Archives: Jan. 1-7, 2006
Mandalay pulls out of Bowling Green deal
Posted January 5, 2006
Mandalay Baseball Properties has pulled out of a deal to develop a ballpark and other property in Bowling Green, as the firm announced it would let its exploratory agreement with the city expire with the old year: "Unfortunately, we are not in a position to relocate one of our existing teams or acquire a team for relocation to Bowling Green. For other developers, however, there is the possibility of identifying another affiliated team owner who is considering relocation or for the developer to pursue independent baseball." City officials said they would indeed pursue another team, but the obstacles are huge: many question whether the area population could support a team (as well as the associated development required by Mandalay).
MLB files for arbitration on D.C. ballpark
Posted January 5, 2006
Keeping true to its word, Major League Baseball filed a claim with the American Arbitration Association, asking the organization to settle a standoff with the District government over the construction of a new Washington Nationals ballpark. MLB says it has a deal, and part of that deal involved first nonbinding and then binding arbitration to resolve any issues between the two sides. The D.C. Council missed a deadline to ratify a lease, leading to the action. The arbitration may take a while: both sides present their arguments in nonbinding arbitration that lasts no more than 15 days; this is followed by a negotiating period and then by binding arbitration. Baseball officials say an arbitration panel can force the District to adopt a lease, but other observers say all a mediator can do is assess damages.
Midland officials have seen no plans for baseball team
Posted January 5, 2006
Officials in Midland, Mich., say they’ve seen no plans for a new ballpark there for a Midwest League team, but given that the facility will be privately financed, there would be no reason for them to participate in any planning until something was presented to them. As we reported yesterday, two officials from Dow Chemical are looking to buy the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (Class A; Midwest League) and move the team to Midland. The city is reviewing a request for a change in zoning for property near Dow’s 47 Building from commercial to community zoning, which would permit a ballpark to be built. More from ABC News 12.
Rodriguez to play in World Baseball Classic?
Posted January 5, 2006
Alex Rodriguez is under some heavy pressure both from MLB and the player’s union to participate in the World Baseball Classic and is expected to announce he will play for the U.S. team. Both sides have a lot at stake with the Classic: ticket sales are lagging except for the finals in San Diego, and it’s also had the effect of dampening spring-training ticket sales as well. As any of you know, we do a sister site called Spring Training Online, which reaches an entirely different readership than does Ballpark Digest. Based on our email, most regular spring-training attendees could care less about the Classic.
South Coast League contacts Wilmington officials
Posted January 5, 2006
The startup South Coast League has been in preliminary discussions with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington about the use of Brooks Field for the launch of the independent league in 2007. The league had contacted the city about a lease for Buck Hardee Field, but it doesn’t look like the heavily used facility could accommodate another tenant. Brooks Field last hosted professional baseball in the form of the South Georgia Waves (Class A; Sally League) in 2001. Also, officials from the South Coast League have a meeting planned for Jan. 13 with leaders from Albany. They will further make their case that one of the league’s eight teams should play at the Paul Eames Sports Complex. The city also has talked with representatives of the Peach State League — another league that starts play in 2007 — and the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League). Also, the South Coast League continues to negotiate with Charlotte County officials over a lease for Charlotte County Sports Park, the former spring home of the Texas Rangers.
Bragan steps aside as Jax Suns GM
Posted January 5, 2006
The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) announced that Peter Bragan, Jr. will step aside as the team’s general manager, making way for long-time employee Kirk Goodman to take over that position for the club. Bragan, Jr. will assume the role of team president and owner Peter Bragan, Sr. remains as Chairman of the Board. Bragan, Jr. began his career with the Suns as director of marketing in 1985, shortly after his father purchased the franchise. He was promoted to vice president and general manager one year later and remained in that position for 20 years. He was the longest-tenured general manager in the Southern League and held the position longer than any other sports executive in the history of Jacksonville sports.
Road not taken in Knoxville
Posted January 5, 2006
Frank Cagle, the editor of Knoxville Magazine, has some advice for Nashville residents as they debate a new downtown ballpark for the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). In the 1990s Knoxville residents debated a downtown ballpark for the Knoxville Jays (Class AA; Southern League), but in the end decided to build a convention center, and the Jays moved to Sevierville. The convention center is now a drain on city finances (as many are), but downtown Knoxville is thriving — and many say if Knoxville residents had to do it all over again, they would have foregone the convention center and instead built that downtown ballpark.
Drive opens mascot design to public competition
Posted January 5, 2006
The Greenville Drive (Class A; Sally League) is handing over to elementary school children to answer as it kicks off the "Drive to Create the Team Mascot" contest. All elementary public, private and home school organizations across Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens and Pickens districts are eligible to compete in the history-making contest, which gives the students the opportunity to create the new team mascot from the ground up, including the character’s design, color, outfit and name. The winning school’s representatives and key members of the student design team will receive a special invitation to attend the unveiling of the chosen mascot at an upcoming 2006 Greenville Drive game. The school will be honored during a pre-game ceremony in Greenville’s new downtown stadium in the West End, and will be acknowledged on the video board and the team’s public address system during the game.
Hays says Travelers fans should pay to park
Posted January 5, 2006
The mayor of North Little Rock wants to charge for parking when fans attend games at the new North Little Rock ballpark for the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League). Currently Travs fans do not have to pay for parking at Ray Winder Field, and the potential of paid parking was one of the objections raised by fans (especially seniors) when asked about the possibility of a move.
M-Braves to offer free parking in 2006
Posted January 5, 2006
If you ask, most fans would tell you paying for parking is one of their biggest complaints when attending a baseball game. (Yes, we know in many cases the decision to charge for parking is made by a municipality and not a team, but still….) The Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League), in conjunction with the City of Pearl, announced Wednesday that parking fees at Trustmark Park will cease beginning at the start of the 2006 baseball season, although there will still be a VIP lot nearer to the ballpark.
Sounds will field public questions
Posted January 5, 2006
Representatives from the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will answer public questions regarding the proposed downtown ballpark at two town hall meetings next week. Also, Metro and the Sounds have scheduled a meeting to discuss minority business participation in construction of the ballpark and of the residential and business development that would surround it if approved. The Council, which has final say on the deal, plans to vote on the matter for the second of three required times later this month.
Scorpions brought millions to Yuma in first season
Posted January 5, 2006
Officials from the independent Golden Baseball League say the Yuma Scorpions had an estimated local economic impact of $3.21 million. The majority of the economic impact was felt during May 28 and August 28, 2005, according to a study by the Center for Economic Development at California State University in Chico, Calif. More than 100 jobs, mostly part-time, were created because of the baseball team. The league spent the majority of its money locally, according to the study. It was estimated that $9 out of every $10 generated by the team was spent in Yuma.
Baseball Notes
Posted January 5, 2006
"Singing" Ed Nottle will return to the Sioux City Explorers (independent; American Association) as manager for the 2006 season. Nottle was the original manager of the X’s in 1993 and stayed with them through the 2000 season. In his eight seasons, he amassed a regular season record of 343-318 losses and made the playoffs in 1994 and 1999. He also managed the Duluth-Superior Dukes (independent; Northern League) and the Brockton Rox (independent; Can-Am League)….
MLB to seek arbitration over D.C. ballpark
Posted January 4, 2006
Major League Baseball plans to file a claim with the American Arbitration Association today, asking the organization to settle a standoff with the District government over the construction of a new Washington Nationals ballpark along the Anacostia waterfront, baseball President Bob DuPuy said. The move is baseball’s response to the ongoing dispute over a stadium lease agreement for the publicly funded ballpark project and could raise the stakes by shifting the decision making away from the city to a three-member arbitration panel. The arbitration may take a while: both sides present their arguments in nonbinding arbitration that lasts no more than 15 days; this is followed by a negotiating period and then by binding arbitration.
Will Midland get minor league baseball team?
Posted January 4, 2006
Here’s a report about the possibility of Midland, Mich., luring a Midwest League team to the area. There have been efforts to bring a team to the region — most notably, to nearby Bay City — in recent years, but this effort involves the move of the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (Class A; Midwest League) to a new privately financed ballpark, with the team owned and operated by former Dow Chemical executives. Nothing is imminent, of course, but with efforts to land a new ballpark in Battle Creek falling short of stated goals, a move of the team isn’t out of the question.
Anaheim may plan on Angels move in 2016
Posted January 4, 2006
This is indeed long-term planning: The city of Anaheim will not refurbish or replace Angel Stadium if the team continues to affiliate itself with Los Angeles and will expect the team to move to Los Angeles in 11 years, according to a court filing by city attorneys. The Angels can opt out of their stadium lease in 2016, and owner Arte Moreno has openly wondered what condition the ballpark might be in by then. If the Angels wish to stay in Anaheim in a new or renovated stadium, the city claims, they should drop Los Angeles and feature the Anaheim name because "only by doing so will Anaheim have sufficient incentive to … make the economic concessions to keep the team in Anaheim."