Archives: Jan. 22-28, 2006
D.C., MLB reach agreement on new ballpark lease
Posted January 28, 2006
MLB and the District of Columbia reached an agreement on a new, revised ballpark lease that purports to address many of the concerns raised by D.C. Council members. The biggest issue, and one that’s not fully addressed in the lease or accompanying documentation, is covering cost overruns: the lease merely says the cost of the ballpark will be capped. The project will be funded with traditional municipal bonding and not through Deutsche Bank; if the ballpark is not done in time for the 2008 season the Nationals will pay a reduced rent to use RFK; land next to the ballpark will be sold with the proceeds split between the team and the Nats owners; and the team will hold an option to develop additional land next to the ballpark. This is a transitional document: both Mayor Anthony Williams says more documentation will be forthcoming. Good thing, as D.C. CFO Natwar M. Gandhi says he cannot approach Wall Street for bonds with the lease as it stands. Thom Loverro comments. More from Reuters and AP.
Glass can’t imagine selling naming rights for Kauffman Stadium
Posted January 27, 2006
Smart PR move: Kansas City Royals owner David Glass says he can’t imagine selling naming rights to Kauffman Stadium, even though his team could do so under the terms of a new lease. It does sound like he’s crunched the numbers to see what would happen (the team would split any proceeds equally with Jackson County), and one option that did pop up: some sort of awkward hybrid, like Hallmark Field at Kauffman Stadium. The late Ewing Kauffman — the man who built and maintained the Royals in their glory years — is still revered in Kansas City.
Boulton leases Surf to Schuster
Posted January 27, 2006
Atlantic City Surf (independent; Atlantic League) owner Frank Boulton has leased the team to Mark Schuster, who also owns the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association). The deal was finalized last Tuesday and Schuster has been in control of the team since, according to Surf Director of Marketing and Media Chuck Betson. The move was made in hopes to make the Surf a profitable ball club. Atlantic City has continually struggled with its bottom line since its creation in 1998, with a series of operators attempting to make a go of it.
Goodyear again pitching idea for spring-training facility
Posted January 27, 2006
Goodyear, Az. is stepping up to the plate again in the hopes of housing a two-team major-league spring-training facility. Officials have asked landowners for letters of interest on such a project, which city officials envision as a 10,000-seat stadium on about 120 acres. Officials figure the endeavor could require at least 200 total acres to accommodate a facility and the development that would likely grow nearby. That could cost upward of $50 million to $60 million, experts indicate. It is most likely Goodyear would need to lure two teams from the Grapefruit League to make the move: both the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles are openly seeking new or renovated facilities, while the Cincinnati Reds are talking with Sarasota about a replacement for Ed Smith Stadium. Having Cleveland and Cincinnati share a facility would make a lot of sense on a marketing front.
Negotiations continue on D.C. ballpark lease
Posted January 27, 2006
Officials with D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams’ office aren’t sure if the city and baseball will agree Friday on a lease for a Nationals ballpark. Officials with the city and baseball negotiated Thursday night, but Williams spokesman Vince Morris says it’s still unclear whether there will be an agreement. Williams wants to present a lease to the D.C. Council on Friday to get a vote on February seventh. But Morris says if the two sides need more time, they can send the lease to the council next Friday for a February 14th vote.
Xanadu calls ballpark suit bush league
Posted January 27, 2006
Meadowlands Xanadu developers Mills Corp. and Mack-Cali struck back at Bergen Cliff Hawks owner (independent; Atlantic League) Steve Kalafer on Thursday, a day after Kalafer accused them of breach of contract in a lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Hackensack. Xanadu spokesman Bob Sommer called the suit "entirely without merit." Sommer said the developers were prepared to start looking for other prospective minor league baseball team owners in place of Kalafer, who is suing to force construction of a 6,500-seat park that he said was promised to him by a lawyer representing Mills/Mack-Cali in 2002. The two sides remain far apart on lease terms. The developers seek $1.5 million a year to cover debt service on a construction loan, but Kalafer contends that he has an oral contract with Mills/Mack-Cali to pay less than half that amount.
Bucs dip into ballpark fund
Posted January 27, 2006
The Pittsburgh Pirates are dipping a second time into a publicly funded PNC Park maintenance account set up when the Sports & Exhibition Authority signed controversial leases for the two sports stadiums in 2000. The sports authority board on Thursday approved a measure reimbursing the Pirates $709,195 for new game lights, luxury box carpets, and exterior painting at the North Shore ballpark’s entrance gates. The money, and $300,000 approved by the board in December for concrete work, comes from a capital reserve fund established in leases signed when PNC Park and Heinz Field were on the drawing board.
Minor attractions in Richmond: Part Three
Posted January 27, 2006
The Richmond.com Web site continues its look at other cities successfully building new minor-league ballparks, as the city continues to work on a proposal to keep the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) in town. In 1993, Oklahoma City citizens voted to adopt a capital improvement program that consisted of nine projects in the downtown area, including a new ballpark. The program, predicted to cost $350 million, would be financed with public funds drawn from a five-year penny sales tax. The new ballpark for the Oklahoma RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) was an instant success, and today the ballpark and its integration into the community is regarded as a model for others.
Washington must decide if it is a major-league city
Posted January 27, 2006
Well, considering the District is already home to the Washington Redskins, the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, we think that headline is already resolved: Washington, D.C. is indeed a major-league city. Really, the biggest issue facing the District as it mulls a lease for a new ballpark is the issue of cost overruns: the City County has already authorized $535 million in bonds, but the real cost is expected to be $100 million more than that. Bridging the gap won’t be easy.
Foundation awards general contract for Midland ballpark to Three Rivers
Posted January 27, 2006
The Michigan Baseball Foundation announced Wednesday that it has awarded Three Rivers Corporation of Midland the contract for general management of construction of a minor league baseball stadium in Midland. Construction is expected to begin in April and to be completed in time for the opening of the 2007 season. The MBF has a purchase agreement for the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (Class A; Midwest League), which will move to Midland at the end of the 2006 season pending league, MiLB and MLB approval. Meanwhile, the Foundation is looking for a new general manager who may also take control of the Devil Rays this season.
New Busch Stadium is a homer for minority firms
Posted January 27, 2006
For BRK Electric, winning a contract to wire portions of the new Busch Stadium is more than just a financial gain. BRK Electric is one of more than two dozen small minority and woman-owned firms that paired with larger contractors on the Busch Stadium "mentor-protege" program aimed at helping nurture startup businesses — not just meet quotas.
Plans aired for Sayreville site
Posted January 27, 2006
A few hundred curious residents jammed into the Sayreville Senior Center last night to hear proposals by the four finalists seeking to be named redeveloper for the former National Lead property, a 400-plus-acre brownfields site. SERA acquired the former National Lead parcel through condemnation. It must choose a redeveloper for the property by the end of March. All of the developers (save one) included plans for a new minor-league ballpark on the site.
Yankees pitch in to drag sport into big league
Posted January 27, 2006
The struggling Australian Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball are working on plans for a new national league comprising six capital city teams each linked to an American MLB team. The federation has been seeking support for a new national league since 1999, when the last one was wound up after 10 years in operation. A subsequent attempt by the former Australian baseball star David Nilsson to run the league lasted only two years. MLB hopes the new summer league will help talent scouts identify promising Australian players, and provide off-season competition for American junior players to gain experience.
Flyers to auction play-by-play announcer position
Posted January 27, 2006
The Schaumburg Flyers (Class A; Northern League) will give aspiring play-by-play broadcasters the chance to fulfill their dreams this summer as the minor league baseball team in suburban Chicago will hire the winners of an eBay auction to be the team’s official play-by-play broadcasters for the entire 2006 season. The Flyers’ 96-game Northern League season will be divided into three separate auctions of 32 games each, and all three auctions will run at the same time. The minimum bid on each term is $2,500, and the winning bidders will travel with the team on the road and experience the life of a minor-league baseball team broadcaster. Bidders must be 19 years of age or older and may bid on more than one auction. All 96 regular season Flyer games and any potential playoff games will stream live this summer at flyersbaseball.com. Hey, why pay an announcer when you can have someone pay for the privilege?
Baseball Notes
Posted January 27, 2006
The Greeneville Astros (rookie; Appalachian League) announced they have added three members to their front-office staff effective immediately: Assistant General Manager David Lane, Assistant General Manager Stephen Pugh, and Director of Marketing/Media Relations Hunter Reed will join General Manager Lynsi House as full-time employees….Lance Parrish is the new manager of the Ogden Raptors (rookie; Pioneer League)…. KUPI/Sand Hill Media and the Idaho Falls Chukars (rookie; Pioneer League) renewed their broadcast deal for another five years. Jim Garshow and John Balginy will return to the broadcast booth of McDermott Field for the 2006 season….Ryan Bevans has been named as media and operations assistant for the Pacific Coast League. He will be the primary media-relations contact while assisting in league operations duties. Bevans is a recent graduate of the Metropolitan State College in Denver where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Industry Operations. The Colorado native just completed a season working with the Denver Broncos in stadium operations and is a former collegiate baseball player. Have a personnel move or team news you want to share with the baseball community? Send it to editors@augustpublications.com.
Xanadu sued over ballpark
Posted January 26, 2006
The Bergen Cliff Hawks (independent; Atlantic League) filed suit Wednesday against Meadowlands Xanadu developers Mills Corp. and Mack-Cali, contending the two real estate companies have engaged in a "classic bait-and-switch." Cliff Hawks owner Steve Kalafer alleges that the developers reneged on a deal to build a minor-league ballpark once state approval for their $1.2 billion retail and entertainment project had been granted. Filed in Superior Court in Hackensack, the suit includes allegations of fraud and breach of contract among its nine counts. It seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, and asks the court to issue an injunction preventing the developers from following through on a vow to seek other baseball suitors if Kalafer has not agreed to a deal by March 1.
Williams confident of Nats ballpark lease agreement
Posted January 26, 2006
Mayor Anthony Williams hopes to present a Washington Nationals ballpark lease agreement to city lawmakers by the end of the week, but he said Wednesday there are still issues to resolve. MLB filed for mediation after the District of Columbia Council missed a Dec. 31 deadline for approving a deal. Former Detroit mayor David Archer is working with the two sides, but an arbitration panel could be forced to resolve the matter if a deal is not reached soon. More from the Washington Times.
Sports boosts Florida’s economy
Posted January 26, 2006
Sports and recreation will infuse $32 billion into the state’s economy in 2006, according to a report that will be presented Thursday to a state House committee. The 93-page report was requested by lawmakers to determine the value of baseball spring training in the state to prevent further defections from the Grapefruit League to Arizona’s Cactus League. The report says sports produce $2.1 billion in tax revenue for state and local governments. Spring training generated $453 million in a six-week period in 2004 in the 18 Florida communities where teams train in late February and most of March, according to The Washington Economics Group Inc., a Coral Gables firm that did the study for the Florida Sports Foundation.
Tourists’ home gets extreme makeover
Posted January 26, 2006
McCormick Field, the home of the Asheville Tourists (Class A; Sally League), is undergoing some big changes this year under new team owner Palace Baseball: replacing 200 box seats behind home plate, restriping the parking area above the field, relocating the flagpole now in deep center field to the other side of the wall, extending the outfield’s warning track from 10 feet to about 13 feet to improve drainage, adding a picnic area, replacing the outfield fence and adding a new video scoreboard.
Official: Raleigh should pursue Marlins
Posted January 26, 2006
A downtown booster said Wednesday that Raleigh should have joined in the pursuit of the Florida Marlins, which is searching for a new place to play major-league baseball. After not getting a deal to build a new stadium in the Miami area, the Marlins are looking to relocate. Charlotte is among a number of cities nationwide trying to woo the franchise, and Downtown Raleigh Alliance President Nancy Hormann said Raleigh made a mistake in not taking part in the process. Instead of investing $300 million to $400 million in a ballpark, the city is using more than $200 million in hotel and restaurant tax revenue to build a new convention center downtown.
Castro confirms Cuban participation in World Baseball Classic
Posted January 26, 2006
Cuba President Fidel Castro confirmed his county’s baseball team would participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He didn’t predict whether the team would win or lose the tourney, preferring instead to say his team would put up a good battle. Cuba won the gold medal for baseball in the Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2004, but lost in the final to the United States in 2000.
Reardon consumed by grief, despair
Posted January 26, 2006
This isn’t a ballpark story per se, but it’s worth a read anyway. Former Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins reliever Jeff Reardon was arrested last month after robbing a jewelry store in Palm Beach. This article explains what lead to the robbery: the death of his son and a dependence on antidepressants and other medications. Reardon is now in a mental-health facility after turning himself over to a mall guard minutes after the robbery.
Panel poses ideas for historic Joplin ballpark
Posted January 26, 2006
A consultant assisting a committee with a plan to renovate Joplin’s historic Joe Becker Stadium will next round up cost estimates for some of the projects that were detailed in concept drawings presented Wednesday to the panel. Members of the committee brainstormed with representatives of DLR Group, the consulting firm enlisted to guide the committee and do design work, who then generated several drawings of how different suggestions could be incorporated into a remodeled stadium. Committee suggestions included additional parking, batting cages, pitching areas, practice fields, new concession stands and restrooms, and an entrance with a red-brick facade and a mall-type area. The ballpark, formerly known as Miners Park, was built in 1913 by the Joplin Baseball Association for use by the Joplin Miners, the city’s minor league baseball team. Professional baseball in Joplin ended when the Miners and the other teams in the Class C Western Association folded after the 1954 season.
Hialeah and baseball are a good fit if team opens its wallet
Posted January 26, 2006
Boy, that’s one huge if. The Florida Marlins are exploring the potential of a new South Florida ballpark in Hialeah, and this arguments lays out the pros and cons of such a venture. Hialeah is a working-class city and probably a little larger than most outside south Florida assume. On one hand, the Marlins have a real chance to become the flagship team in the Spanish-speaking world: many inside baseball wonder why there’s not been more of an emphasis on that marketing angle in the Marlins front office. On the other hand, working-class folks don’t fill up pricey suites and seats.
Midwest League reconsiders attorney’s bid to lure team to Marion
Posted January 26, 2006
As we reported earlier this week: the Midwest League is reconsidering an application by attorney John Simmons to buy the South Bend Silver Hawks (Class A; Midwest League), with a move to a new ballpark in Marion, Ill., for the 2007 season. The Midwest League board will revisit the matter Monday during a special meeting in Chicago, according to league commissioner George Spelius, considering a control interest transfer request resubmitted by Simmons’ Southern Illinois Baseball Group, which Spelius said is offering up more complete documentation about its proposal. The potential sale resurfaced after former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan failed to put together an ownership group to buy the Hawks and keep them in South Bend. More from the Marion Daily Republican.
S.F. appeals SBC Park tax refund
Posted January 26, 2006
The city of San Francisco is appealing a high-profile ruling by a city tax board that sent $3.4 million in property taxes on SBC Park back to the San Francisco Giants after the team claimed the value of the ballpark was actually tens of millions of dollars less than what it paid to build it. The 2005 ruling by the little-known Assessment Appeals Board, which fixes the value of properties from single-family homes to office buildings for the purposes of taxation, was a major strikeout for the city and raised eyebrows from some who wondered how the ballpark’s value could drop by tens of millions of dollars in the first few years it opened.