90,000 for ballpark maintenance. Longer term, Savit wants to see improvements to the ballpark — like a new scoreboard, luxury boxes and the sale of naming rights — or else a reduction in rent.
Baseball for Bergen stuck in rent dispute
Posted December 14, 2005
Bergen Cliff Hawks (independent; Atlantic League) owner Steve Kalafer has backed off — at least for now — on a threat to sue Meadowlands Xanadu developers Mills Corp. and Mack-Cali over their plans (or lack thereof) for a new ballpark. His frustration lies in a dispute about the amount of annual rent for his proposed minor-league baseball team, as well as uncertainty about architectural plans for the 6,500-seat ballpark. The estimated price of the ballpark has varied from $20 million to $30 million. The amount of rent expected from Kalafer has ranged from roughly $750,000 — Kalafer’s estimate — to $1.5 million, which Mills has insisted was the agreed-upon amount.
Schley to own new St. Joe American Association team
Posted December 14, 2005
Van Schley, a veteran operator in independent and affiliated baseball, will head the ownership group of the new American Association team in St. Joseph, Mo. Among the group of investors involved in the St. Joseph organization is actor/comedian Brian Doyle-Murray. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows since the 1970s including Saturday Night Live, Caddyshack (which he co-wrote) and Scrooged. Doyle-Murray resides in Manhattan, Kansas.
Downtown baseball stadium in Topeka — try again
Posted December 14, 2005
Here’s a call for Topeka city officials to continue their pursuit of a new downtown ballpark. The process was derailed when a routine background check of Pennsylvania developer Michael Johnson revealed he didn’t have the financial wherewithal to develop a large chunk of the downtown’s Watertower Place area. Topeka is perfectly situated for independent ball, and a downtown ballpark could certainly be a core part of a larger development.
Pride generating some winter heat
Posted December 14, 2005
The Nashua Pride (independent; Can-Am Association) held their annual Winterfest last night, with the new ownership meeting fans and listening to comments about the team’s move from the Atlantic League. Nothing new or noteworthy was revealed to fans, apparently, but having manager Butch Hobson show up and meet fans must have been reassuring to the team’s loyal fan base.
Council agrees to cover Riverfront Stadium project cost overruns
Posted December 14, 2005
Waterloo City Council members voted unanimously to earmark some $200,000 in interest earned on general obligation bonds to cover cost overruns on a renovation of Riverfront Stadium, the home of the Waterloo Bucks (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), which Leisure Services Commission officials hoped to complete before next spring’s baseball season. Original cost estimates on the project were in the $255,000 range but have ballooned to nearly $410,000. Steel prices have soared since the project started, and the city was forced to put in a sewer lift station and a deeper water line to serve the building being constructed at the ballpark entrance, under the bleachers.
CFA won’t shoulder Paints debt
Posted December 14, 2005
The Ross County Convention Facilities Authority approved an additional 1.25 percent bed tax to pay for improvements to VA Memorial Stadium, home of the Chillicothe Paints (independent; Frontier League). However, tax revenues will not be used to pay off any existing debt Paints owner Chris Hanners owes for improvements to the facility, as originally had been suggested. One improvement: the installation of artificial turf so the facility can be used for events other than baseball.
Plan unveiled to revitalize area north of LSU
Posted December 14, 2005
Plan Baton Rouge and a team of national consultants unveiled on Tuesday the preliminary findings of a study on how to improve Old South Baton Rouge, the neighborhood between downtown and LSU. One possibility: a new minor-league ballpark in an area just south of downtown, possibly using tax-increment financing to stimulate growth. Ryan Baseball has been talking with Baton Rouge and LSU officials about bringing a Southern League team to the area.
Baseball Notes
Posted December 14, 2005
Jon Laaser is the new radio voice of the Yakima Bears (short season; Northwest League). Laaser worked with Kris Atteberry last summer on St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) radio broadcasts and before that was the voice of the St. Cloud River Bats (summer collegiate; Northwoods League)….The Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) agreed to a two-year contract with WRHL, which has been the team’s broadcast home since it moved to the Rock River Valley for the 2002 season. WRHL will air live all 96 regular-season games, all postseason games involving the RiverHawks and two preseason shows. In addition, all game broadcasts will be available online at WRHL’s website with a direct link from the team website. Bill Czaja returns for his fifth season as the team’s play-by-play announcer….The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) and the JEDC Sports and Entertainment Board announced that two of the top collegiate baseball programs in the state of Florida will meet in a highly-anticipated matchup on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:05 p.m. as the University of North Florida Ospreys host the University of Florida Gators at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, two days before the Suns open the season against the Chattanooga Lookouts….Damon Mashore and Jeff Pico will be joining manager Brett Butler on the 2006 field staff of the Lancaster JetHawks (Class A; California League). Mashore and Pico will reprise their roles from 2005 as hitting and pitching coach, respectively….Bob Flori will return as manager of the Shreveport Sports (independent; American Association). The Sports started off last season with eleven rookies, the most of any team in the Central League, but went 28-19 in the second half of the season, missing the post season playoffs by one game….Cary Dohman is the new director of media relations for the Clinton LumberKings (Class A; Midwest League). Dohman graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism and history. While there, Cary also served as the play-by-play voice of the Badger’s women’s softball and men’s basketball teams on WSUM 9