Archives: April 2-8, 2007
Marlins ballpark funding decision has ways to go
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Florida Marlins, who are preparing for tonight’s home opener at Dolphin Stadium, don’t expect the state to decide whether to pay $60 million to help finance a new ballpark until the legislative equivalent of the ninth inning — the end of the session in early May. If state money is approved after years of failure, the news might arrive before the Marlins know exactly where a $490 million, retractable-roof ballpark would be built. Miami and Miami-Dade County have approved a baseball financing plan for a site "to be determined," and elected officials overwhelmingly favor placing the ballpark at the current Orange Bowl site, contingent on the University of Miami moving its football games to Dolphin Stadium. We continue to hear MLB and Marlins officials aren’t too thrilled with the Orange Bowl site but will live with it should there be no other choice for public funding.
Potential sale of the SWB Yankees approved
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The real question may no longer be whether the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) will be sold, but when. And for how much? As expected, Lackawanna County’s Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority voted in favor of deals giving private interests the right to manage, and ultimately buy the Triple-A baseball franchise. The pair of deals are between the stadium authority and SWB Yankees LLC, owned jointly by Mandalay Baseball Properties and the New York Yankees. The agreements’ next stop is before the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. Under the purchase agreement, SWB Yankees can buy the franchise for as little as $13 million, if it acts within the first term. However, it would have to enter into a 20-year lease to stay at PNC Field. When that lease expires, if SWB Yankees LLC wants to move the team out of Lackawanna County, the authority will have the right to buy it back, at a purchase price determined by an appraisal commissioned at that time. One potential hitch: Luzerne County, a partner in the ballpark and the Yankees, has not been party to any agreements.
Wolves owner Levin has strong interest in Cubs
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Chicago Wolves (AHL) owner Don Levin has confirmed his interest in buying the Cubs. The lifelong Chicagoan, who just returned from a business trip to Australia, said owning the team would be the first step toward fulfilling his dream. ”My dream would be to be sitting in a box across from Jerry Reinsdorf playing a World Series game against the White Sox,” Levin said. ”That’s how interested I am. I would love to do that.” Levin bought the Wolves in 1994. The team has made 12 playoff appearances in the International and American hockey leagues, reaching the finals five times and winning three championships. Levin may have a lot of competition to buy the Cubs and (we presume) Wrigley Field, and we expect the final sales price to be closer to a billion dollars than $500 million.
Sounds: Oh yes we did
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) GM/COO Glenn Yaeger has fired back at the city’s Metro Council for holding the team in default on a deal for a new downtown ballpark, strongly disputing the city’s reasons for why the team failed to perform. Yaeger didn’t specifically reference Metro’s assertion yesterday that the team didn’t pay its architect HOK Sport, a failing that resulted in HOK’s stopping work on construction plans, Metro asserts, and thus gave Metro a reason for holding the team in default. In a letter sent late Thursday to Sue Cain, Metro Legal’s acting director, Yaeger simply disagreed with the "allegations concerning the relationship with our professionals" she had made in her default letter to the team one day earlier. Judging by the tone of the letters from both sides, we’re guessing the end result of the whole shebang will be a court battle, not a new ballpark. In any case, developer Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse says it will continue work on the site, but a ballpark is apparently out of the picture. More on the new plan for the downtown site from The Tennessean.
Snow closes down more ballgames
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It’s no surprise snow forced the cancellation of the opening day for the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League) — early April in Canada is always a dicey affair — but there was another surprising cancellation: the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) called last night’s game due to snow. It’s believed to be the first time a Tulsa professional baseball game was postponed due to snow.
D-Rays announce enhancements to Tropicana Field
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in association with concessionaire Centerplate, spent the off-season redesigning Tropicana Field to provide an enhanced experience for Devil Rays fans this season. The new atmosphere reflects the history of the Devil Rays, the beauty of the Florida landscape and flavors of local cuisine. Updated seating and concession areas, new menu items and a brand new merchandise store are on tap this season for D-Rays fans.
Study: Not much future for old Memorial Stadium
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A $45,000 study apparently does not envision a bright future for Memorial Stadium should a new ballpark for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League) be built downtown as part of the Harrison Square project. The preliminary findings come from Minnesota-based CSL International, hired in January by the city, county and Indiana-Purdue University to assess alternative uses for the county-owned home of the Fort Wayne Wizards. With a $30-million ballpark serving as the centerpiece of the $125 million-$160 million Harrison Square downtown revitalization project, the fate of 14-year-old Memorial Stadium has been uncertain. IPFW officials have expressed interest in using the facility for baseball and other university events, and Deputy Mayor Mark Becker said in January the city might be willing to contribute to an endowment fund needed to pay the stadium’s minimum annual expenses of $200,000 to $300,000. But IPFW doesn’t draw well, and an endowment of $3 million would be needed to generate enough money for expenses.
Isotopes issue city $2 million rent check
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In what has become a spring tradition, Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) President Ken Young handed over a check to the city of Albuquerque and Mayor Martin Chavez for an amount in excess of $2 million today at pre-season opener festivities at city-owned Isotopes Park. The payment represents the basic rent sum plus surcharge amounts paid by the team to the city, per the stadium lease. The amount paid is directly correlated to how well the club has done financially since its inception in 2003. With this year’s payment of $2,012,876, the total amount given to the city in the team’s four years is $8,043,027.
"The bond between the Isotopes and the City of Albuquerque is a perfect model of how successful a symbiotic relationship between a public institution and private enterprise can be," said Young. "We’re extremely proud of our connection to the city and grateful for all the support they have provided, and continue to provide, since the team’s arrival in 2003."
Flying Tigers take off with victory in home opener
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Lakeland Flying Tigers (High Class A; Florida State League) opened under their new name in fine style with a 3-0 win over the Tampa Yankees before 1,438 fans at Joker Marchant Stadium. The team was formerly known as the Lakeland Tigers — in homage to parent Detroit — but this offseason saw the team adopt a new name and a new identity from Plan B Branding.
Even empty, ballpark pulls ’em in
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The opening day in Great Lakes Loons (Low Class A; Midwest League) history featured a 10-3 win at South Bend, Ind., Thursday evening plus a brisk open house at the Dow Diamond in Midland for the hundreds of fans who cared to capture the ambiance of minor-league baseball while listening to the radio broadcast of the game. Mother Nature was rude, with temperatures in the 20s. There was just one noticeable glitch — the gas-fired fireplace in the Loons’ ballpark concourse was not functioning yet.
Ballpark changes a big hit for Pelicans fans
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Yesterday we detailed the many changes made by the ownership of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Sally League) to Coastal Federal Field. Yesterday’s chilly opener drew a record crowd of 6,047 to the ballpark, and it seems like the many improvements struck a nerve with Pelicans fans. A new high-definition scoreboard, the installation of a beach and Tiki Bar, and a new logo all resonated with the record crowd.
RiverDogs set new attendance record
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Second baseman Wilmer Pino lined a bases-loaded single to center with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Charleston RiverDogs to a 1-0 victory over the Greenville Drive in the Low Class A Sally League opener for both teams Thursday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The game was witnessed by 8,426 fans, a new record crowd at 11-year-old Riley Park. The new attendance figure surpassed the previous mark of 8,257, which was set on July 3, 2006 and the prior Opening Day record was 7,032, also set last year on April 6.
Stein avoids clippers; Legends win opener
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Lexington Legends (Low Class A; Sally League) President Alan Stein can keep his hairstyle. Lexington defeated the Delmarva Shorebirds, 4-2, on Opening Night at Applebee’s Park. Stein had previously agreed to sport a Mohawk if the Legends lost their season opener, which would be their sixth loss in seven tries on the season’s first game. Instead, Lexington won the opener for the second straight year. It took a triple from catcher Ralphie Henriquez driving in three runs to provide the victory for Stein’s hairline.
Dodgers return to Cal League
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The High Class A California League can finally kiss its Dodger blues good-bye. After a six-year absence, the Cal League has its flagship major league affiliate back in the fold after the Los Angeles Dodgers signed a player-development contract (PDC) with the Inland Empire 66ers in September. The Dodgers were once a powerful presence in the Cal League, but when MiLB decreed MLB teams could have only one affiliate in each level, the Dodgers abandoned the Cal League and stayed with the Vero Beach Dodgers (High Class A; Florida State League). With the Dodgers shifting operations westward, a move back to the Cal League was inevitable. More from the San Bernardino Sun.
Pro baseball returns to Utica
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The stage is being set for professional baseball’s return to the Mohawk Valley. The names of the four local teams that will make up the New York State League — the Utica Brewmasters, Rome Coppers, Oneida Barge Bucs and Herkimer Trailbusters — were unveiled by commissioner Jay Acton during a press conference Wednesday at Piggy Pat’s Restaurant. All games will be played at Murnane Field’s Donovan Stadium except during the first week in August, when Murnane hosts the New York State American Legion Baseball Championships. The 50-game season runs from July 3 to Aug. 31. A matinee and an evening game are scheduled each day. There will be no admission charge for day games and tickets for night games will be $5. Acton already has nightly promotions in place, and there are season-ticket packages and group discounts available.
Coyotes expand concessions at Edinburg Baseball Stadium
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Edinburg Coyotes (independent; United League Baseball) announced the expansion of their concessions operations for the upcoming 2007 season. The Echo Hotel of Edinburg will be the official in-park caterer of the Edinburg Coyotes and will cater all picnics and the luxury suites at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Coyotes have also entered into a working agreement with Luca Pizza di Roma of McAllen to operate the third-base concessions stand and create a patio area for fans. In addition, the Coyotes will be welcoming in current and new outside vendors into the stadium which will include kettle corn, roasted corn on the cob, funnel cakes, and fajita tacos.
It all comes down to money
Posted April 6, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Brad Feldman wants to bring a summer-collegiate Northwoods League team to Bismarck, N.D., but there’s one small detail to be fixed: he lacks money and investors. Feldman’s goal is to put a Bismarck team in the NWL for 2008, but there are some things working against him. For starters, Bismarck is almost 600 miles away from the nearest Northwoods League city, although that may change as there have been some rumors of other potential teams in the region. Still, with no investors and no money, Feldman faces a huge challenge.
Sounds ballpark deal dead; city moving on
Posted April 5, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) have failed to live up to their agreement to build a downtown ballpark, Metro’s top attorney told the baseball franchise yesterday. Metro’s acting law director, Sue Cain, wrote in a letter to Sounds General Manager Glenn Yaeger that the Sounds were in default of their agreement with the city and Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, the developer that planned to build hotels, condominiums and shops around the ballpark. Cain called their conduct "a total and unqualified refusal to perform" and listed eight things the Sounds had failed or refused to do, including failing to arrange financing for the project, not paying architectural firm HOK Sport, and refusing to work with Struever on the project. The Metro Council unanimously rejected on Tuesday a request by the Sounds and Struever Bros. for another six months to work out financing arrangements and complete land transactions with Metro. Sounds GM Glenn Yaeger says the team will still work on the project despite the city’s actions. It was a speculative deal from the beginning: the Sounds were hoping to finance a new ballpark using other peoples’ money (most of the Sounds’ part of the deal was to be backed by a consortium of local banks and proceeds from associated development), and when the numbers didn’t add up the Sounds were forced to back out of the deal, though truthfully progress on the ballpark ended a few months ago when HOK Sport stopped work on the project. We’ll see if Struever follows through on its threat to build a ballpark and attempt to bring in another team, but it sounds like the city wants nothing to do with a ballpark downtown. More from Nashville Business Journal, The Tennessean and the Nashville Post.
Bidders: Cubs, Wrigley go together
Posted April 5, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Two potential bidders for the Chicago Cubs said they only want the professional baseball team if the deal includes the landmark Wrigley Field, with one bidder saying he was willing to pay what would be a record price. Sam Zell, who won a bid for the Tribune Company, says he’s putting the Cubs and Wrigley Field on the block separately in order to maximize the value of both, but many say the two components are actually diminished when separated. William Marovitz, Jerry Colangelo and Tom Begel say they have groups ready to bid on both and pay upwards of $700 million for the pair or even a billion dollars — which, as you’ll recall, is what we predicted several months ago would be the value of both. (The Sun-Times throws out a few additional names of potential buyers, including Bill Murray, Mark Cuban and Don Levin; Levin has shown lots of interest and apparently Cuban is hinting about being interested as well.) Meanwhile, some needed development at the ballpark in the form of a parking garage with office space will be delayed. The Cubs may be a flop on the field, but they’re a huge success when it comes to the bottom line. More from Steve Rosenbloom.
Baseball owner makes the pitch in Bowling Green
Posted April 5, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Rick Kelley, chairman of Play Ball! ’05, presented city commissioners with a lineup of powerful interested parties at a nonvoting work session Tuesday afternoon, saying the time has come for a city commitment to a six-block complex linking a baseball stadium, a parking garage, retail and high-end residential development, a hotel and ongoing proj