Archives: June 15, 2007
Squeeze play in York
Posted June 15, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
York City inspectors were at the Sovereign Bank Stadium on Thursday, looking at everything from concession stands to the site’s handicapped accessibility, but they weren’t there to approve the ballpark’s opening for tonight’s York Revolution (independent; Atlantic League). That decision will come sometime today, hours before the first pitch. It doesn’t sound like there are any major issues the team needs to address before the game starts, however. The York Dispatch is running a series of features on the new ballpark; you can see an index here.
‘Main Street’ economic engine for spring training
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A 166-acre development named "Main Street" will become to a new 15,000-seat spring-training ballpark for the Los Angeles Dodgers and perhaps the Chicago White Sox, which is expected to open in February 2009. The Glendale Planning Commission gave unanimous approval to rezone the property west of Loop 101 to the New River and from Glendale Avenue to Bethany Home Road from Agricultural (A-1) to Planned Area Development (PAD). The complex, which will have two major-league practice fields per team, four minor-league practice fields per team, 42,000-square-foot team clubhouses, workout fields and parking for 5,000 vehicles, will be situated west of Loop 101 between Camelback Road and Glendale Avenue, reaching the Phoenix and Glendale borders. Cost of the complex will be "a preliminary $80 million," according to City Attorney Craig Tindall.
Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed downtown ballpark
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In order to do everything they can to keep the College World Series, Omaha officials are studying proposals to build a new ballpark north of downtown. If they’d ask Cal State Fullerton coach George Horton, he’d tell them not to bother. "This piece of property is very, very special," Horton said. "If things can be fixed, and if the NCAA and the city of Omaha can accomplish everything they want to here, then I say keep it right here. It’s not broke. In fact, it’s almost perfect." Mississippi State coach Ron Polk also said he would prefer that Rosenblatt remain the home of the CWS. "At the same time, if it helps college baseball and the city of Omaha feels like it’s a good move, then I don’t think anyone has a problem moving it," Polk said. "As long as they keep the name Rosenblatt so they’d make it feel like college baseball."
Oakland, Midland extend PDC
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The Oakland Athletics have announced the club has extended its player development contract with the Midland RockHounds (Class AA; Texas League) through the 2012 season. "We are pleased to continue our productive and valuable relationship with the RockHounds and the Midland community for another four years," said A’s Vice President and General Manager Billy Beane. "Midland continues to play an integral part of our player development system."
Hardball unveils more ballpark details
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Hardball Capital has begun pitching companies that are interested in putting their names on the new downtown ballpark for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League). Fifty to 60 meetings were conducted with companies that have shown an interest in naming rights as well as purchasing luxury suites in the new ballpark. Jason Freier, CEO of Hardball Capital, which owns the Wizards, said he was unsure when a decision would be made. Freier also has been talking with city officials about changes to the design of Harrison Square, which includes the stadium, retail and residential space, parking garage and hotel. The ballpark is expected to have about 6,000 seats, but with outfield berms and other areas will have the capacity for 8,000 to 9,000 spectators.
MLB wants fees from online fantasy leagues
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Attorneys representing Major League Baseball argued yesterday that online fantasy baseball companies cannot operate without paying license fees to MLB to compensate players for the use of their names. A panel of three judges at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis seemed skeptical that MLB could take financial control of a game that uses publicly available statistics and widely known names of players. Major League Baseball is appealing a lower court summary judgment last year that ruled St. Louis-based CBC Distribution and Marketing Inc. does not have to pay licensing fees for MLB players’ names and statistics as fodder for online fantasy league games.
Ballpark condos in limbo
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The future of a 36-unit condo tower on the edge of MerchantsAuto.com Stadium remained tied in regulatory knots last night, when the Manchester Planning Board refused to take a quick vote on a permit requested by developers. The project — which is adamantly opposed by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) — would squeeze a six-story condo tower between the ballpark and the small parking lot beside the ballpark. Planners decided to consider the issue next month, when more members could be in attendance and Fisher Cats owner Art Solomon would have the chance to challenge a conditional-use permit.
Tanner hopes Gamecocks will open next season in new ballpark
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University of South Carolina coach Ray Tanner noticed two very hopeful things when he visited the site of the Gamecocks planned $24-million ballpark: The wind blowing out to right field and there were lots of people working. Tanner remains hopeful the facility could be ready to go at the start of the 2008 season as he watched crews preparing the site along the Congaree River. The university spent this past season honoring South Carolina’s old, crumbling Sarge Frye Field for three decades of use. But as delays popped up about environmental permits and neighbors not keen on the project, the reality of a finished ballpark. Tanner spoke with some on site who made him feel like the project could be ready when South Carolina opens up with East Carolina next season. The university is waiting on construction bids that could complicate things further, however.
Ballpark Notes
Posted June 15, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Charleston native Stephen Colbert, an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning comedian, satirist, actor and writer, and the host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, will appear at the Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class A; Sally League) home baseball game on Saturday night, July 7, against the Savannah Sand Gnats. Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2006, Colbert, who was raised on James Island, SC will throw the game’s ceremonial first pitch (actually, in an act of shameless self-promotion raised to new meta levels by the dry Colbert, it will be a pint of Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream ice cream instead of a baseball) to Jerry Greenfield (of Ben & Jerry’s fame) and will also be a part of the RiverDogs’ radio broadcast for an inning with play-by-play announcer Josh Maurer.