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Archives: July 2-8, 2006

Archives: July 2-8, 2006

For new Reds ballpark, cash crisis on deck
Posted July 6, 2006
A plan to build a new $54-million spring-training ballpark in Sarasota for the Cincinnati Reds is facing one huge problem: local politicians are at a dead end on funding. Sarasota’s funding for the construction of a new stadium and renovations to Ed Smith Stadium is dependent upon $15 million in state monies, a possible half-cent increase in the Tourist Development Tax that must be approved by the county commission and rent from the Reds. Anything short of the proposed $54 million price tag will have to be funded by the city, and they’d rather not issue local taxes to pay for it. However, the project seems to have an inflated price tag, and with good Triple-A ballparks being build for under $35 million, it’s not clear why the Sarasota project has such a high price tag. And asking the Reds for more of a contribution is not unreasonable: the Philadelphia Phillies are paying for a third of their new $33-million spring-training complex, but the current plan has the Reds paying $2.1 million in up-front costs for the project, as well as $5 million over the life of the proposed 30-year bond to fund the new complex, which would also house the Sarasota Reds (High Class A; Florida State League).

Ray Winder Field may be coming down
Posted July 6, 2006
After the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) end their run at Ray Winder Field in September and move to a new ballpark in North Little Rock, the city of Little Rock will need to figure out exactly what to do with the ballpark and its parking lot. The city has hired a consultant to look at the entire 200-acre property that includes War Memorial Stadium, a city zoo and other government buildings. One possibility, of course, is that the city could decide to tear down the venerable old ballpark in favor of other development (including a potential expansion of the zoo), but at this point things are up in the air.

Official raises doubts on Nats ballpark parking plan
Posted July 6, 2006
Natwar M. Gandhi, D.C.’s chief financial officer, says the parking plan for a new Washington Nationals ballpark crafted by Mayor Anthony Williams carries risks that could throw the project off schedule and blow its budget. He is expected to outline his concerns in testimony today before the D.C. Council. It marks a setback for Williams and another twist in the argument over the shape of the ballpark, how much it should cost, who should pay for it and who will profit from it. Gandhi doubts the mayor’s parking plan can be implemented by April 2008, when the city has promised MLB that the ballpark will be ready, according to the written testimony. Gandhi is also skeptical that financing for the plan and several other legal hurdles can be cleared by September, when construction would have to begin.

City may go other route on bringing professional baseball to town
Posted July 6, 2006
If it’s a matter of adding fire substations or an independent league baseball team, expect Anderson to side with the fire department, City Manager John Moore said. Founders of the South Coast League, which is expected to launch in May 2007, have met with representatives from the city, Anderson County and Anderson University to discuss the possibility of bringing professional baseball back to the Electric City, after what would be a 22-year hiatus. An Atlanta Braves’ Class A affiliate played here from 1980-85. The plan floated by SCL officials calls for a team to play in Anderson Memorial Stadium — the home of Anderson University’s team and the former home of the Anderson Braves — for a year or two, if plans for a new ballpark were in place.

York ballpark project gets OK
Posted July 6, 2006
The York (Pa.) City Council yesterday approved a redevelopment proposal for the construction of a 4,260-seat ballpark for an independent Atlantic League teams near the city’s downtown, allowing the project to clear one of its final hurdles. All that remains now is for the council to approve a final land development plan, expected to come before the council at its Wednesday, Aug. 2, meeting, said project manager Blanda Nace. The land development plan addresses details, such as how the project will address noise and light. Demolition of buildings on ballpark property is expected to begin today; plans call for a late-summer groundbreaking and a 2007 opening date.

Budget director: Kansas City should rethink Kauffman Stadium aid
Posted July 6, 2006
Kansas City’s budget director said the city should reconsider paying for the Jackson County Sports Complex, which includes Kauffman Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Royals. Each year, Kansas City pays $2 million to help maintain the stadiums, even though Jackson County, not the city, owns the Sports Complex. Budget Director Troy Schulte said the city has its own needs, and maybe it’s time to rethink the ballpark payments. The idea was quickly shot down by Mayor Kay Barnes, who said the city committed to the Kauffman Stadium payments when Jackson County voters agreed to fund renovations to the ballpark.

Ballpark with no team going up in Marion
Posted July 6, 2006
Nothing here that you’ve not read in these pages before: construction continues on a new ballpark in Marion, Ill., as John Simmons and his crew continue to work on a deal for an independent-league team for the community of 16,800. There are some inaccuracies, though: Simmons cannot actually own any team playing in the ballpark — MiLB rules are quite strict about affiliated-team owners not owning indy teams, and Simmons already owns the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League — and from what we’ve heard the Frontier League is the only league showing any enthusiasm for the market, and Simmons rep Michael Theissen has been the one pitching Marion to American Association and Northern League officials, not the other way around. That’s probably apt: because of its size and location (and some family connections), the Frontier League is a perfect fit for Marion. Also, it’s extremely rare for anyone to build a multimillion-dollar ballpark without have a team lined up — Springfield, Mo., is an example, but that’s such a weird case it cannot be held up as being par for the course.

Minnesota ballpark authority set to start work
Posted July 6, 2006
The five members of the new Minnesota Ballpark Authority will take their seats in temporary chambers and start with the basic details that will lead to the expected opening of the ballpark in the Minneapolis Warehouse District in the spring of 2010. The first task is selecting an executive director — though we’ve heard some authority members already have a director in mind — and then begin planning the ballpark, with the Twins having final say over the design.

More records over the 4th
Posted July 6, 2006
You can add another team to the list of those breaking attendance records over the 4th of July weekend. A raucous 4th of July crowd of 3,149 helped the Casper Rockies (rookie; Pioneer League) break a 3-year-old attendance record Tuesday night at Mike Lansing Field. The previous attendance record, 3,086, was set in the final game of the 2003 season. "Once again the Casper community has shown tremendous support of professional baseball," said Rockies GM Danny Tetzlaff.

Fitch removes negative rating for new Busch Stadium
Posted July 6, 2006
Fitch has removed the Negative Rating Watch on the Missouri Development Finance Board’s (St. Louis County) $45.8 million taxable St. Louis Cardinals ballpark project bonds, series 2003. In addition, Fitch affirms the bonds at ‘AA’. The bonds were placed on Rating Watch Negative on Feb. 11, 2005. The rating action reflects court decisions that favored the county’s commitments to finance the new Busch Stadium and the successful resolution of litigation. The courts recognized that a voter-approved county charter amendment to limit financial support of the ballpark could not apply retroactively to earlier county financial agreements regarding the ballpark.

Visalia ballpark readies for more fans
Posted July 6, 2006
Recreation Park, the home of the Visalia Oaks (High Class A; California League), is getting ready to launch another phase of its face-lift. Around 400 new seats are to be installed on the right-field side, where a couple of bleachers now hold sway. And a grassy berm where 500 fans could rest and watch the action is planned. Besides extra seating, the proposed $1.5 million project includes restrooms, a concession stand, new ticket office, maintenance storage area, kids play area with a mini-baseball field, renovated main concession stand and a VIP lounge on the first-base side. The Visalia City Council is scheduled to get a report about the project July 17.

Uecker calls stalking situation ‘intense’
Posted July 6, 2006
In what Bob Uecker said is an attempt to regain control of his life, the Hall of Fame announcer testified Monday that he wants a restraining order against a woman he claims is stalking him. Uecker, the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for more than 35 years, said in a civil hearing that he has become concerned about his dealings with Ann Ladd and he does not want to have to think about her anymore. The 45-year-old woman is charged with felony stalking of Uecker in a separate criminal matter. She was released on a signature bond last Wednesday and ordered to stay at least 1,000 feet away from Uecker and avoid his homes and workplace, including Miller Park and other Major League Baseball parks.

Defenders, Giants close to extending PDC
Posted July 6, 2006
Officials from the San Francisco Giants say they’re close to extending their current player-development deal with the Connecticut Defenders (Class AA; Eastern League). The Defenders front office is equally certain a two-year deal will be announced soon. The Defenders’ lease at Dodd Stadium runs through 2012 with an option for the Defenders to move in 2009. The Giants say improvements to Dodd Stadium and a commitment by new owner Lou DiBella to make further improvements clinched their decision to renew.

House members want Comcast merger contingent on MASN arbitration
Posted July 6, 2006
Three Washington-area House members asked the Federal Communications Commission to make Comcast Corp.’s proposed merger with Adelphia Communications Corp. contingent on Comcast submitting a dispute over airing of Washington Nationals baseball games to binding arbitration. The proposal Wednesday by Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., James Moran, D-Va., and Albert Wynn, D-Md., was the latest effort by federal and local officials to resolve the dispute with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network that prevents 1.3 million Nationals fans from seeing most games on TV. The region’s largest cable provider has refused to carry MASN, which controls the rights to most Nationals games, because of a dispute with Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos over television rights to the Orioles and control of the region’s sports programming market.

Private funding for pro baseball in Springdale once considered
Posted July 6, 2006
John Q. Hammons, the Springfield, Mo., hotel developer, discussed building a minor league baseball stadium in Northwest Arkansas before Springdale pursued its plans for a publicly funded facility. Hammons said in a telephone interview this week that he didn’t remember exactly when the discussion took place, but it came around the same time Hammons was debating whether to build a new ballpark in Springfield, Mo., which eventually became Hammons Stadium, the home of the Springfield Cardinals (Class AA; Texas League).

Event to mark Forbes Field wall of dreams
Posted July 5, 2006
A wall remaining from Forbes Field, the longtime home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been spiffed up recently by Pittsburgh officials as the city prepares for the MLB All-Star Game at PNC Park. A ceremony will be conducted Friday at the wall to unveil a state historical marker bearing the inscription: "Forbes Field — The first all steel and concrete ballpark in the nation, Forbes Field was home to the Pirates, site of four World Series in 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960 and two All Star games. Hosted the Homestead Grays, Steelers, and Pitt Panthers, as well as political rallies and boxing matches. Site of Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7, ninth inning, World Series winning home run on Oct. 13, 1960 and Babe Ruth’s last three home runs. Damaged by fire; razed 1972." During the past several months, workers have been painstakingly restoring the wall — pulling off the ivy, which can damage the red brick; repointing the mortar joints; cleaning the brick; and applying a coat of green paint to the flag pole and concrete pilasters that separate the brick sections. More from AP.

Canseco returns, promises more ‘devastating’ information on steroids; already wants out of San Diego
Posted July 5, 2006
The best way to view Jose Canseco’s traveling circus in the independent Golden Baseball League is guerilla theater in a baseball uniform, as he’s less interested in baseball — he struck out three times in his debut, reportedly looking pretty bad in the process after not playing for four years — and more in taking a poke or three at Major League Baseball, promising more revelations on steroid abuse in the majors. Now, we think there’s a pretty good case to be made that MLB hasn’t handled the steroids scandal very well. But we’re also skeptical that Canseco would write a book about steroid abuse and then save the best stories for later: he’s trying, with some success, to drum up headlines. The GBL, which entered into a merchandising agreement with Canseco in addition to his playing contract with the San Diego Surf Dawgs, is laughing all the way to the bank: the largest crowd in Chico Outlaws history was at Nettleton Stadium to see Canseco’s debut. Oh, Canseco plans to pitch, too — something we’re sure will thrill manager Terry Kennedy. MLB responds to Canseco’s allegations, calling them nonsense. After one game, Canseco has demanded a trade out of San Diego to the Long Beach Armada, saying child-custody responsibilities require him to be in the Los Angeles area for more time than he anticipated.