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Archives: Jan. 1-7, 2008

Archives: Jan. 1-7, 2008
New Yankee Stadium goes up, but Bronx still seeks benefits
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
When the New York Yankees came to a final agreement for a new Yankee Stadium, the team would give roughly $1.2 million a year, starting when the work began, to various community groups through a special panel. But nearly 17 months after construction began, as workers race to complete the new Yankee Stadium by opening day 2009, none of that money has been distributed, and the group responsible for administering it has never met. The Yankees say they’ve placed the money in an escrow account and are waiting for the city to act; Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrión Jr. won’t comment, which leads one to believe there are some New York City politics playing out totally unrelated to the Yankees.

 

Mallards ballpark renovation now estimated at $5.6 million
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A plan to renovate Warner Park, the home of the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), prompting team and city officials to take a second look at the project, which would include the installation of new bleachers and a reorientation of the playing field. The City Council approved a $4 million financing package for the project in its 2008 capital budget, including $800,000 in city money to renovate the aging bleachers and a $1.2 million city loan to the Mallards, with the remainder to be covered by the team. This leaves a $1.6 million funding gap — which is probably pretty doable, according to the team officials we’ve chatted with — but the larger issues involves politics, as Alderman Michael Schumacher says there should be a study of how the project impact the local area. As anyone who’s been around Madison know, projects there can get "studied" to death. The team is still looking at a 2009 timetable for completing the project.

Delegation uninterested in Rays’ wish
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The 12 members of the Pinellas County legislative delegation don’t seem interested in carrying water for the Tampa Bay Rays as they seek $60 million in sales-tax rebates ($2 million a year for 30 years) for a new waterfront ballpark on the current Al Lang Field site in downtown St. Petersburg. None of the legislators interviewed was in favor of the proposal, much less sponsoring it. The Rays have said all along this wasn’t an essential part of the ballpark funding package, and they’ve done little to lobby members of the Pinellas County delegation. Contrary to what this article reports, the current plan for Miami-Dade County is to seek similar funding for a new Florida Marlins ballpark; don’t be surprised if Gov. Charlie Crist pushes for both and adds some additional venues to the mix to broaden the appeal.

 

Braman makes pitch against new Fish pond
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Luxury auto dealer Norman Braman doesn’t want to see a new $525-million Florida Marlins ballpark — so much so that he’s buying airtime in Miami to rally public opinion against the project. Last month, county commissioners voted 9-4 in favor of the massive agreement with the city to finance billions in new downtown spending that would also help build the ballpark. Thursday’s financing vote will include a detailed contract that, among other items, makes cost overruns the team’s responsibility. Braman, as you’ll recall, is the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL).

Ballpark bidding challenged again
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Franklin County commissioners, accused two months ago of trying to steer a construction contract on the new Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League) ballpark to a union company, are being challenged by another low bidder crying foul for the same reason. Commissioners expect to hire W.G. Tomko on Tuesday, opening the county to a possible lawsuit that could delay construction of Huntington Park. TP Mechanical submitted the low bid for the plumbing job and a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning package, but county officials are splitting the jobs and awarding them separately. The $55-million ballpark is set to open in the Arena District for the 2009 baseball season, though that will be a fairly tight schedule.

Forest District seeks expansion of Elfstrom Stadium
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Kane County Forest Preserve District will go out for a third round of bids on the expansion of Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League). The district and the Cougars want to add a second deck of seats and an overhang, more concession stands, more restrooms and more private skyboxes. They’ve budgeted $5 million for the work, but the first two rounds of bids yielded estimates of $12 million. It’s hard to tell what the district expects to go differently this time, although now officials say they’re more likely to see a bid of $10 million as being acceptable. More from the Kane County Chronicle.

Tunney wary of Wrigley deal
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Ald. Thomas Tunney, who represents Wrigleyville and whose participation was key in getting the area to agree to more Chicago Cubs night games, says he’s skeptical about the prospects of the state buying and running Wrigley Field. One objection is philosophical — there are private firms willing to step up and buy both Wrigley Field and the Cubs — and the other is purely logistical, wondering how the state could afford to buy the facility. Here’s why Sam Zell is so hot to have the state buy the Friendly Confines: he says the state can pay more than a private individual because the state can borrow money at a lower interest rate. It’s purely a play to put more money into Sam Zell’s pocket and does nothing to "protect" Wrigley Field: it already has historic-landmark designation and cannot be significantly be altered without an oversight process.

Reno will get franchise, but with what affiliation?
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
When the Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) move to Reno for the 2009 season, the team may have a new affiliate. Currently the Sidewinders are affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but that arrangement won’t make logistical sense when the team is in northern Nevada. Reno is in Giants territory, but the team seems pretty happy with its Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies. It’s way to early to discuss affiliate changes; we’re guessing the Grizzles wouldn’t have switched colors to the Giants colors if they didn’t expect a longer-term relationship, however.

Merchandise director has high hopes for the Brewers
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
You know your team is getting pretty good press coverage when the local business magazine does a big article on your new merchandise director. Here’s a profile of Jill Aronoff, who joined the Milwaukee Brewers six months ago as director of merchandise branding. She joined the team in July after six seasons with the Oakland Raiders as director of marketing for The Raider Image, the Raiders’ official team store. Currently, the team is expanding its retail operation by building a 3,100-square-foot store at the main entrance to Miller Park to go along with the 4,500-square-foot store now in the leftfield corner. The Brewers’ retail sales increased 40 percent in the 2007 season, due in part to the team’s on-field success.

Community must face up to future of Ed Smith Stadium
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Kerry Kirschner, executive director of the Argus Foundation, says the city of Sarasota must face the consequences of the future of Ed Smith Stadium, the spring home of the Cincinnati Reds and the regular-season home of the Sarasota Reds (High Class A; Florida State League). When the Reds leave — and it seems inevitable they will — the maintenance costs for the ballpark will rise from $500,000 annually to $1.3 million annually. In addition, local businesses will miss out on spring-training revenues.

Ballpark Notes
Posted Jan. 7, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Vice President of Baseball Operations Chris Hall is the new general manager and VP of baseball operations of the Nashua Pride (independent; Can-Am Association). "Chris Hall played an integral role in fielding a championship team for the Pride last season, all the while contributing to the Pride’s off-the-field efforts to raise the organization’s profile within the Nashua community. Through this experience, Chris has garnered a unique, working knowledge as to what is required to keep professional baseball alive and well in Nashua for years to come," said team owner John Stabile. Hall joined the Pride front office in 2006 as the vice president of baseball operations. While he conducted corporate sales and spearheaded community relations, he most notably worked hand in hand with manager Butch Hobson assembling Pride player personnel. After the Pride experienced some growing pains in making the leap from the Atlantic League to the Can-Am League in 2006, Hall identified and signed a number of players that went were instrumental in Nashua’s 2007 championship run….Bill Masse is the new manager of the San Antonio Missions (Class AA; Texas League). Joining Masse on the field staff will be hitting coach Terry Kennedy, pitching coach Steve Webber and athletic trainer Wade Yamasaki. Masse joins the Missions after serving last season as the manager of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League), leading them to a 70-73 record. Kennedy most recently was the manager for the San Diego Surf Dawgs (independent; Golden Baseball League) in 2005, where he earned Manager of the Year honors in their inaugural season. Webber served as the pitching coach for Lake Elsinore (Class A; California League) in 2006-2007 and for the Fort Wayne Wizards (Low Class A; Midwest League) in 2004-2005….Dan Rohn will return for his second season at the helm of the Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and will be joined again on the bench by pitching coach Mike Caldwell and hitting coach Jim Bowie. Anthony Reyes will join the club as athletic trainer. Rohn’s first term in Fresno was highly successful, as he guided the Grizzlies to a 77-67 (.535) record in 2007, the second best winning percentage in franchise history….John Shoemaker return as manager of the Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League). Shoemaker is joined by hitting coach Luis Salazar, back for his second season in Jacksonville. Glenn Dishman makes his Jacksonville debut as pitching coach while Carlos Olivas returns to the Suns for his second season as athletic trainer….Megan Dimond is the new PR director for the Louisville Bats (Class AAA; International League)….Brian Irizarry is the new director of media relations & broadcasting for the Connecticut Defenders (Class AA; Eastern League). Irizarry will be the lead play-by-play voice for all 142 Defenders games this season. He will also handle all media relations and contribute to the organizations sales efforts. This year will mark Irizarry’s fourth year in minor league baseball as a front-office staff member. He began working in minor-league baseball during his college days for the Hudson Valley Renegades (short season; NY-Penn League) as the team’s public-address assistant. He joins the Defenders after spending the past three seasons (2005-07) with the New Haven County Cutters (independent; Can-Am Association). He was group sales manager & broadcaster for the Cutters….Mike Sarbaugh has been named manager of the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League). Sarbaugh will be joined on the staff by new pitching coach Tony Arnold, as well as returning hitting coach Lee May, Jr. Trainer Michael Salazar also returns for a second season….Fort Worth Cats (independent; American Association) first-base coach Wayne Terwilliger will return for the 2008 season, the club announced today. It will be his 60th season in professional baseball and sixth year with the Cats.  Terwilliger, 82, was the team’s manager from 2003-05. He was named the Central League’s 2005 Manager of the Year after leading the Cats to a franchise-best 60 wins. The team eventually won the championship that year, their first of three consecutive league titles.  He stepped down as manager following the 2005 season and joined the Cats’ coaching staff two months later.  On June 27, 2005, Terwilliger turned 80 years old and joined the legendary Connie Mack as the only two 80-year-old managers in baseball history. When he took over the Cats in 2003, he became the oldest skipper in minor-league history….Scott Bush, who began his baseball career as an intern with the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) four years ago, has returned to run the team’s corporate sales department. The 25-year-old Bush joins the Saints from the Stockton Ports (High Class A; California League), where he spent the last two years first as director of special events and then as as director of corporate sales….Rick Heines is the new pitching coach for the Waterloo Bucks (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). Currently Heines is in his first season as an assistant coach at Purdue University….The Stewart Sports Group announced five teams — the Lakewood BlueClaws (Low Class A; Sally League), Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League), Wilmington Blue Rocks (High Class A; Carolina League), Midland RockHounds (Class AA; Texas League) and New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) — have signed up as customers for the the new Stewart Sports Group Call Center, which will work as an extension of each team’s ticket sales staff to reach more prospective customers. Stewart Sports Group provides sales and marketing services to sports teams as well as ballpark development services to communities. The firm is assisting the City of Topeka, Kansas as it develops a vision for a new ballpark…..

Daley now open to idea of state ownership of Wrigley Field
Posted Jan. 3, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In a major reversal, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he’s open to the idea of having a state agency acquire and renovate Wrigley Field. When the idea was originally floated late last year, Daley was against it, saying the state and the city had better things to do with their money than own and run another ballpark. We’ve heard stories of some backroom politicking going on in recent days, as longtime Daley supporter Sam Zell — now the owner of Tribune Co. and the many trying to divest the Cubs, Wrigley Field and a stake in a sports cable network — did some personal lobbying. Zell thinks he can sell Wrigley Field separately for far more than he’d get if it were part of a package, but there’s an awful lot of moving parts here: whoever landed the Cubs would need to agree to a Wrigley Field lease before they actually acquired the team. Perhaps more money in the long run, but a lot of headache in the short term, and we can’t imagine potential new owners could make the deal work by opening day — Zell’s target for closing the transactions.

Vote on new Charlotte ballpark delayed
Posted Jan. 3, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A vote by Mecklenburg County commissioners on a new Uptown ballpark for the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) was delayed after legal issues were raised. Basically, a developer named Jerry Reese is trying to submarine the project in court, saying money spent by the county from the proceeds of a bond issue on the project breaks a local law prohibiting county assistance for a new ballpark. Reese filed a third lawsuit yesterday; his first two were rejected by the courts, but his whole angle in killing the new Knights ballpark is that he thinks Major League Baseball would then be interested in the market, though no serious follower of the business of the game thinks Charlotte is MLB territory yet. The issue isn’t whether the county will win — based on the first two legal decisions, the county would appear to be on solid footing — but rather that other spending from the bond proceeds (like local school construction) could be held up. The vote is now scheduled for Jan. 15.

 

Full Nevada Supreme Court taking ‘baseball rule’ case
Posted Jan. 3, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Nevada Supreme Court is poised to decide whether stadium owners should be held liable when fans are hit by baseballs or suffer other game-related injuries while sitting in the stands at Nevada sporting events. A three-judge panel issued a brief order Dec. 28 saying all seven justices will decide the case with no additional oral or written arguments. No date was set for a ruling. The key question is whether Nevada should be added to a list of states adhering to the so-called "baseball rule" that limits liability of ballpark owners and managers, lawyers for both sides said Wednesday.

Ballpark Notes
Posted Jan. 3, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Former TAMIU assistant baseball coach Jon Hinkel has joined the executive staff of the Laredo Broncos (independent; United League Baseball), effective immediately. Hinkel will oversee new business development for the Laredo Broncos as well as other community programs available to the Broncos. Hinkel may also see some time on the field this summer as a hitting coach….The Inland Empire 66ers (High Class A; California League) announced its coaching staff for 2008. Dave Collins is manager, and he’ll be joined by pitching coach Charlie Hough, hitting coach John Valentin and trainer Possum Nakajima….The Little Falls Miners (summer collegiate; NYCBL) announced the promotion of Travis Heiser to the club’s general manager position. Heiser replaces Hoffman Wolff, who took a position as director of operations with the Atlantic City Surf (independent; Can-Am Asscociation); Wolff remains as Miners’ president and NYCBL secretary. Miles Wolff will remain as the club’s chairman and Dan Moushon as the Miners’ chief operating officer. Justin Gordon returns as the team’s coach. A native of Canajoharie, N.Y., and head baseball coach at St. Johnsville (N.Y) High School, Heiser spent 2007 as the Miners’ volunteer assistant coach….Quentin Berner is the new assistant general manager of the Rochester Honkers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). Berner, 25, joins the Honkers after spending four months as the General Manager of the Rochester Fire (ABA). Prior to the Fire, Berner was an account executive with the Detroit Ignition (MISL)….Mako Oliveras returns as manager of the Binghamton Mets (Class AA; Eastern League). Pitching coach Ricky Bones also returns for a second straight season. Luis Natera, also no stranger to NYSEG Stadium, will serve as the B-Mets’ hitting coach….Lorenzo Bundy returns as manager of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Mike Easler returns for his second season as the hitting instructor, while Jim Slaton was named pitching coach. Greg Harrel, the Dodgers’ Athletic Training Coordinator, will return for his second season….

Two sites emerge as frontrunners for new Omaha ballpark
Posted Jan. 2, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Omaha Civic Auditorium and another parking lot adjacent to the Qwest Center have emerged as the frontrunners for the site of a new ballpark in Omaha for the NCAA College World Series and potentially the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). City officials hesitated to deem them the frontrunners, although it’s clear a site initially preferred by Mayor Mike Fahey is out of the running for serious contention. Initially Fahey had promoted Lot D adjacent to Qwest Center as being a perfect location, but Qwest Center officials vociferously opposed that choice, saying it would prevent them from expanding the facility in the future. (Conversely, the folks who run the Qwest Center and the Civic Auditorium aren’t yet speaking out about losing the auditorium.) A different parking lot, Lot C (next to the Hilton hotel), is now pushed as a potential ballpark site. It, too, has some drawbacks: it won’t be the most scenic of locales an