Archives: June 12, 2007
Sidewinders sold; expected to be in Reno in ’09
Posted June 12, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are being sold to Manhattan Capital Sports, LLC and SK Baseball, with the ultimate intent of moving the team in a new Reno ballpark for the 2009 season, pending league, MiLB and MLB approval, according to Jay Zucker, President/CEO for Tucson Baseball, LLC. The purchase price is $13.5 million. The announcement will be made official during a press conference today at 11 a.m. in the press box at Tucson Electric Park. Manhattan Capital Sports and SK Baseball is comprised of three business partners; Stuart Katzoff, Jerry Katzoff and Herb Simon. Jerry and Stuart Katzoff are a father and son from New York City. Jerry Katzoff owns II Mulino USA, LLC, a high-end Italian restaurant organization with nine locations throughout the United States and one based in Tokyo. Stuart Katzoff owns Manhattan Capital LLC, a real-estate-development company based in New York City. He will be the operating partner for SK Baseball. Herb Simon is the co-chairman of mall developer and operator Simon Property Group and a co-owner of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. Zucker will be retained as a consultant for the 2008 season.
This is no surprise; we’ve reported on its likelihood often in recent months. The eventual move by the Sidewinders and the potential move of the Chicago White Sox during spring training does bring the future of Tucson Electric Park into question. It’s not that great a facility, and given the poor attendance record of the ‘Winders in recent years it’s not likely another PCL team is eager to take a look, although we’d guess the boys from the independent Golden Baseball League are licking their chops. Tucson will be down to two spring-training teams if the ChiSox leave. Will the Diamondbacks want to stay by themselves at the TEP? Tucson officials say the demise of the ‘Winders don’t affect the city’s ability to pay off construction bonds. More from Greg Hansen.
Also, the location of the ballpark in Reno is under some debate, but it doesn’t sound like it will be located at the Sparks Arena development proposed by RED Development. More from the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Sports talking new ballpark in Shreveport
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Shreveport Sports (independent; American Association) owner Scott Berry says he’s happy with the progress being made by the team at Fair Grounds Field — the team is doing well and attendance is up this season — but wants to discuss the possibility of a new ballpark in the future. Berry is also proposing a new ballpark in downtown Dallas, and he’s looking to do a similar deal in Shreveport: tie it to an existing retail/residential development or partner with a developer to construct one. It’s expected he’ll talk to officials both in Shreveport and in Bossier City, where the region’s enormously successful arena is located. This story was sent in by a reader. To submit a story or information of interest to the baseball community, drop us a line at editors@augustpublications.com.
ULB to build new ballpark in Brownsville
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The independent United League Baseball will hold a press conference tonight announcing a partnership with Brownsville for a new ballpark to be built by the league and leased by a ULB expansion team. United Sports Equities will finance the construction of the ballpark on city land and then turn over the ballpark to the city; the team will lease and manage the ballpark. The cost of the 3,500-seat ballpark is expected to run between $5 and $7.5 million.
Baseball back on Bowling Green agenda
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Tonight Bowling Green city commissioners will decide whether to fund a new downtown ballpark for a Low Class A Sally League team. The team would be supplied by current New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) owner Art Solomon. Glasgow-based developer Alliance Corp. plans a variety of commercial and residential redevelopment for downtown, including a parking garage, hotel and the ballpark. The city and Alliance currently have a memorandum of understanding saying they’ll work toward such an agreement. The tax increment district would send back to the developer part of the future increase in tax revenues from the area generated by the redevelopment.
Today’s video: Lost in the supermarket
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This reader-submitted video from the Tri-City ValleyCats (short season; NY-Penn League) is great: it shows that baseball belongs on a diamond and not a supermarket. Definitely worth a look. Keep them coming: we’ve already heard from several teams and vendors about our call for videos, so we’ll continue bringing them to you. If you want to share your videos with the baseball community, drop us a line at editors@augustpublications.com.
Cleveland to restore League Park
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Cleveland will launch an $8.5 million project to restore League Park, the former home of the Indians where baseball great Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run, Mayor Frank Jackson said. About $5 million will be raised from the sale of bonds next year and in 2009, according to the mayor’s five-year capital plan. Officials hope to cover the remaining cost with private donations. League Park operated until 1946 in the city’s east-side Hough neighborhood. Ruth hit his 500th home run over the right-field wall on Aug. 11, 1929. It was also where the Indians won the World Series in 1920 and the Cleveland Buckeyes won the Negro League World Series in 1945. A small section of the park’s exterior brick facade still stands along the first-base side, as well as an old ticket office. The latest plan calls for rebuilding the field with home plate in its original spot and adding a replica of the outfield wall. The ticket office would be renovated, and the design also includes seating for 2,500 and a patio for picnics, with the targets being youth and high-school teams.
City fits construction Into ballpark budget
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The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Class AA; Texas League) will contribute $1.4 million to new ballpark financing, after high bids for construction forced the city to rework its budget. The team could be paid back as much as $1 million, if costs don’t eat up contingency funds. The Wichita Wrangers plan on moving to Springdale for the 2008 season and changing their name to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The ballpark needs to be ready for the start of the season to meet the terms of the Naturals’ lease. The project would remain on schedule, if the contract is approved Tuesday at the City Council meeting. The team was happy to help the city find a remedy to the high bids, said Eric Edelstein, Naturals general manager.
City OKs ballpark bond bids
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The Billings City Council received a double dose of good news Monday when it approved two bond issues that will finance the new $12.5-million ballpark that will replace Cobb Field, the home of the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). Not only did a dozen financial firms submit bids for the bonds, but the interest rate was lower than anticipated, meaning the city could save thousands of dollars in interest over the next 20 years. Cobb Field will be demolished at the end of the 2007 baseball season, and the new, as yet unnamed, stadium is expected to be completed by the Billings Mustangs’ home opener next June. The investment firm Stifel Nicholaus submitted the successful bid on the $10.7 million Series A general obligation bonds, which will be repaid over 20 years by city tax revenues. RBC Dain Rauscher submitted the successful bid on the $1.8 million Series B general obligation bonds.
Mayor to meet with governor, Ripken on Gardens
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Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver will be pitching Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) owner Cal Ripken Jr. on the possibility of a new ballpark near the the Augusta Golf Hall of Fame’s Botanical Gardens. The Ripken folks have discussed the possibility of a new ballpark to replace Lake Olmstead Stadium.
Lugnuts balk at plan for tax hike on sporting events
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The Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League) are crying foul about the prospect of their fans shelling out a 6-percent sales tax on tickets. It could mean an extra couple of bucks for a family spending a night at Olds Park. Gov. Jennifer Granholm last week advocated both an increase in the income tax and extending the sales tax to sporting and concert tickets and other discretionary spending.
Press boxes become an afterthought, after the thought of luxury seats
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The original press box at the 16-year-old U.S. Cellular Field was a fine place to cover a White Sox game. From their nest behind home plate, reporters could easily discern the spin of a curveball or hear the thwack of bat on ball. But this year, the White Sox gutted it and remade it into the Jim Beam Club, with 200 theater seats and barstools that cost $260 to $315 each; when sold out, the club could generate $4 million or more in revenue. The new press box is two levels up and to the side. It follows a pattern of moving press boxes to less desirable areas of ballparks; in St. Louis, the press complained bitterly when the press box at Busch Stadium was unheated and to the side. Then again, MLB officials have realized they don’t need the daily press as much as they did even five years ago.
Twins ballpark draws development interest
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Here’s a much saner report on proposed development near the new Minnesota Twins ballpark site. As you’ll recall, the Twins ownership was unfairly lambasted by the local daily for thinking of buying land near the ballpark, even though a purchase now would be more expensive than it was a year ago before the ballpark funding was approved. One of the main points of funding the ballpark was to spur private investment in the area; the Twins are looking at buying a building, but more importantly private investors like Hines are mapping out plans for mixed-use developments.
Open, but not totally up to code
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Sovereign Bank Stadium, the new home of the York Revolution (independent; Atlantic League) will not be completed by opening day, but ballpark officials say they have provisions in place — such as having firefighters on site — to deal with the challenges of its work-in-progress. The York Revolution expects to play its first home game in the stadium Friday. York city officials will determine if the stadium should be allowed to open through a round of final occupancy, fire and health inspections slated for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You can expect a little confusion at Friday’s opener, but that’s true of any ballpark opening.
Baseball movie to be filmed at John O’Donnell Stadium
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Davenport’s John O’Donnell Stadium will become a movie set late this summer as award-winning filmmakers shoot an Iowa-based baseball story in the Quad Cities. The fictional drama, as yet untitled, will focus on a player from the Dominican Republic who, inspired by the famous movie “Field of Dreams,” wants to play minor-league baseball in Iowa. The riverfront stadium, Swing of the Quad Cities (Low Class A; Midwest League) players and their fans all will be represented in the movie, which begins pre-production in late July, with shooting here from mid-August through mid-September. This story was sent in by a reader. To submit a story or information of interest to the baseball community, drop us a line at editors@augustpublications.com.
Omaha considers new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
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Here’s a story you’re going to see a lot in the next few weeks, as the NCAA finishes up Super Regionals and launches the 2007 College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium. We’ve reported several times on a proposal to build a new ballpark for the CWS and the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) near Creighton. Traditionalists don’t want to see the games moved from historic Rosenblatt Stadium; the Omaha Royals don’t want to be playing in such a huge ballpark, and the NCAA sure won’t walk away from a new ballpark. Apparently there won’t be a decision soon; Omaha officials say nothing will be done before August and probably not before the end of the year.
Ballpark’s neighbors have few complaints
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Rent One Park, the new home of the Southern Illinois Miners (independent; Frontier League) draws approximately 1,000 cars each game night, each hoping for one of 800 general parking spaces, according to Billy Peterman of the Miners organization. Extra vehicles are sent to the Illinois Centre Mall and the occupants are shuttle-bused back to the ballpark. While the game night traffic push toward the ballpark seems to make the entire “Hill” development extremely congested, the effect on surrounding businesses seems to be neutral.
Shocks, NBC keep baseball alive in Wichita
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The Wichita Eagle opines on the impending loss of the Wichita Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League) but notes the continued success of the Wichita State program and the moves by the city to retain the National Baseball Congress tourney. As you’ll recall, Wichita is tying a lease for Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to running the National Baseball Congress, a two-week tourney held every August. Some in the city argue the NBC is a great inventive to the independent leagues expended to bid for the facility. From what we’ve heard, it’s not: the tourney requires the main tenant to go on the road for two weeks, and given that the American Association and United League Baseball end their seasons in August to avoid competing with Texas high-school football, it could play havoc with schedules.
Tigers buy fake owls to chase off seagulls at Comerica Park
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There have been seagulls at Comerica Park. They’ve even congregated on the field before. But not like this. The birds gave the downtown ballpark the look of a landfill site over the weekend, especially on Sunday against the New York Mets. About 50 seagulls were on the field, mostly in the outfield, during the first inning and about half of them stuck around for the whole game. The solution? The grounds crew is putting plastic owls on the field until the players need it.
RedHawks skipper shares his thoughts on future of Northern League
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The always-quotable Doug Simunic shares his thoughts on the future of the independent Northern League — a topic of obvious importance to the manager of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. He’s pretty clear about not thinking the Northern League is sustainable as it stands now: he can’t see the two Alberta teams surviving, and he throws an olive branch toward the American Association, saying he could see the two leagues work together. He also takes a shot at his league commissioner, saying he’s not aggressive to land a deal to play in Wichita. Simmy’s a purist: he argues the best way to attract fans is through good, solid baseball.
Real pro ball? It’s in Frisco
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The general idea behind building a minor league ballpark in Frisco was to give Far North Dallas baseball fans a cheap, family-friendly entertainment option other than a drive out to Arlington. On Friday, a baseball fan could drive to Arlington to see the Rangers and Brewers. Or he could spend it 42 miles to the northeast’s Dr Pepper Ballpark, where the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) played the San Antonio Missions, where a crowd of over 10,000 took in the game.
Dream owner is Cuban
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