Top Menu

Archives: Dec. 16-31, 2007

Archives: Dec. 16-31, 2007
Selling Cubbies priority for new owner
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Selling the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and a stake in a local sports cable network is a high priority for new Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell, who yesterday formally took control of the publishing giant, whose assets include the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and Superstation WGN. Zell wants to have a buyer in place by Opening Day 2009, but we’ve been told by some folks in the commissioner’s office this will be virtually impossible: potential bidders have not yet seen bid books outlining the assets to be sold. (Reasons for the delays: the new owners of Tribune Co. took control yesterday, and it’s not clear exactly how the corporation will sell off the assets — piecemeal or as a package.) The early thinking was that the assets may go for more if sold piecemeal, but we’re now hearing that line of thought is in disfavor: selling them separately will prolong the sales process, as the status of the ballpark would need to be cleared up before the team is sold — it would be unwise for any new owner of the Cubs to buy the team without knowing what the team’s Wrigley Field lease is. (One other fear: Zell will sell naming rights to Wrigley, pocket the money and then sell the ballpark.) The experts are now falling in line with our earlier estimate that the three assets should go for a billion dollars. It’s not everyday a set of assets like these become available at one time, and whoever buys them instantly becomes an major player in the worlds of pro sports and Chicago development.

 

Jackson City Council debating lease for South Coast League team
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Jackson (Miss.) City Council members went into executive session this morning to discuss amending a lease at Smith-Wills Stadium to lure an independent South Coast League team to the city. The SCL is currently comprised of five teams, and a Jackson team would fill the league to six teams in 2008. Obviously, there’s the issue of putting an independent team into a venue in the same market as the Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League). Smith-Wills Stadium was formerly home to Class AA and independent Central Baseball League teams.

New for 2009: The Oakland County Cruisers
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Baseball Heroes of Oakland County has purchased a membership in the independent Frontier League and will field a team, the Oakland County Cruisers, in 2009. The group, led by general partner Rob Hilliard, purchased the Midwest Sliders — a 2008 road team playing last season as the Slippery Rock Sliders — and will continue to work toward a 4,000-capacity ballpark in Waterford, Mich. The deal is still subject to approval by the other members of the Frontier League, but we’re guessing there will be little opposition: the ballpark fits squarely within the footprint of the league and the group’s finances have been described to us as solid by someone close to the situation. More from the Oakland Press.

New for 2009: The Pulaski Mariners
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It’s official: The Pulaski Mariners will be joining the rookie Appalachian League in 2008. The addition comes after a year after the Toronto Blue Jays fled the league, forcing it to play with nine teams this past season. "We are certainly excited about our new partnership with Pulaski. We have several people in our organization that have had affiliates in the league before and knew the advantages that the Appalachian League can have for our player development system," said Greg Hunter, the Mariners Director of Player Personnel. The new match comes after an exhaustive 15-month search to by the Appalachian League office, fellow league members, and many others throughout baseball to find a new partner for Pulaski. The operators of Pulaski baseball had made almost $1 million worth of ballpark improvements since their previous re-entry into the league in 1997 following a four-year hiatus. The city was affiliated with the Texas Rangers from 1997-2002 followed by the four-year relationship with the Blue Jays. The Pulaski Mariners will make their 2008 Appalachian debut on June 17 with a three-game series on the road at Princeton, WV versus the Princeton Rays. They will play their first game at home on June 20 versus the Elizabethton Twins.

Cuba commits to ’09 World Baseball Classic
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Cuba plans to participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and the island’s top sports official praised Major League Baseball for engaging in "respectful dialogue" when it looked like the embargo might keep the country out of last year’s tournament. Jose Ramon Fernandez, a Cuban vice-president and head of the Olympic Committee, said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press that "for awhile we have been thinking about the Classic. It’s been authorized," he said. "We have said we are going to participate." Cuba finished second in the first edition of the WBC, falling to Japan 10-6 in the final in San Diego. But the team was almost barred from participating when the U.S. Treasury Department initially denied it a permit.

Freedom unveils new logo, unis
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Florence Freedom (independent; Frontier League) has unveiled a new logo, color scheme and uniforms that will reshape the team’s identity. After months of development by Traction, a Cincinnati-based design firm, the Freedom’s new look keeps the popular eagle element of the logo with a modern twist for the franchise’s sixth season.
    The Freedom’s new primary logo is a silver and red oval with a modern eagle head in the middle. The feathers that shape the eagle head also form an FF, standing for Florence Freedom. Under the oval is the text Florence Freedom in a modern block font with sliver outline. This logo changes the color scheme for the team to red, black, and silver.
    In addition to the primary logo, the team has added several secondary logos including an eagle claw gripping a baseball, Liberty the Freedom mascot swinging a bat, the letter "F" scratched with talon marks, and the silhouette of an eagle’s wingspan clawing a baseball.
    The 2008 Florence Freedom will sport new uniforms reflecting the team’s new image. The home jerseys are white with black sleeves and red block letters will spell out Freedom across the chest. The uniform has red and black trim throughout. On the road, the Freedom will wear the traditional gray pants but with black tops with Florence in the same red block letters.

New ballpark’s impact? Depends who you ask
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Most stories concerning the economic impact of a new ballpark line up squarely against any positive images, quoting a small set of ballpark "experts" who say there’s never a net plus to public funding of ballparks. The dirty little secrets behind some "studies" is that they are so broadly written to cast doubt on any development in an urban area. Of course most of the dollars captured by a new sporting facilities will be dollars in a local community; that’s true of almost every consumer-oriented business, so it’s really a red herring. This story, however, is a really fair look at the economics of a new ballpark. Of course, it helps that the Tampa Bay Rays have put forward a plan that calls for no direct public funding.

Rays to hold public meeting on new ballpark
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Tampa Bay Rays are holding a public meeting Jan. 9, 2008 to answer community concerns about the proposed new waterfront ballpark on the current Al Lang Field in downtown St. Petersburg. The announcement Thursday came after concerns from neighborhood leaders that the proposal was not being discussed and debated publicly. On one hand, there’s not really a lot to discuss: the broad outlines of a deal have been announced, but specifics in terms of budgets, logistics and more still must be released. We’re also talking about a situation where the Rays are shooting for a November 8, 2008 referendum to approve zoning changes to Al Lang Field to allow a ballpark, so there’s lots of time to engage in discussions with local community leaders.

Dukes agree to city lease
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Pittsfield Dukes (summer collegiate; NECBL) will be back at historic Wahconah Park in 2008, but their future in the city beyond next season remains up in the air. The Park Commission approved a one-year lease, forgoing the precedent set with a previous two-year deal, allowing the Dukes to use the city-owned 3,100-seat ballpark this summer. The deal, which is pending final approval by city attorney Richard L. Dohoney, follows the two-year agreement that the franchise had signed in December 2005. Dukes President Dan Duquette previously advocated for long-term lease agreements for Wahconah Park, but the Park Commission balked at those overtures. In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Duquette said that he was "satisfied" with a one-year lease, adding that he believes the length of the agreement is "appropriate at this time."

Company recruits from Covenant House to make signs for Nats ballpark
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here’s a feel-good story about a firm supplying signage to the new home of the Washington Nationals, Nationals Park. Gelberg Signs in northwest Washington is creating the letters for a neon Nationals sign that will hang over the south entrance of the ballpark. Brandon Robbins, 20, helped make some of the 3,000 signs that Gelberg is creating for the ballpark. Robbins is from the District’s Covenant House, which helps troubled and homeless youth. He is one of five full-time employees Gelberg recruited from Covenant House.

Ballpark Notes
Posted Dec. 21, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Modesto Nuts (High Class A; California League) promoted Mike Gorrasi to Vice President and Alex Schwerin to General Manager. Gorrasi joined the franchise in November of 2000 and has served as the team’s general manager since 2004. Schwerin began his tenure in Modesto in 2004 and has served as the team’s assistant general manager since 2005. The front office moves will allow Schwerin to run the day-to-day operations of the franchise while Gorrasi will focus on new partnerships and the ongoing capital improvements at John Thurman Field. The Modesto Nuts are coming off the most successful season in franchise history, welcoming a franchise record 158,934 fans to John Thurman Field in 2007. The 2007 season featured the unveiling of a brand new state-of-the-art video board as the first phase in the 5-year capital improvement plan. Additional enhancements at John Thurman Field include concession stand renovations, additional locations for group outings and a multi-use year-round banquet facility on the John Thurman Field premises….The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) and Clear Channel Radio have agreed on a two-season pact to air the play-by-play broadcasts of Jacksonville Suns baseball on WFXJ-AM 930 "The Fox." The 2008 season will be the eighth consecutive year that Suns baseball has aired on WFXJ-AM 930. Suns Director of Broadcasting and "Voice of the Suns" J.P. Shadrick will return in 2008 for his third season at the microphone on Jacksonville’s top-rated sports station….Mike Vander Wood is the new voice of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League). He becomes just the second regular play-by-play broadcaster in franchise history, replacing Kent Westling who held the post for 19 seasons before resigning at the end of the 2007 season. Vander Wood joins the Yankees after serving eight seasons as the voice of the Dayton Dragons (Low Class A; Midwest League), another Mandalay Baseball property. He called Dragons games on 1410 ESPN Radio WING AM and on Dragons Television….The Big East Conference baseball tournament is returning to Clearwater’s Bright House Networks Field in 2008 and 2009….

South Carolina awards construction contract for new ballpark
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The University of South Carolina has reached an agreement to start building its new ballpark. After several delays, the school says a $24.7 million contract was awarded to Contract Construction, Inc. The $34 million project is expected to be ready by the start of the next academic year, with the first game scheduled for 2009. The stadium is part of South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman’s proposed $200 million facilities plan to upgrade South Carolina’s athletic buildings.

New ballpark could be suite deal for commissioners
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Miami and Miami-Dade County officials pushing the Florida Marlins’ Little Havana ballpark could end up with quite a view should the $525 million deal reach consensus. Under a framework being negotiated, the Marlins would provide the city and county at no cost with two private suites, parking, plus 22 additional box seats for all 81 regular-season home games at the proposed 37,000-seat, retractable-roof park that could open in 2011. This isn’t an unusual deal — the Nationals have a similar arrangement at Nationals Park — and we’re not quite so cynical to suggest this massive redevelopment project is taking place so commissioners can hang out in a suite. Speaking of the new Marlins ballpark: negotiations on an agreement between Miami-Dade County and the Fish continue; county officials were supposed to deliberate it today but will instead discuss it on Jan. 10, 2008.

Jaxx: rebranded?
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The new owners of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League) certainly are working to woo the citizens of Jackson, as they hint at a rebranding of the team and a new lease for Pringles Park that could tie the team to the city for several years. Those are great PR moves for the new owners, and we’ll see if the baseball fans in Jackson respond this upcoming season.

Appalachian League returning to Pulaski
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The rookie Appalachian League will be back to 10 teams next season when the Seattle Mariners enter the league with a team at Pulaski’s Calfee Park. As you’ll recall, the Appy League faced a crisis of sorts last offseason when Toronto pulled its team from the league, forcing officials to schedule a nine-team league. A news conference to announce the Mariners’ move is slated for tomorrow.

River Bandits release additional logos
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) unveiled a handful of new logos at a Wednesday afternoon press conference at Modern Woodmen Park, including an alternate logo that is an updated version of the popular "Baseball Bandit" logo that marked the original River Bandits era from 1992-2003.
    "The first alternate logo symbolizes what the new name is all about," explained Dave Heller, Managing Partner of the club’s new ownership group, Main Street Iowa. "It’s a fresh new version of an old logo. It has a new, updated look while paying homage to the original River Bandits, a period which in many ways was a golden age for baseball in the Quad Cities."
    The club also revealed a pair of other logos. One will feature the raccoon from the primary logo without the bridge or text in the background. The other is a traditional "QC" logo with the two letters linked diagonally. The two logos to the left in the illustration below were created by Francis Santaquilani of FS Design, while the third — an update of the iconic old River Bandits logo — was done by Ryan Smith from Professional Sports Management. A fourth logo and all of the team’s caps will be unveiled later this off-season. More from Quad Cities Online.

 

Trib closes buyout; sale of Cubs, Wrigley Field to follow
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Tribune Co.’s $8.2 billion buyout closed Thursday after an 8-and-a-half-month wait to secure final approval and financing, taking the ailing newspaper and TV company private under the control of real estate billionaire Sam Zell. The closing paves the way to Zell and the Tribune Co. to sell the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and a stake in a local sports cable network. The issue for Zell is whether to sell the sports assets together or split them up. The state has been talking about buying Wrigley Field and having an agency run it, but financial issues and opposition from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley may nix that deal.

Calgary, Edmonton to play game in Kamloops
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Calgary Vipers and the Edmonton Cracker-Cats (both independent; Golden Baseball League) have scheduled a game at Kamloops’ NorBrock Stadium next summer as a prelude to the league placing a team there in 2009. GBL officials met with Kamloops officials recently to discuss an expansion of the league. The way it’s been described to us: Canadian and possibly Pacific Northwest expansion would allow the league to play with two divisions, cutting down on travel expenses.

New for 2008: North Shore Navigators
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
We have a new name for the relocated Holyoke Giants: the North Shore Navigators (summer collegiate; NECBL) will be taking up residence at Lynn’s Fraser Field in 2008. The ballpark was formerly home to the North Shore Spirit (independent; Can-Am Association), and it should be a pretty decent setup for summer-college ball, with the seating and the turf remaining in place. The Navigators will operate in Lynn for at least two seasons. In the $1 annual lease, the city will cover water, sewer and electrical costs. The club’s responsibilities include maintenance, upkeep, operating the concessions and in-stadium advertising.

New for 2008: Santa Maria Valley Packers
Posted Dec. 20, 2007 (feedb