Archives: June 24-30, 2007
Council unanimously approves Dodgers, Sox spring-training plan
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Glendale (Az.) City Council unanimously approved spring-training accords on Tuesday, a major play in bringing the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox to Phoenix’s West Valley in 2009. That the Los Angeles Dodgers are finally leaving Vero Beach’s Dodgertown after decades of a happy relationship should sadden traditionalists, but it really doesn’t make any sense for a West Coast team to train in Florida: it’s a lot of work for the team and it’s not fair for the Los Angeles fans. The big issue will be whether the White Sox will be at the new facility when it opened in 2009. The team’s lease for Tucson Electric Park calls for some pretty stiff penalties if it’s broken, and efforts to find a replacement team so far have come up short. The article raises the possibility of one more team moving from Florida to Arizona (the Cincinnati Reds are in play when it comes to spring-training facilities), but we really doubt MLB would allow a single team to move, giving both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues an odd number of teams: schedule would be a nightmare, and you’d end up seeing a lot of split-squad games. More on the specifics of the agreements. More from TCPalm, which discusses the Reds’ situation and the possibility of moving to Dodgertown.
Former owners of ballpark land guaranteed $25 million
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The group that owned eight acres needed for the Minnesota Twins’ new ballpark will receive at least $25 million for the condemned land from Hines Interests, regardless of what Hennepin County will pay for it, an executive for Hines, a Texas-based developer, testified Tuesday. An appraiser hired by the Hennepin County said the 20-year-old parking lot between the county incinerator and Target Center is worth $17.23 million. And attorneys for the county, which has claimed the land, say the Rapid Park parking lot would be valued at about $8.98 million by county tax assessors; in contrast, attorneys for Hines and Land Partners II say the parcel is worth more than $65 million. Hines agreed last year to pay local land-owning group Land Partners II $25 million plus an additional 22.5 percent of anything the county agrees to pay for the land above $25 million.
Today’s video: Green Bay Bullfrogs promo
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Speaking of the Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League): here’s a humorous promotion spot for the team’s inaugural season done in conjunction with a local television station. You can read the interview with owner Jeff Royle (see the previous item) and then see him in action. We’ve been really pleased with the response to our call for videos: 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.
Owlz owner, UVSC bicker over park name
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on the debate between the ownership of the Orem Owlz (rookie; Pioneer League) and Utah Valley State College over the naming of the team’s home. UVSC sold naming rights to Brent Brown Ballpark, but the team says the ballpark’s is still "Home of the Owlz." The school believed it had an all-encompassing title sponsor that the Owlz would contractually honor. But the Owlz ownership says no. The Owlz also submitted notice last weekend to all media outlets in the area — radio, television, newspapers — that if they don’t comply with the team’s terms, they will be forbidden access to the team. One reason given by owner Jeff Katofsky: the name could run afoul of MiLB rules. But MiLB media relations spokesman Jim Ferguson, speaking on behalf of the company’s legal counsel, said he’s not aware why at this point the Owlz would refuse to use the ballpark’s proper name.
School board to hear A’s plan
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Oakland A’s officials are slated tonight to present to school district officials and parents their plans for the team’s proposed ballpark village, which may include a new elementary school. Team official Keith Wolff, son of co-owner Lew Wolff, will join team-hired consultant Jim Cunneen at the Fremont school board meeting to discuss the development’s potential impacts. Along with a 32,000-seat ballpark, the A’s want to build a massive mixed-use development near the Pacific Commons shopping center that would include 2,900 town homes. According to the team’s economic study, the housing would attract nearly 700 students to a south Fremont area that has no schools.
Ballpark a prop for reality TV
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The hard-hitting smack at home plate and the sun-blinding catch in the outfield wowed the crowd Tuesday as much as its pre-game performers. Before the game, fans cheered when four scantily-clad twentysomethings introduced as girlicious took the field at Arrowhead Credit Union Park, the home of the Inland Empire 66ers (High Class A; California League), belting out the national anthem. Ladies who made the cut to be on the second season of the CW network’s reality show "The Pussycat Dolls Present" strutted their stuff and got their 15 minutes of fame, maybe more like five minutes, to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner." More on 66ers GM Loren Foxx.
Lookouts to celebrate two-millionth fan
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA; Southern League) open a four-game home stand against the Carolina Mudcats this Saturday and expect to welcome the two-millionth fan through the turnstiles of AT&T Field by the end of the series. Going into Saturday’s game, 1,992,002 fans have attended professional baseball games at AT&T Field since it opened as BellSouth Park on April 1, 2000. The two millionth fan will receive a congratulatory gift package that includes a 37” flat-screen television, a recliner from Kinder’s Furniture Mall, a $1,000 gift certificate from Bennett’s Salvage and Wholesale, and four (4) box seat season tickets for the Lookouts’ 2008 season. President and General Manager Frank Burke plans to be a part of the milestone celebration by greeting the winner when s/he goes through the turnstile at AT&T Field.
Protest of Pirates getting noticed
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Andy Chomos stood in a green dress shirt at the foot of the Roberto Clemente statue in front of PNC Park on Tuesday afternoon sounded like one very frustrated Pittsburgh Pirates’ fan. Chomos is one of three western Pennsylvania men who have formed Fans For Change, a group that plans a protest Saturday night at PNC Park before the Pirates host the Washington Nationals. Chomos, who said he has received over 8,000 e-mails from fans backing the protest, is asking all fans to wear green (signifying the dollars fans spend to attend games) to Saturday’s game. He is also hoping all fans will walk out of the seating area at the start of the third inning and into the concourse then return to their seats at the start of the fourth. Sources close to the situation say the Pirates have instructed Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh not to mention or show anything about the protest during the telecast of Saturday’s game. The Pirates also removed all references to the protest on the fan message board on the club’s official website Monday.
‘It’s a croc’ to say Gator gig is easy
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Darren Garnick tells about his brief experience wearing the Canaligator (named for the city’s majestic Venetian waterways) costume as a Lowell Spinners (short season; NY-Penn League) mascot. Wearing a heavy, hot mascot suit at a ballgame and interacting with fans is extremely hard work, and this article gives all the reasons why mascots are underpaid.
VBL takes over struggling Haymarket
Posted June 27, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Because of the Haymarket Senators’ financial woes, the summer-collegiate Valley Baseball League decided Tuesday to take complete command of the team through Sunday, allowing current owner/general manager Mark Keagle time to fix the franchise’s problems or sell it to another ownership group. "The league is actually taking over on a short-term basis," said VBL President Dave Biery. "[The point of the move] is to give [Keagle] some short-term relief and give him an opportunity to negotiate or get new ownership involved." In practical terms, that means Biery, VBL executive vice president Todd Thompson and a few volunteers will control the Senators for the next six games. All financial decisions will go through the league, and it will handle all game-day operations, meaning everything from selling tickets to providing concessions to keeping score.
Chasing the Cubs
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Back in January we noted there was one leading contender to land the Chicago Cubs: Madison Dearborn Partners, led by John Canning Jr., a onetime college catcher and avid baseball man who has said he would like to own a major league team. Canning already is an investor in several minor-league teams — he has interests in the Norfolk Tides (Class AAA; International League) and the Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA: Pacific Coast League), among others — and has a minority interest in the Milwaukee Brewers. Fortune is reporting that Canning is Bud Selig’s choice to buy the Cubs once Sam Zell has control of the Tribune Company. Not a surprise: Bud likes a certain comfort level with whom he does business, and Canning is a known entity thanks to his involvement with the Brewers. Bud won’t have final sale over a buyer — as a publicly traded firm, the Tribune Company will need to get the most it can for the team, and that could lead to a bidding war — but you can’t underestimate Selig’s influence in the process.
Mandalay eyes expansion
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Manaday Baseball Properties, the sports-management company running the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), is exploring developing the real estate around PNC Field but is not ready to say exactly what it plans to do. After obtaining the approval of the county Stadium Authority, County Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro negotiated an agreement that gives SWB Yankees LLC, an affiliate of Mandalay, the option to buy the Triple-A Yankees for at least $13 million and maybe as much as $16.4 million. Mandalay officials have said they would wait to decide on buying the team until at least after the season so they could get a handle on franchise operations and assess their needs. The purchase option agreement requires the county and SWB Yankees to negotiate a separate agreement that grants SWB Yankees the exclusive right "for the development and redevelopment" of the 50-acre ballpark site. This article was submitted by a reader. To submit a story or item of interest for consideration, send an email to editors@augustpublications.com.
Baseball team sued over food vendor disputes
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A concessionaire is suing the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League) for the alleged nonpayment of about $270,000, as well as purported efforts to sever its service contract at Alexian Field. Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services has filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Schaumburg Professional Baseball LLC, the company that operates the team. The lawsuit alleges not only that the Flyers owe Aramark money, but that team officials and representatives have sought to keep the vendor from fulfilling its contract, which expires Sept. 30, 2015. Here’s a much more detailed account of the lawsuit and the accusations of harassment from the Chicago Tribune.
Reno City Council to consider plan to build new ballpark
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Reno City Council on Wednesday will consider entering into talks with an investment group over construction of a downtown ballpark. Council members will discuss a plan to create a ballpark district, which would include a ballpark as well as restaurants, shops, offices and housing. City Manager Charles McNeely said SK Baseball, which recently purchased the Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) with plans to move the franchise to Reno, has indicated it would prefer a downtown ballpark.
Why Sarasota may spurn baseball
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
As spring training came to an end last year, there was unanimous political support to build a new baseball complex for the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota. All five city commissioners and all five county commissioners were on board. Today, the $54 million project is a political longshot, perhaps as unlikely as an appearance by the last-place Reds in this year’s World Series. Less than half of the financing is in place, and prospects of raising the rest are growing dimmer. Even the $10 million pledged by the city has been criticized by two city commissioners. It’s pretty clear the Reds are in play, and they have a number of options. Staying in Ed Smith Stadium is one of them, though that’s more a victory for inertia than any strategic planning. Leaders in Vero Beach have already raised the issue of a move to Dodgertown. The White Sox are looking for a team to replace them at Tucson Electric Park, and a move to the Cactus League would set up a spring rivalry with the Cleveland Indians, although it’s not clear whether MLB would allow the move if it means an odd number of teams in both Florida and Arizona. And don’t be surprised if Disney brings up a potential move to the Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
Visalia ballpark renovations OK’d
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Visalia city leaders approved a plan Monday to pay for a ballpark renovation by shifting some of Visalia’s cash reserves and borrowing the rest, using income from the ballpark to make the expected loan payments. The Visalia City Council adopted changes to its 2007-08 budget that include a financing plan to rebuild the 61-year-old Recreation Park, the home of the Visalia Oaks (High Class A; California League). Preliminary cost estimates are about $11.6 million to upgrade the deteriorating ballpark. Earlier this year, officials anticipated borrowing about $10 million for the ballpark, incurring debt payments that would boost the total cost over 30 years to perhaps $18 million. Basically, the ballpark will be rebuilt over the next two years; specific construction plans and detailed budgets still need to be worked out.
Glendale close to $80.7-million ballpark deal
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Glendale officials, in the final stretch, hope to knock home deals to make spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox a reality. The City Council tonight, in its last meeting before summer recess, is expected to finalize details to open an $80.7 million spring-training site in 2009. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who is in town as the Dodgers play the Diamondbacks, is expected to attend tonight’s council meeting. They also detail leases with the two teams with stiff fines for the White Sox if the team is unable to get out of its contract with Pima County, leaving the Glendale facility underused. The White Sox are walking a tightrope here: it should be very difficult to find a team to move to Tucson Electric Park, and the team runs the risk of paying a large penalty to Pima County to break its lease.
Major boom for minor-league ball
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With six teams from Rockford to Gary already slugging it out for first place in the hearts of fans in the Chicago area — and two more teams elsewhere in Illinois — two proposals to bring new ballparks to the Chicago suburbs would add five new minor-league clubs to the mix. Organizers say there is enough interest to justify the expansion, but many in baseball wonder if the expansion isn’t based on overly optimistic financial projections. One plan would bring a new independent Frontier League team — and a $26 million sports complex — to the McHenry County College campus in Crystal Lake. The college would build the complex and pay for it in part through a 20-year lease with the baseball team, according to developer Mark Houser, one of the partners in the effort. Another proposal would start a four-team league in tiny Harvard, in the northwest corner of McHenry County. Discussion of that project just began. But if approved, it will create a privately funded $3 million ballpark by 2009 with seating for 6,000 fans in a village of about 9,000 residents. More from the Northwest Herald.
Could Indy someday be host for CWS?
Posted June 26, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The College World Series has ended for the summer, but Susan Williams is still keeping one eye on Omaha, Neb. That’s where college baseball’s championship series has been played since 1950, and where it’s under contract to be for the next three seasons. But with Omaha mulling renovating or replacing venerable Rosenblatt Stadium, and with the NCAA’s director of the event not discounting a move to a new city, might the NCAA’s hometown of Indianapolis fit the bill? Williams, president of the Indiana Sports Corporation, said she had not thought much about the prospect until receiving a call last week from a reporter aski