Archives: March 19-25, 2007
Sounds, Struever talk to Metro, but ballpark plans still sketchy
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Their patience had obviously been tried, but Metro Council members appeared willing Wednesday to consider an appeal by the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and Baltimore developer Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse to give them until Oct. 31 to complete financing and design work for the proposed new downtown Sounds ballpark. But the two have yet to come to terms over an agreement that would let Struever take over construction of the ballpark — an agreement both say is necessary for the project to continue and, therefore, necessary to finalize before they formally petition the Metro Council for an extension. Basically, it sounds like the original financing plan has broken down and both sides are working on a new agreement, with the Sounds wanting Struever to assume far more responsibility, including taking on any construction overruns. More from the Tennessean. The Tennessean is more blunt about what could happen if the ballpark deal falls through: it predicts the franchise will be moved.
Ideas sought for Tiger Stadium
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With the fate of the old Tiger Stadium to be decided in the coming weeks and months, the City of Detroit tried to recruit residents from the neighboring Corktown district Wednesday night to help map out what should happen at the site. About 60 people attended an hour-long meeting at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church across the street from the historic ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull. Some were openly skeptical of the city’s plans to demolish the stadium in favor of new development. But several said they appreciated the chance to be heard. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick says the city is in serious talks with a developer about the site, but that may just be a smokescreen — you don’t hold meetings to solicit development ideas if you already have a plan in place. One idea we’d love to see happen (and could if the Tigers came on board): a partial deconstruction of the ballpark to the original Navin Field configuration for use by a minor-league team.
Cable, MLB argue over out-of-town games
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Cable television said it offered to match DirecTV’s deal for the "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games, but Major League Baseball said the proposal fell short. When baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year deal with DirecTV on March 8, it gave the other incumbent carriers until the end of the month to match the deal. In Demand, owned by affiliates of the companies that own Time Warner, Comcast and Cox cable systems, said Wednesday it was agreeing to the terms and that its partners would carry The Baseball Channel when it launches in 2009 to at least the same number of subscribers who will get the channel on DirecTV. MLB President/COO Bob DuPuy was pretty blunt about the offer: "Today Major League Baseball received communication from iN Demand. The offer to match the terms of the agreement reached by MLB and DIRECTV remains open to iN Demand and Dish until the deadline of March 31, 2007. The communication sent to our office today by iN Demand is not responsive to that offer. In spite of their public comments, the response falls short of nearly all of the material conditions (among them requirements for carriage of The Baseball Channel and their share of the rights fees for Extra Innings) set forth in the Major League Baseball offer made to them on March 9."
Old-time ballplayers join groundbreaking for new Billings ballpark
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Les Barnes, an all-star shortstop for the 1948 Billings Mustangs (then a Class C Pioneer League team), cherishes the time he spent rubbing elbows with Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson and other Brooklyn Dodgers greats during a career that included numerous whistle stops in the Dodgers’ farm system. Barnes was among two dozen former players who autographed baseballs at the Western Heritage Center as part of groundbreaking ceremonies for the new $12.5 million downtown ballpark that will replace Cobb Field, the home of the current Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League), for the 2008 season.
Marion ballpark shaping up nicely
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The new home of the Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League) is taking shape. The large steel canopy roof structure that covers the concourse has been erected and a good portion of the block masonry work has been completed. The total cost of the ballpark is $15 million with the city of Marion dedicating one-eighth of a cent in sales tax dollars generated each year to help retire the debt of the bank loan secured by team owner Jayne Simmons. The new ballpark is slated to open on May 29.
Finance plan for Reds spring-training facility in place — maybe
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The city and county commissions Wednesday unanimously approved a joint agreement, including a 30-year financing period, to help construct a new spring-training complex by 2010. However, the project, which is dependent upon $15 million in state money, $5 million from the Reds, $9 million from the city and more than $20 million from the county’s tourism tax, still faces a final hurdle. The city is challenged with a $10 million funding shortfall on the project unless a private developer agrees to invest in city-owned property on 12th Street surrounding the proposed spring-training complex by May 1. More from the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
Cactus League on pace to draw 1 million fans
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With 10 days left in spring training, the Cactus League is on pace to draw more than 1 million fans for a sixth consecutive year and could pass the all-time attendance record of 1.27 million set in 2005. Good weather, the return of Sammy Sosa and a spring without competition from the World Baseball Classic are just some of the reasons attendance is up significantly over last year. Through the second-to-last Tuesday of spring training last year, Cactus League teams drew 709,270 fans. Through this Tuesday, attendance was 819,472 — a 15.5 percent increase.
Grand Prairie to hold "name the team" contest
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It seems to be a little cheeky to hold a "name the team" contest before voters have actually approved funding for a new ballpark, so we’re wondering if the potential team owners are confident about what will happen in the referendum. The owners of a proposed independent American Association team in Grand Prairie, Texas, are holding a "name the team" contest via the team’s current web site. That’s not unusual, but it is unusual to be holding a contest before the referendum, slated for May 12. A one-eighth-cent sales tax used to fund the local horse-racing facility would be resurrected, with the proceeds used to build a new ballpark for the 2008 season. The contest started yesterday and will run through April 25.
New for 2007: the San Luis Athletics
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The San Luis City Council has approved a lease at Joe Orduno Ballpark for the San Luis Athletics (summer collegiate; Centennial Baseball League). For the use of the facility, rent will be paid by the club to the city and a percentage of all home ticket revenue will be given to the cities youth sports groups. Managing the team: Francisco "Alemán" Villegas. The Centennial Baseball League is a slightly different take on the traditional summer-collegiate setup: The league is open to current college players along with players with no eligibility remaining and former professionals as well.
Future distinctly on rise for Nationals
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Washington Nationals’ unfinished, $611-million ballpark exists largely in the mind’s eye. It’s a steel-and-concrete repository for imagined home runs, cotton candy not yet made and summer nights to come. Yet that hasn’t stopped the team from giving ballpark "sneak peeks" to VIPs and fans, a process that continued last night at a reception in a just-opened office building overlooking the stadium. The building was developed by Lerner Enterprises, the Bethesda firm founded by team owner Ted Lerner, and is part of what District of Columbia officials hope will be a rebirth of the Anacostia River waterfront area.
Buying time for Civic Stadium
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In an ideal world there would be no dispute over ownership of Civic Stadium, the home of the Eugene Emeralds (short season; Northwest League). The facility, deeded to the school system in 1938, is in need of repair but is generally considered to be a unique resource. The fight is between the school system (which apparently wants wants to redevelop the site for financial gain) and the city, who says redevelopment can’t take place as part of the original deed. Whether Civic Stadium is renovated or the Ems move elsewhere depends on the upcoming legal decision.
PG&E, Giants draw heat over solar plan
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the San Francisco Giants said Wednesday that they would team up to place a solar-energy system at AT&T Park. But storm clouds are gathering over the plan to install nearly 600 solar panels at the ballpark. Consumer advocates contend the project is little more than a publicity stunt and that shareholders, not ratepayers, should be footing the bill. But Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, objected to the planned use of ratepayer funds for the solar project.
Mud Hens near Storm purchase
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League) franchise is on the brink of closing a deal to purchase Toledo’s professional hockey team, the Toledo Storm (ECHL) Storm owner Tim Gladieux said he has been "in very serious discussions" with Mud Hens officials over the last several weeks. He said nothing official has been signed, but that he expects something to get done in the next two to four weeks. For several years the Mud Hens have been considering the purchase of the minor-league hockey team to become part of a downtown arena project. However, the sale could leave Toledo without a pro hockey team for two or more years.
Amarillo can hit it out of the park
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Potter County continues to pump taxpayer money into Potter County Memorial Stadium, the home makeover project that is celebrating its 50th birthday. It is also known as the "Dilla Villa," home of the Amarillo Dillas (independent; United League Baseball). On March 12, commissioners approved just under $25,000 to help the team with installation costs for a video scoreboard. On the city side, after years of talk, it appears Amarillo finally is getting serious about pumping new life into downtown. The city has paid for a private group to study and recommend a downtown revitalization plan, which includes a ball park. Interestingly, the front office of the Dillas isn’t sold on the need for a new ballpark, and the word is that another league is pitching a new privately financed ballpark.
Embattled Hadlock statue on deck
Posted March 22, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The bronze sculpture of a man, woman and two children that generated months of controversy last year have arrived at Portland’s Hadlock Field and will be unveiled soon. The sculpture depicting a family headed to a Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League) baseball game was donated to the city by Daniel Burke, the owner of the team, and is expected to stand outside the city-owned ballpark. Its unveiling will occur sometime after opening day, which is April 5, said Charlie Eshbach, the general manager of the Sea Dogs. He said he expects to announce the exact date next week, after details of the event have been worked out. As you’ll recall, some arts advocates in Portland objected to the inclusion of a Sea Dogs logo on the sculpture, the use of a white nuclear family and the failure of Burke to submit the design before a city committee.
Twins moving ahead with ballpark plans
Posted March 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
After shutting down work on a new ballpark, the Minnesota Twins are moving ahead with the design and construction of a new facility in downtown Minneapolis’s Warehouse District, with a public unveiling of the plan scheduled for April 5. Despite looking at alternate sites in the last two months, the Twins restated design work recently, with team President Jerry Bell announcing yesterday on spring-training game broadcasts that the team was confident enough in Hennepin County’s ability to procure the land via eminent-domain proceedings to move ahead with the design. The basic issue: Hennepin County has budgeted $13.35 million for the land controlled by Land Partners II; the owners say it’s worth upwards of $21 million. Under Minnesota law, the county can go ahead with condemnation proceedings immediately and then work out the specific value of the land in court. The Twins have hinted they would make up the difference, and while there’s no written agreement yet between the county and the Twins (a situation that’s causing some consternation in county offices, from what we’ve heard), it appears the front office is confident enough in its ability to make up the difference to move ahead with ballpark design and construction. The $522-million, 40,000-seat ballpark is set to open in the 2010 season. More from the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Joe Soucheray once again pines for the days when white men like himself dominated local politics; after all, they got things done and wouldn’t let some outsiders hold up a key land acquisition.
More time wanted for Charlotte baseball deal
Posted March 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Mecklenburg County officials say they need more time to work out details of a proposed land swap that would allow the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) to play in an uptown ballpark. Specifically, they believe the Knights, who play ball in Fort Mill, S.C., should back off on their desire to begin play uptown in spring 2009. They also want to give tenants of Spirit Square — the 31-year-old arts complex whose lease expires at the end of June — more time to vacate before part of the property is sold. We’re guessing the Knights will go along with the delay: to be blunt, even if the land acquisition were to be settled in month or two (a tall order under any circumstances), getting a new ballpark open by 2009 given all the infrastructure work would be a tall order indeed.