Archives: April 2-8, 2006
Looks nice, but at what price?
Posted April 7, 2006
The Chicago Cubs will unveil changes to Wrigley Field today. The most dramatic: the expansion of the famed bleachers, including the addition of reserved seating at $54 a pop. The expansion of the bleachers will slightly harm some views from the surrounding houses; they’ll also cut down on the balls hit out of the park and onto Sheffield and Waveland. The addition of a restaurant in the center-field batter’s eye is sure to cause some discussion among the Cubs faithful. We’re not too concerned about the changes (although the Cubs shouldn’t have been so arrogant to add new speaker poles without city approval): Wrigley Field has always been a work in progress, and the changes are part of that evolutionary process.
Zephyrs, fans show love in opener
Posted April 7, 2006
Professional baseball returned to New Orleans last night as the New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) opened their season at Zephyr Field. As you’ll recall, Zephyr Field was slightly damaged by Hurricane Katrina last summer. A sellout crowd of 11,006 was on hand to see the Zephyrs drop a 5-4 decision to the Round Rock Express. Yes, it was symbolic — Tulane has been playing home games at Zephyr Field this spring — but it was a great rally for a city still working to provide basic services to many citizens. It was also a triumph for owner Don Beaver, CEO Ron Maestri and the rest of the front-office staff; we reported on how the team stayed in business despite giving up the ballpark to FEMA for use as a landing facility, with much of the front office relocated for months.
Mets park’s name will fetch millions
Posted April 7, 2006
The New York Mets may be able to sell the name of their new ballpark for about $10 million a year, the most in U.S. sports history, a group of bankers said. "New York is the largest demographic, the largest media market," said Gordon Saint-Denis, managing director of the sports advisory and finance group of CIT Group Inc. in New York. "The eyeball count is going to be huge; $10 million is not an outlandish number." Currently Reliant Energy pays $9.3 million a year for the Houston Texans’ stadium, while Coca-Cola pays $6.4 million a year for naming rights to Minute Maid Park. Meanwhile, an Australian firm is set to play a key role in the development of the ballpark. Lend Lease Corporation says its subsidiary, Bovis Lend Lease, is a 45 percent partner in a joint venture with Hunt Construction that is now in exclusive negotiations to provide construction management services for the project.
Fans fill Greenville’s field of dreams
Posted April 7, 2006
There was a grand entrance when the Greenville Drive (Class A; Sally League) opened West End Stadium last night: a door opened in the left-field Green Monster and out walked an actor impersonating Shoeless Joe Jackson, Greenville’s most famous native. The actor stepped into the left-handed batter’s box, made his famous home run swing and sent two rockets blazing toward the right field fence, where fireworks erupted in the early spring evening. The sellout crowd went nuts. Early reaction to the new ballpark was overwhelmingly positive: the design met with approval and the location near downtown was lauded. Local residents seemed amused by the opening.
Nats, city officials long for owner
Posted April 7, 2006
The ownership of the Washington Nationals is still up in the air, and many are a little frustrated about the situation: team officials want to determine their futures, players want some stability and city officials want a local point of contact. A new owner would also help promote the team, as apparently many fans are irritated about the off-season battles involving a new ballpark. MLB officials said an owner would be named after a lease for a new ballpark was signed. The issue has been quiet lately, but we’re guessing there’s been a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering in recent week. The front-runners are believed to include Jeff Smulyan, an Indianapolis communications executive who has teamed with several local businessmen and power brokers; the Washington Baseball Club, led by local businessmen Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients; and a group led by the Lerner family, who own a prominent local real estate company. You can expect Stan Kasten to be a player in this by the time the team is sold. More from the Washington Post.
Senators, Nationals extend player-development deal
Posted April 7, 2006
The Washington Nationals and the Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League) announced that their player development contract has been extended four more seasons. The current agreement between the Nationals and the Senators was set to expire at the end of the 2006 season. The new deal will extend the agreement until September 30, 2010.
Ballpark figures won’t add up without Village
Posted April 7, 2006
The new Busch Stadium officially opens next Monday, but it will be at least a year before it has any economic impact on downtown St. Louis. In fact, some say it will be a drain on the local economy before the completion of Ballpark Village, the development slated for the site of the former Busch Stadium next to the new ballpark. Ballpark Village is envisioned by planners as an area that would encompass offices, shops, housing and other attractions. It would be built in phases between Clark Avenue and Walnut Street; it’s also the economic component that makes Busch Stadium a worthy investment for the Cards.
Winston-Salem still looking at new ballpark
Posted April 7, 2006
Billy Prim, a co-owner of the Winston-Salem Warthogs (Class A; Carolina League), and Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines both say that not much has changed in talks about a possible ballpark since last year, but both said they continue to believe that it would be an important part of revitalizing the downtown. There have been recent meetings to discuss a ballpark, but so far nothing has come of them. Prim has talked to officials with Winston-Salem and Forsyth County about using public money to help pay for a ballpark and adjacent commercial and residential development. The overall price could be $40 million to $50 million, about $20 million of which would pay for a stadium.
Richmond talks about new ballpark — without the R-Braves
Posted April 7, 2006
A town meeting last night to discuss the future of the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) and a possible new ballpark didn’t yield any breathtaking ideas, except for one softball tossed by councilman William J. Pantele. Pantele, who represents the district where The Diamond is located, suggested extending the Braves’ lease to run another four years and charging the team $1 rent per year. He also suggested creating a committee of government leaders, as well as the management of the Atlanta Braves and representatives of residents and the Richmond business community, to further study the issue. The issue: it doesn’t sound like the city is really ready to offer anything past a site, the Fulton Gas Works, that no one thinks is appropriate for a ballpark.
Cape Cod League will accept expansion team pitches
Posted April 7, 2006
The executive committee of the Cape Cod Baseball League has decided to explore expanding the 10-team league. Chuck Sturtevant, a member of the league’s executive committee and chairman of the expansion committee, confirmed yesterday that the league has authorized the expansion panel to continue fact-finding. The four communities that have expressed interest in an expansion team are Mashpee and Sandwich on the Cape and the off-Cape communities of New Bedford and South Plymouth. The league will not begin considering expansion until August, after the 2006 season, and more than likely the expansion teams would not begin playing until the 2008 season.
Quit picking on Shea!
Posted April 7, 2006
Here’s a defense of Shea Stadium — not because of its architectural value, but because of the important events that took place there over the years. The Beatles virtually invented stadium rock concerts at a landmark 1966 Shea Stadium concert, and the stadium hosted a slew of other landmark events: "The stadium was modern when modernity still seemed daring. It was outer-borough, working-class, anti-corporate, hippie almost, especially when you got an eyeful of the hairstyle Tug McGraw showed up in. This was the New York of Lindsay and Namath and the world’s greatest World’s Fair."
Burlington looks to sell naming rights to Community Field
Posted April 7, 2006
A committee has been formed to look into selling naming rights to Community Field, the home of the Burlington Bees (Class A; Midwest League). Chaired by Brian Tapp, executive director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, who is working closely with city councilman Bill Ell, the committee is exploring all of its options. Community Field will be part of any new name, say officials.
Big idea for Little League
Posted April 7, 2006
Though the New York Yankees have already won important approvals for a new Yankee Stadium, here’s an idea for a way for the New York Yankees to improve community relations: directly fund every one of the borough’s 14 Little Leagues. There are only 14 Little Leagues in the Bronx — which doesn’t seem like enough — and the current Yankees pledge of community spending is ripe for corruption.
Kalamazoo signs 5-year deal with Kings
Posted April 7, 2006
The Kalamazoo Kings (independent; Frontier League) and the city of Kalamazoo have inked a new, five-year agreement for professional baseball to continue at Homer Stryker Field. The pact, approved by the City Commission this week, guarantees the city an annual revenue increase of at least $5,000 over the average annual compensation paid by the Kings in the previous five-year contract. The city’s take will be tied to ticket sales or team profits, but is guaranteed to be not less than $21,000 a year.
S.I. Yanks getting head start on season
Posted April 7, 2006
Although the start of the New York-Penn League season is still two months away, the Staten Island Yankees are getting a head start on the season when they hold their "Back to Baseball Bash" Saturday at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be the first in a series of season-long promotions that the Baby Bombers will stage throughout the summer in an effort to improve on their reputation as the New York-Penn League’s best team when it comes to promotions and marketing. The Yankees are pulling a switch on the Lowell Spinners, who made waves with a promotion that called for Little League teams using the Yankees monikers to turn in their uniforms and caps in exchange for Red Sox uniforms and caps. On Aug. 8 anyone who has some Red Sox apparel can hand it in at the gate in exchange for a free ticket (the clothing will go to a New England-based homeless shelter), and outside the ballpark there will be people who will provide willing parties with is described at "Johnny Damon haircuts." The S.I. Yankees may also be making some other news; the New York Yankees are selling a portion of the team; the selling price of a NY-Penn League team these days is around $5 million.
Eels get first hit
Posted April 7, 2006
The ownership of the proposed Plymouth Eels, Bay Colony, met with Plymouth (Mass.) selectmen to discuss their plans for a new ballpark. If the zoning board of appeals grants Bay Colony the special permit necessary to build the proposed athletic complex, the town would join Brockton as the only municipalities in Southeastern Massachusetts with a minor league baseball team. Bay Colony plans to build a sports-and-entertainment complex on a 28.1-acre site adjacent to Sam’s Club at Colony Place. It would feature an outdoor stadium with 20 luxury boxes, a pavilion for families, an indoor sports facility with three fields for soccer and lacrosse, a 1,000-seat banquet facility and a 10,000-square-foot stand-alone restaurant center. The project would cost an estimated $14 million to $16 million. The team would probably play in the independent Can-Am Association, though the Atlantic League is also mentioned as a possibility.
Defenders start in style
Posted April 7, 2006
The Connecticut Defenders (Class AA; Eastern League) made their debut with some style and flair in a 5-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs before 4,219 fans at Dodd Stadium. The team was formerly known as the Norwich Navigators, but in the offseason owner Lou DiBella overhauled operations with a new name, new colors, new uniforms and upgrades to Dodd Stadium. The fans seemed pleased with the changes.
Something new coming to a ballpark near you?
Posted April 7, 2006
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Class A; Carolina League) opened their season last night with Myrtle Beach mayor John Rhodes throwing out the first pitch to Pelicans manager Rocket Wheeler. Considering how bad relations were between the previous mayor and the former Pelicans ownership, this was a big deal. In the inaugural 1999 season, Capitol offered to paint a watertower adjacent to the ballpark with the Pelicans’ logo, at no cost to the city, to add some color and character to the big white dome. The city not only objected to providing free advertising space to a private company, but also wanted to charge the team rent to use it. With relations between the city and the team back on track, the plan is being revived.
No rain in Stockton; no free season tickets
Posted April 7, 2006
It didn’t rain in Stockton last night, which means the Stockton Ports (Class A; California League) didn’t need to make good on a promotion where the team would give free season tickets to every fan in attendance should the game be rained out. Now, it’s been rainier than normal in California this spring, but the forecast yesterday didn’t call for rain — and despite some cloudy skies, there was never a threat of rain, either.
RELATED STORIES: Ports issue rain challenge with a big reward: free season tickets
Tourists play ball: McCormick Field reopens to delighted fans
Posted April 7, 2006
There were no replays on the new video scoreboard, no readouts on the pitch radar above left field, and the smell of fresh paint still lingered inside the Asheville Citizen-Times Clubhouse. But in general fans were pleased with the upgrades to McCormick Field, the home of the Asheville Tourists (Class A; Sally League), with 4,104 in attendance. This season the videoboard will show live spots, promos and commercials; next season video replay will be added.
Ballpark showing potential after decade
Posted April 7, 2006
Arrowhead Credit Union Park, the home of the Inland Empire 66ers (Class A; California League), is finally spurring some nearby economic development 10 years after it was built. A key tenet in the construction of the $16.5 million ballpark was the belief that it would spawn a wave of economic development in a deteriorating area of the city. Adjacent to the facility, Arrowhead Credit Union plans a $30 million office complex that will consolidate headquarters and numerous operating functions now scattered across several San Bernardino locations.
As a business, Fisher Cats gain ground as season three begins
Posted April 7, 2006
It took a few years, but it looks like the business side of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) has hit full stride. Capitalizing on the accolades the new ballpark received last season — many say it’s one of the finest in the minor leagues — the team’s sales staff began their work last August. As a result, according to GM Shawn Smith, overall ticket sales (season, group and individual tickets) have already topped 141,000 — a 50 percent increase over 2005 in year-to-date ticket sales.
Dukes’ GM Murphy returns to old team
Posted April 7, 2006
Rick Murphy still owns a piece of the Tri-City ValleyCats (short season; NY-Penn League), and now he’s going back to run the team. Murphy, 43, who had been running the business operations as the general manager of the Pittsfield Dukes (summer collegiate; NYCBL) since owner Dan Duquette moved the team from the Duquette Sports Academy in Hinsdale, left the team to return as the ValleyCats’ vice president and general manager on Monday. Murphy replaces R.C. Reuterman, who stepped down after a year with the Troy, N.Y. team.
No cool down in sight for Hooks fever
Posted April 7, 2006
The Corpus Christi Hooks (Class AA; Texas League) opened their second season in much the way they spent the first: with healthy crowds at Whataburger Field. Twenty minutes before the first pitch, there was a line at the ticket window that ran into the street, and all that was left for the taking was a nice seat in the grass beyond the outfield walls. The place ended up being sold out, with an announced crowd of 6,803 on hand.
Myron Noodleman carries on a baseball tradition
Posted April 7, 2006
If it’s the beginning of the minor-league season, it’s time for the mascots to take center stage. Here’s a look at Myron Noodleman, who works up to 70 nights a year at minor-league parks. Rick Hader came up with his Noodleman character in the late 1980s when he showed up in nerd regalia at a high school football game.
The bloom is off a once desert flower
Posted April 7, 2006
At one time Maverick Stadium, the home of the High Desert Mavericks (Class A; California League), was the class of the Cal League: 3,800 theater seats in a graceful bowl, located among the Joshua trees and open spaces of the High Desert burg of Adelanto. Today Stater Brothers Stadium is among the bottom among Cal League facilities, lacking amenities like luxury boxes, party decks, and more. There doesn’t seem to be any call for renovations here past an expansion of the visitors’ clubhouse, however.
California player struck by baseball loses lawsuit
Posted April 7, 2006
A player hit by a pitch during a college baseball game in California has struck out in his effort to win damages over the incident. California’s top court ruled 6-1 against a lawsuit by Jose Avila, a student at Rio Honda Community College, who was struck by a pitch in a 2001 game against Citrus Community College. Both schools are in Southern California. According to his lawsuit, Avila’s helmet was broken and he suffered pain and dizziness from the beaning. Avila sued both schools, the manager, the maker of his helmet and others. But in a decision that came during the opening week of the major-league baseball season, the California Supreme Court ruled against him.
Baseball Notes
Posted April 7, 2006
The New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) announced that Cox Sports Television (Ch. 37) will broadcast 10 Zephyrs games live in 2006. CST will also return with Inside Zephyrs Baseball, which will make its debut at 6 p.m. Thursday, and will air every Thursday at that time with a replay at 9 p.m. on Mondays. The Zephyrs baseball broadcast team of Tim Grubbs, Paul Crane and Ron Swoboda will return in 2006, with Grubbs and Swoboda hosting Inside Zephyrs Baseball as well.