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Archives: Jan. 22-28, 2007

Archives: Jan. 22-28, 2007
Hohokam Park upgrades set
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Mesa HoHoKams are matching or exceeding the amenities offered at newer Cactus League parks in the West Valley, updating Hohokam Park with three scoreboards in a $500,000 project and expanded concession choices. The main board was updated with new lighting and capacities and two smaller boards are posted over first and third base. One immediate gain is that fans sitting in lawn seats will be able to see the smaller scoreboard. Ovations was brought in to upgrade the concessions as well; we’re hoping Old Style will be more readily available throughout the ballpark. Hohokam Park is the spring home of the Chicago Cubs. Of course, we’re three weeks away from the start of spring training, but a little more than a month away from the start of any games.

 

Work on Lackawanna County Stadium progresses
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Along with the franchise it houses, Lackawanna County Stadium is in the process of a makeover. Converting to accommodate the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), some of the ballpark’s work is finished, some is in the process of being completed and some is being put on hold. Most notable and noticeable among the changes is the field conversion from turf to natural grass. Because of the weather, the process is in the midst of its scheduled winter break, but team vice president Jeremy Ruby said everything has progressed as planned. Meanwhile, the corners of the ballpark have seen significant changes with the lower deck bleachers being replaced by seats from the top rows of the upper level, and with the bullpens being replaced by party boxes. The bullpens are being moved to behind the outfield wall, while the left- and right-field corners where the bullpens used to be are being converted into field boxes designed for group parties.

Seeking edge in China, Yankees put baseball first
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The New York Yankees believe there is talent to be cultivated in China, and when future prospects have a choice of where to sign, the Yankees want their brand and reputation to stand out. The Yankees have been working with the Chinese Baseball Association for more than six months to forge a relationship that would allow the Yankees to send coaches, scouts and trainers to China. Cashman and three other executives — Randy Levine, the team president; Jean Afterman, the assistant general manager; and Michael Tusiani, the vice president for corporate sales and sponsorships — accepted an invitation to travel to Beijing next week. Levine said the Yankees could eventually sponsor an academy in China, on their own or with Major League Baseball. He added that it was “not out of the question” that baseball could eventually stage games in China. With a billion people and some profitable inroads already made by the NBA, China is an attractive market for MLB. China isn’t the only Asian country making waves in international baseball; this article details how Nippon Professional Baseball must progress in coming years.

Topeka baseball talks in ‘very preliminary stages’
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The city of Topeka is in the “very preliminary stages” of talks that could result in bringing a professional baseball team here, city spokesman David Bevens said today. Topeka residents have been talking with the independent United League Baseball about a new ballpark and expansion franchise, and those efforts are now coming to light. Bevens said the city wasn’t releasing any information today other than to say that the owners Bunten talked about were among several people who have met with city officials in recent months to discuss the possibility of bringing professional baseball here. Topeka last was home to a minor league baseball team in 1961, when the Topeka Reds competed as a farm club of the Cincinnati Reds.

 

Ballpark project may not sit well with builder’s ex
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Lorain’s rush to build a ballpark by April faces a possible setback because of a bidder’s divorce in Texas and its fallout in the bleacher industry. Another bidder questioned Thursday whether work on the 1,300-seat ballpark can be accomplished in two months, no matter which bidder wins the contract, and suggested the work could take as long as six months. City officials will announce the winning bid today for the $540,000 bleacher project at Campana Park. Cleveland State University’s baseball team is scheduled to open its home season at the park April 3. The issue is complicated. For years, Sherrill and Jo Ann Geurin Pettus, ran Southern Bleacher Co., a strong player in the bleacher market. However, the couple divorced in March 2005, and Sherrill Pettus left the company and started a competing bleacher company, Steel Stadiums, about two miles away. Southern Bleacher sued in November, saying Steel Stadiums stole its design and competitive-bidding models. A judge has ordered Steel to stop mimicking Southern Bleacher’s work while the case is pending. If Steel Stadiums wins the bid, it could be blocked as part of the lawsuit. We know of one other summer-collegiate ballpark depending on work from Steel Stadiums; in addition, the firm did the design and installation of the newest Finch Field, the home of the Thomasville Hi-Toms (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League).

 

IronPigs offer to pay fine for local woman
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League) are offering to pay the $200 fine and the $58.50 court costs levied on Elizabeth Yanoski, of Lansford, Pa., yesterday. District Judge Casimir Kosciolek ruled Yanoski in violation of a borough ordinance by keeping pot belly pigs in her home — a violation she was already fined for one year ago. The offer made by the IronPigs has only one tail attached — Yanoski must finally agree to abide by the ordinance. "I hope she realizes this is no pig in a poke," said IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes, who was happier than a pig in mud to find an ally in Carbon County. "A friend of a pig is a friend of ours — so we are sincerely willing to cover Ms. Yanoski’s fine so long that she will follow the ordinance in the future." More on the fine here. More from the Allentown Morning Call.

 

A ‘board to end boredom
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Total Sports Entertainment’s Bob Masewicz is in Modesto this week to show the management of the Modesto Nuts (High Class A; California League) staff the endless possibilities of the $500,000 piece of hardware soon to be erected above the left-field fence at John Thurman Field. The board (the rendering is shown below) was funded as part of the $3 million in ballpark upgrades coming to the ballpark as part of a recently negotiated 10-year lease agreement. It’s a structure 41 feet wide and 30 feet, 6 inches tall, with the middle 360 square feet devoted to a state-of-the-art video board. The video capability means that the Nuts will be hiring and training a crew to produce visual elements to be shown before, during and after every Nuts’ home game.

Sox, Roush close to NASCAR deal
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It’s hard to see how this benefits the Boston Red Sox, as the demographics for the BoSox and NASCAR are very different, but if all goes according to plan, John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group might sponsor a Red Sox car with NASCAR powerhouse Roush Racing for a portion of the 2007 season. Roush said he and Henry will make a “big” announcement on Feb. 14 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla., four days before the Daytona 500.  If Henry decides to sponsor a car for the entire 2007 season, the price tag is estimated between $15 million to $20 million. This may just be a personal thing for Henry — he’s a NASCAR fan — or purely a financial move.

 

Ballpark’s future subject to study
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Fort Wayne city officials and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne hope to work with Allen County officials to determine what will happen to Memorial Stadium if a new ballpark is built downtown. The Allen County commissioners are expected today to discuss whether to enter into an agreement with the city and IPFW to complete a study of the existing ballpark. Both Mayor Graham Richard and Chancellor Mike Wartell have signed the written agreement. Memorial Coliseum leases Memorial Stadium to the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League). As part of the lease, Coliseum staff control parking, the events calendar and also heating-cooling systems and security systems. That could change if another organization were to lease the ballpark.

Friendly confines
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Tom Seidler spent 10 days last summer touring 10 of the best minor league baseball stadiums in the country. The Visalia Oaks (High Class A; California League) owner returned to town with a borrowed idea and a new one to implement into the first phase of a $5 million, two-year renovation project at Recreation Park, the smallest venue in all of minor league baseball. The ballpark currently seats 1,800. Other Class A ballparks across the country average 5,000 to 7,000 seats. Revised first-phase plans call for the addition of two group hospitality areas — the Dugout Suite and the Hot Corner Lounge — and upgraded infrastructure before the start of the season in April.

Bullfrogs selling quality of play
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) will be selling the quality of play in the Northwoods League in their inaugural season, as the team continues to market itself and make enhancements to Joannes Field. Bullfrogs owner Jeff Royle points out something important: Green Bay is the second-largest market in the Northwoods League. Only Battle Creek is larger, so this season the summer-collegiate league has added two new franchises in what will be the league’s largest markets, depending on how you classify Mankato and St. Cloud (at times both are considered part of the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul market). (Disclaimer: Ballpark Digest editor Kevin Reichard sits on the Northwoods League’s Board of Advisors.)

Tide baseball buys own version of the Big Board
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
University of Alabama baseball players who helped build up their power reputations by clearing the scoreboard at Sewell-Thomas Stadium will have a more difficult time doing so this season. Otherwise, the Crimson Tide couldn’t be happier with its new massive scoreboard, which was erected this week and towers over the left-field wall behind the 365-foot mark. Highlighting the approximately 40-foot high structure is a large video screen that will profile players and display their pictures throughout the course of games. Speaking of NCAA baseball: the college season is already underway, with many teams in action this weekend.

River Eels announce sponsor for inaugural season
Posted Jan. 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Plymouth River Eels announce Tracy Chevrolet of Plymouth as the "home team" dugout sponsor for their inaugural professional independent baseball season. As a sponsor, the Tracy Chevrolet name and logo will be prominently displayed on top of the River Eels dugout throughout the entire season. According to a River Eels press release, the family-owned car dealer’s sponsorship is the first in an extensive list of area businesses supporting America’s pastime in America’s hometown. No work yet on when the team’s planned 5,000-seat ballpark will begin construction or what league the team will play in.

Red Sox may serve sushi; other Fenway changes on deck
Posted Jan. 25, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Sushi could join peanuts, Cracker Jacks and Fenway Franks on the menu this season at Fenway Park, with a planned revamp in the ballpark’s culinary lineup. Jonathan Gilula, vice president of business operations, said the team is considering the addition of the raw-fish dish as part of a response to fan requests for more healthy fare. The nod to Japanese cuisine also comes as the Sox prepare for the first season with Japanese pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka and the legions of Japanese fans and media expected to follow him to Fenway Park. The talk of new ballpark fare comes as Sox executives yesterday unveiled the latest round of improvements at Fenway Park. The Sox ownership group is in the midst of a $100 million-plus overhaul of the old ballpark that features the addition of thousands of high-priced seats. One highlight of this year’s improvements: a new "Third Base Deck" behind the grandstand seats in left field. Created in part by demolishing a wall that had separated the ballpark from the neighboring Jeano storage building, Fenway Park’s newest feature will include the first-ever women’s bathroom on the third-base grandstand concourse and a new concession area. More from South Coast Today and the Boston Globe. Here’s a full list of the improvements.

Gwinnett baseball back in the game
Posted Jan. 25, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A dream of bringing minor-league baseball to Gwinnett County got to the on-deck circle Wednesday with the approval of a study of the feasibility of building a new stadium in the county. In a unanimous vote, the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau agreed to spend up to $100,000 to determine the economic viability of building a baseball complex in the county and landing a minor-league team. The Gwinnett County Commission initially discussed paying for the study, but decided to cut it from the county budget earlier this month. Commissioners asked the Convention and Visitors Bureau to pick up the tab. Williams, general manager for Gwinnett Arena, conducted a preliminary inquiry of his own and presented the board with an outline laying out the "scope" of a possible study. Williams said the study likely will end up costing GCVB considerably less than the allocated amount, perhaps only $70,000. Gwinnett County is a rapidly growing suburb of Atlanta.

Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say
Posted Jan. 25, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
District of Columbia officials acknowledged yesterday that the city will have to pay more than $18 million to upgrade streets near the Washington Nationals’ new ballpark, and some council members said the expenditure would push spending on the ballpark beyond the council’s $611 million cap. News of the additional cost came during testimony from the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission at a council oversight hearing. The commission’s chief executive, Allen Y. Lew, said that though the stadium is proceeding on schedule for an April 2008 opening, the budget does not include money to handle transportation planning at the 41,000-seat ballpark. Several council members criticized Lew’s testimony and charged that the additional public cost would constitute a violation of the ballpark spending limit. The members said they feared that allowing the change would open the way for spiraling costs on a project whose spending cap has grown from $535 million in December 2004 to $611 million.

 

Hub plan goes to Legislature Feb. 5
Posted Jan. 25, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Four Nassau County committees voted to preliminarily accept an agreement between the county executive and developer Charles Wang that gives Wang standing to advance his proposal to redevelop the 77-acre parcel around Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, known as the Nassau Hub. The committees sent the agreement on to the Legislature, where it will be put to a vote on Feb. 5. Wang, who owns the Coliseum’s primary tenant, the New York Islanders, has proposed spending $200 million to overhaul the arena by adding dozens of luxury boxes, expanded public concourses and several additional ice rinks for public use. His proposal also includes the construction of a new luxury hotel, dozens of high-end condominiums, an outdoor retail concourse and a minor league ballpark on the site. While the precise details of the proposal have not been finalized, the estimated price tag is $1.5 billion.

 

NDC gets deal for Pirates’ spring-training renovations
Posted Jan. 25, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A company with local affiliations begins demolition work on Monday as part of improvements to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training facilities. The National Development Corp. Construction Co., a Florida affiliate of the Oakland-based National Development Corp., is the holder of an $18 million contract to renovate the Pirates’ spring training facilities in Bradenton, Fla., according to company president Ron Allen. The improvements will include new dormitory and office space for the residential complex known as Pirates City. Bradenton’s McKechnie Field, the baseball diamond built in 1923, will be getting new lighting and clubhouses.

Developers push Yonkers to OK financing plan
Posted Jan. 25, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
As they prepare to spend $40 million on property acquisition and design plans, developers of a downtown redevelopment project want the City Council to decide by Feb. 13 whether it will back a unique plan to finance $160 million in public improvements. The request comes as residents urged the City Council last night to require Streuver