Archives: May 27-June 2, 2007
Triple-A baseball for Washoe County draws mixed reactions
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The question posed here: whether Reno is a large enough market to support a Class AAA Pacific Coast League team. Reno’s past experiences with pro baseball haven’t been overwhelming: a Class A California League team did OK at Moana Stadium and an independent Western Baseball League team failed as well. The Reno Silver Sox (independent; Golden Baseball League) drew well last season but was obviously the second-class tenant at the University of Nevada-Reno ballpark. And there are many in baseball thinking Reno is more of a Class A market than a Class AAA market. Still, we’re willing to give the Pacific Coast League boys the benefit of the doubt: they’ve done the market research.
Minor-league baseball for Castle Rock, Col.?
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Hank Lacey, a city councilman in Castle Rock, Col., says his Town Council will hear a detailed briefing next Tuesday about a proposal to locate a independent American Association team there. The proposal is for a 4,000-5,000 ballpark located on 20 acres. Castle Rock would likely be asked to spend $8-15 million and provide the necessary land. The fast-growing (77 percent growth since 2000) Castle Rock is located on the far south side of Denver, with an estimated population of 35,745. Efforts to bring an American Association team to Brighton are still in the works; we’re assuming the efforts to bring a team to Commerce City are dead now.
Sale of Beavers to Paulson approved
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
This was a very, very quick approval process: the Portland Beavers (Class AAA: Pacific Coast League) today announced the finalization of the sale of the team to Shortstop, LLC, led by majority owner Merritt Paulson. On May 22, the teams and their former ownership group, Portland Baseball Investment Group, announced that an agreement was reached to sell the franchises to Paulson and Shortstop, LLC. The transfer was subject to a standard approval and finalization process, and today’s announcement completes the transaction. Paulson, 34, will assume the positions of president and general manager of the Beavers immediately. Paulson and his wife, Heather, are in the process of moving to Portland. While Paulson owns a majority of the teams, his father, Henry M. Paulson, also has a percentage of ownership, due to his small minority interest in Shortstop, LLC. Henry Paulson’s interests do not involve any managerial or operational responsibilities in connection with Shortstop, LLC, and Merritt is the majority owner. Henry Paulson is currently serving as the Secretary of the Treasury for the United States.
Indians, Goodyear reach agreement on spring-training home
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Not that there was any doubt, but the Cleveland Indians and the city of Goodyear formally reached an agreement to have the Indians move their spring-training operations to a new complex within the city. The accord between the city and the Indians outlines the team’s $100,000-a-year leasing fee over the next 20 years, with two five-year renewal options. The accord also dictates how profits will be divided between the team and Goodyear. Eighty percent of ticket sales will go to the team with Goodyear pocketing the remaining 20 percent. Goodyear has agreed to pay the Indians half of all in-park advertising, concession sales and parking revenues, while the Indians will pay half of all novelty sales to the city.
Renovations continue at Yakima County Stadium
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Yakima Bears (short season; Northwest League) have been putting the 750 thousand dollars they got from the state to good use. Major improvements have taken place at Yakima County Stadium. Thursday the installation of the new lights was completed. They also improved the outfield wall. Even more improvements are slated for next year, as the team is getting another $600,000. "A new entrance to the stadium, an enhanced greeting area down the right field line, and just some more comfort amenities for the fans to give County Stadium a little more feel." said Bears G.M. K.L. Wombacher. The Bears open their home season on June 24.
Pohlads lining up land near ballpark
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Yeah, them and a lot of other folks. The Pohlad family, which owns the Minnesota Twins, is negotiating to buy an old warehouse across the street from the new ballpark site in downtown Minneapolis. While it is newsworthy, it’s not as ominous as what’s implied here: the value of property certainly has gone up since the ballpark deal was announced, and the Pohlads did the same thing when the Metrodome was built. It would have been a story if the Pohlads had secretly bought up properties near the ballpark site before the ballpark deal went through. Hines, which controls parcels next to the ballpark, is discussing development on those sites as well. Though this article doesn’t discuss it, there has been a general flurry of real-estate development in the area — three large projects are underway near Washington Avenue, while a fourth is slated to receive final city approval this summer — and we’re seeing rents in the area go up as well. (In fact, it’s virtually certain we’ll be moving out of the ballpark area; we need more space, but rents are more reasonable closer to the center of downtown.)
Grasshoppers expecting millionth fan this weekend
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low Class A; Sally League) on pace to host their one millionth guest at First Horizon Park on Sunday, June 3rd against the West Virginia Power. After welcoming 835,601 fans over two impressive seasons in 2005 and 2006, the Hoppers entered this season just 164,399 fans shy of the milestone and wasted no time closing in. The Hoppers plan to shower the special fan during the game with gifts including a Grasshoppers jersey, a team autographed bat and baseball, $50 in Babe’s Bucks, a $100 gift card to Ruth’s Chris’ and two round-trip tickets on Continental Airlines to anywhere in the continental United States. In 24 games this season at First Horizon Park, the Hoppers have been averaging a league-leading 6,366 fans, which is an increase over last season but up nearly 1,000 fans per night from the inaugural season in 2005.
Ballpark Notes
Posted June 1, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; American Association) and local businesses teamed up to raise over $14,000 for the Megan’s Fund for Children’s Books on Thursday night at Sioux Falls Stadium. The evening was set to honor Dan Christopherson, the former Canaries public address announcer, who passed away on February 21, 2007. The Canaries honored Dan with a pre-game ceremony which included inducting him into the Canaries Hall of Fame and re-naming the Sioux Falls Stadium Press Box the Dan Christopherson Press Box. During the sixth inning, the Canaries presented a check for $14,022.05 to Dawn and Tucker Christopherson, the wife and son of Dan. Additional donations continued to come in after the check was presented.