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Archives: June 13, 2007

Archives: June 13, 2007

Work set for next week at Charles County site
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The effort to bring minor-league baseball to Charles County has moved closer to reality, with construction of a ballpark set to begin as early as Monday and the logo for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (independent; Atlantic League) unveiled this week. The ballpark, which is slated to cost $25.65 million, is scheduled to open in early May, in time for the 2008 baseball season. The cost of the ballpark will be split between the county, state and team owner Opening Day Partners LLC. An official groundbreaking for the ballpark, to be known as Regency Furniture Stadium, will be announced in the near future, said Peter Kirk, chairman of Opening Day Partners. This story was submitted by a reader. To share a story or ballpark news, drop us a line at editors@augustpublications.com.

Leaders approve plans for downtown Bowling Green ballpark
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Bowling Green city commissioners unanimously approved a plan for a downtown redevelopment area that would include a new minor-league ballpark for what we have heard is a Low Class A Sally League team. Rick Kelley, chairman of the Play Ball! ’05 committee, showed commissioners a map sketching a long redevelopment area, with a narrow line between Center and Kentucky streets connecting bulges on each end. On one of the roughly seven central downtown blocks at the northeast end of the district, a minor league ballpark is planned. Art Solomon, owner of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League), has promised to bring a team to town should a new ballpark be built. Revenue from a TIF district would be returned to a developer, who would build and own the ballpark.

Plan B: Fix up Rosenblatt
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Omaha officials and baseball insiders have spent nearly two years quietly developing a master plan for possible improvements to Rosenblatt Stadium with the idea that the changes would convince the NCAA to keep its marquee baseball event there. The preliminary master plan includes about $26 million in projects both inside and outside the ballpark, said Jack Diesing Jr., president of the College World Series of Omaha Inc. The group has spearheaded the plan with the help of the city. The most sweeping aspect of the plan would be the city’s acquisition of private land on 13th Street for green space across from the ballpark. About half of the proposed $26 million in improvements would go toward projects outside the ballpark, with the rest for improvements within Rosenblatt Stadium, which opened in 1948. More seating would be added for the disabled, as well as bleacher seating for about 750, Diesing said. Older seats would be replaced and team dugouts and lockers rooms would also be renovated. Media areas and offices would be fixed up, as would the concourse areas. Conspicuous by their absence: there’s no mention of participation by the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Speaking of the O-Royals: here’s a look at how their season is going.

 

O’s video screen dispute may soon be in full view
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The 15-year-old video board at Oriole Park at Camden Yards soon may be unable to present a full picture because of the malfunction of irreplaceable parts, say Maryland Stadium Authority officials, who are embroiled in a dispute with the Baltimore Orioles over how to replace the screen. The stadium authority and the Orioles plan to use the Sony JumboTron for tonight’s game against the Washington Nationals, but it’s possible that one rectangular segment could be blank. Authority officials had warned of a possible failure when the Orioles obtained a court order in December to prevent the agency from buying a $1.5 million Mitsubishi DiamondVision screen. The club said the stadium authority was rushing to purchase a substandard product. The Orioles want a larger, high-definition screen and want the stadium authority to pay for it. The authority says the club can have the board of its dreams but needs to foot part of the bill. This story was submitted by a reader. To share a story or ballpark news, drop us a line at editors@augustpublications.com.

Lowertown might still get Saints
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A former Gillette plant in downtown St. Paul is still being considered as the site of a new ballpark for the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association), as we reported several months ago, but little is being done on the project, according to reps from the office of Mayor Chris Coleman. The former Gillette plant — last used by Diamond Products — is now shuttered. It’s not considered to be a desirable chunk of land: a bridge dissects the properties, it’s not on the waterfront, and there’s the chance of some pollution tainting the site. It doesn’t sound like anything has happened since the last time we reported on it (the possibility of a ballpark on the waterfront near the High Bridge is also discussed), although developer Dean Johnson has entered an agreement to buy the Diamond Products complex. Under one scenario the Saints and the Minnesota Thunder (United League) would have their own facilities in a larger mixed-use complex.

It’s all over but the blaming
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Though some employees of the Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) say the move of the team to Reno isn’t a done deal — and they have to take that position, because they have the rest of this season and next to sell — it would take a small miracle for the team not to hit the road after the 2008 season. Owner Jay Zucker made a good go of it in Tucson, but he was hemmed in by so many negatives: the location of Tucson Electric Park on the city’s south side is a bad one (really, it should have been built downtown) and the local population doesn’t care at all about baseball — not even MLB baseball during spring training. Speaking of Tucson Electric Park: the future of the facility is in some doubt. Concerts are a sure moneymaker for the facility, and the Arizona Diamondbacks seem committed to running out their lease there for spring training. When the Sidewinders leave, we’re guessing the independent Golden Baseball League will explore a move into the market, either at Tucson Electric Park or Hi Corbett. More from AP, the Reno Gazette Journal and the Tucson Citizen.
    RELATED STORIES: Sidewinders sold; expected to be in Reno in ’09; Announcement on Reno’s Triple-A team delayed; Washoe County approves PCL ballpark; Reno is closer to Triple-A baseball; Guinn OKs bonds for marina; State tourism panel aids Sparks marina project; Sparks Council OKs proposal for 92 acres of marina project;
Officials still hold hope for Triple-A franchise in Reno; Sparks still in hunt for Triple-A team

Today’s video: Lost in the supermarket, Part II
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Apparently playing baseball in a supermarket is a big theme for team commercials this year, as we see from this reader-submitted video from the Greenville Drive (Low Class A; Sally League). However, the premise is a little different than yesterday’s video: it shows that baseball belongs in a supermarket during the offseason. We’ve been really pleased with the response to our call for video: we’ve already heard from several teams and vendors, 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.

Northern League, American Association to court investors for Wichita team
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A group of possible investors for a Wichita independent league baseball team in 2008 will meet with Northern League president Clark Griffith on Thursday. The team would replace the Wichita Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League), who are moving to Springdale, Ark., following this season. The independent league ownership would also run the National Baseball Congress World Series, which the city is negotiating buying from Rich Baseball, which also owns the Wranglers. An investment of at least $1 million is needed, Griffith said, so a group of 10 or more investors is ideal. Miles Wolff, American Association commissioner, said he is trying to form a group of investors, too. Other leagues that have expressed interest in bringing teams to Wichita are the United Baseball League and the Golden Baseball League.

Mincher hopes he’ll get to keep seeing Stars
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We’ve reported on this, but now the writing is clearly on the wall: the future of the Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League) remains in doubt. Nobody directly connected with the franchise is saying it in so many words. Not publicly, anyway. But the truth is, just two decades after emerging from nothingness and quickly evolving into a hot franchise, the Stars organization is fighting for its life. Even Southern League president Don Mincher — the first GM of the team and later an owner — admits the team is in trouble.

IL boss likes everything about IronPigs, including name
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Over the last four International League seasons, the Ottawa Lynx have drawn a total of 618,770 fans into Lynx Stadium. They’re on a pace this year to attract just over 85,000 more in the franchise’s final year before it moves to the Lehigh Valley next summer. Given good weather, it’s not inconceivable that the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will bring in close to 700,000 in their inaugural season alone. No wonder IL president Randy Mobley was in such an upbeat move Tuesday after he toured the Coca-Cola Park site in East Allentown. Speaking of the IronPigs: State legislators passed a bill Tuesday that restricts Allentown from levying an amusement tax on the sale of professional baseball game tickets. The legislation is an important part of an agreement that brought minor league baseball to the city, said state Sen. Pat Browne, the bill’s prime sponsor. This story was submitted by a reader. To share a story or ballpark news, drop us a line at editors@augustpublications.com.

Ripken says new ballpark could revitalize Augusta
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Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) owner Cal Ripken Jr. met with city and state leaders to discuss the proposed ballpark downtown before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the GreenJackets’ game against the Asheville Tourists. Ripken spoke for the first time in person about the possibility of a $20 million park near the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame Botanical Gardens. "I’m charged about it because I think it’s a wonderful project. It’s a process, but things are coming together nicely," Ripken said. "We talked about its potential and explained our vision. I thought it went very well, and I’m optimistic things are moving along."

Ultimate sports bar to be installed at John O’Donnell Stadium
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The ultimate sports bar is coming to John O’Donnell Stadium on June 29 – thanks to a new five-year partnership between the Swing of the Quad Cities and Mediacom! The Swing have announced that the Mediacom Sports Lounge — formerly known as the Club Lounge — will feature sports broadcasts on seven huge high-definition flat-screen TVs, laptops with high-speed Internet, and free local and long distance phone service. Designed to provide fans a free taste of the Mediacom VIP Pak — which offers video, Internet, and phone for one low price — all three options will be on display for fans to enjoy at the Mediacom Sports Lounge. Fans will be able to watch their favorite team play on a high-definition plasma TV, check their email on laptops featuring broadband wireless Internet, and make free long distance phone calls using Mediacom’s phone service. Work on the Mediacom Sports Lounge has already gotten underway, and its Grand Opening is set for Friday, June 29.

Take me out to the ball game — and bring an appetite
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When we visited Elfstrom Stadium, the home of the Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League), we noted the many food offerings at the ballpark and noted how varied they were. This account of a visit pretty much does the game; it also gives you a game plan if you’re heading into town next week for the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Game.

Brownsville awarded ULB franchise
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As we reported yesterday, Brownsville was awarded a franchise in the independent United League Baseball after league investors and the city reached an agreement for the league to build a new ballpark on city land; it will be located off West Alton Gloor close to Military Hwy. 281 by the City of Brownsville Trail Park. The field will have a capacity of 3,500 including two berms, a FieldTurf playing surface, a Jumbotron scoreboard and a bar & grill section down the first-base line.

Ballpark Notes
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For the second straight season the Voice of the Daytona Cubs, Derek Ingram, will broadcast the Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday, June 16 in Daytona Beach. The game will be aired in the Daytona Beach area on WELE-1380 AM and on daytonacubs.com for the official all-star game broadcast. Ingram will be joined by the Voice of the Vero Beach Devil Rays, Chad Cooper, who is in his first season in the Florida State League….Tom Stanton, author of Ty and The Babe, and winner of the Casey and Dave Moore Awards for best baseball book, will be making a book-signing appearance at Rosenblatt Stadium July 1 beginning at 12:30 p.m. before the Omaha Royals (Class AAA: Pacific Coast League) game.