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Archives: Jan. 22-28, 2008

Archives: Jan. 22-28, 2008
< Cubs: Wrigley should pay for Wrigley Field naming rights
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Chicago Cubs are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to selling naming rights to Wrigley Field. The Wrigley Field brand is one of the great brands in American popular culture, and throwing away that brand recognition for a short-term financial gain is probably striking Cubs officials as being a really, really stupid idea. So how can the team finally capitalize on the lack of corporate naming rights? By suggesting the William Wrigley Company pay for naming right. Now, the Wrigleys haven’t owned the Cubs or the ballpark since 1981, but many Chicagoans look favorably and nostalgically on their ownership of the team, and it would be doubly insulting for the new out-of-town owners to dump that legacy. It sounds like William Wrigley Jr. wasn’t pleased about Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney suggesting his company cough up for naming rights, and in this battle the Cubs really don’t have any leverage to force the confectionary giant into making a deal.

 

Initial Drillers ballpark plan released; city waiting for more details
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) and the city of Tulsa released an initial plan for a  new downtown ballpark, but city councilors say they’ll wait to see how the facility is funded before rendering a final verdict. Mayor Kathy Taylor announced Tuesday that the city had signed a four-month exclusive agreement to negotiate with the Drillers on a downtown, city-owned ballpark, roughly expected to cost no more than $70 million. Taylor said that in addition to private funding and lease money from the Drillers, the city plans to explore public financing, which could come from the proceeds of an increased hotel/motel tax.

St. Louis mayor losing patience With Ballpark Village
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Delays in the planning of Ballpark Village, a mixed-use development next to Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis, is causing Mayor Francis Slay to demand the Cardinals and developer Cordish come up with a solid plan — and soon. The pair now say it’s unlikely a significant part of the $387-million complex will be completed before the 2009 All-Star Game. Under the most recent agreement, the Cardinals and Cordish are required to build 324,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space; 100,000 square feet of office space; 1,200 parking spaces; and a minimum of $15 million in infrastructure improvement projects. Whether or not this agreement will be met remains to be seen. Some changes to the scope of the development changed things, and we’re guessing the general malaise on the credit side of the equation has caused the pair to reevaluate things. More from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Nebraska Legislature enters Omaha ballpark fray
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A group of Omaha-area legislators have introduced a bill calling for state funding of a renovated Rosenblatt Stadium, as opposed to a new downtown Omaha facility. The bill to help pay for Rosenblatt improvements was introduced by State Sen. John Synowiecki, whose district includes south Omaha. Under the bill, up to $20 million would come from the state’s cash reserve fund. Omaha would be required to provide $60 million in order to obtain the full $20 million. There’s already opposition of any state funding of a ballpark; you can expect other opposition from those who want to see a new downtown ballpark. Rosenblatt Stadium is home to the College World Series and the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).

Ballpark worker fired over noose incident
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
D.C. officials overseeing construction of Nationals Park, the new home of the Washington Nationals, said yesterday that a noose had been found in a break room for construction crews and that a worker had been fired. The worker had been employed by Truland Systems, an electrical subcontractor. The noose was found Tuesday and reported to officials a day later. The noose is a provocative symbol, providing echoes of lynching of African-American men. There had been an earlier issue of racial tension at the construction site when five African-American electricians said they had been fired after a Truland worker made what they believed were racially derogatory remarks about them, but officials say the two incidents weren’t related.

Ems interested in sharing U of Oregon ballpark
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Eugene Emeralds (short season; Northwest League) are interested in sharing a new on-campus University of Oregon ballpark, but it sure sounds like it’s not the first choice of the team. Owner D.G. Elmore says his first preference would be to fix up Civic Stadium, but since that’s highly unlikely to happen, the other options are pursuing an Ems-only ballpark or sharing a college facility. Pro teams and universities do share ballparks, but it’s generally an independent team in the mix, and there is the chance there could be some scheduling conflicts should the revived Ducks program thrive and someday host a Super Regional.

ValleyCats announce sponsorship for NY-Penn All-Star Game
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Tri-City ValleyCats announced the team has entered into a title sponsorship agreement with National Grid for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, to be held at Bruno Stadium in Troy on Tuesday, August 19. The 2008 National Grid All-Star Game will showcase future Major League stars from each of the New York-Penn League’s 14 teams. The three-day itinerary will feature community events throughout the Capital Region, including a Hall of Fame themed luncheon and an All-Star Fan Fest.
    "It is a pleasure to partner with National Grid to present the 2008 New York-Penn League All-Star Game." said Rick Murphy, Vice President/General Manager for the ValleyCats. "The three day festival will bring an enormous amount of excitement to the Capital Region and provide a lifetime of memories for baseball fans throughout the entire Northeast."
    National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority.

Single-A Canadians get a facelift
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Vancouver Canadians (short season; Northwest League) owners Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney sound like they’re pretty clear about wanting more than just owning a short-season team: they’d like to see the Triple-A Pacific Coast League return to Vancouver. To that end, they gave Andy Dunn a share of the team for coming onboard as team president. It won’t be very easy to bring back the PCL. For starters, for all its charms, Nat Bailey Stadium isn’t a Triple-A ballpark, and to put in the necessary amenities (larger clubhouses, training facilities, suites) would require more than just a simple renovation job. Vancouver may be tapped out after spending millions and millions on facilities for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Still, it doesn’t take a genius to see Vancouver is a very legitimate Triple-A market, and Kerr and Mooney aren’t the only owners who want to see Triple-A baseball there. Speaking of the Canadians: they released a new logo yesterday.

Grizzlies announce "adopt-a-player" program
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here’s an interesting attempt by a minor-league team to monetize their assets in the form of sponsorships. The Gateway Grizzlies (independent; Frontier League) are giving individuals as well as companies the chance to become the presenting sponsor for a specific player on the roster. The cost to adopt a player is just $500 and includes the following: sponsor/fan’s name on the player’s baseball card; sponsor/fan’s name with the player’s picture on the team website; name recognition on the scoreboard during the player’s at-bats; barbeque for the sponsors and players at GCS Ballpark; on-field recognition in a pregame ceremony with players; suite tickets for the night the ceremony takes place; and the player’s jersey at the end of the year. Fans and sponsors will get to choose the player they sponsor on a first-come, first serve basis. According to a press release from the Grizzlies, the proceeds will help to offset player costs throughout the season.

Kannapolis ballpark value relies on Lane Street access
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
As Rowan County and the city of Kannapolis continue to debate who owns Fieldcrest-Cannon Stadium, the home of the Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League), there are a few issues rising to the surface. First, the valuation of the ballpark came in at $10.5 million — which is where Rowan County officials expected — but apparently there are some access and encroachment issues. The bottom line is that Rowan County wants to control the ballpark because it paid most of the costs of the construction and operating costs.

Arizona Winter League launches next week; 150 players signed
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The six-team Arizona Winter League (AWL) begins this coming Sunday, as 150 players from 35 states and four countries will report to camp. The league has expanded to Palm Springs and Blythe from its original Yuma base. The only winter league for professional, or aspiring professional, baseball players in the U.S., the AWL is a showcase minor league that provides players an opportunity to further develop their skills in the off-season and to showcase their abilities for professional teams searching for players. Last year over 50 players from the Arizona Winter League signed professional contracts with Independent Leagues, foreign professional leagues, and also with the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays. Opening Night is February 1 and the 21-game season concludes with a March 1st Championship game.

CBL signs Nueces County ballpark lease
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The independent Continental Baseball League officially signed a lease for Robstown’s Fairgrounds Field, the former home of the Coastal Bend Aviators (independent; American Association). Nueces County will get $6,000 by March 1 for the use of field offices and a total of $450 per event at the field, including home games, exhibition and playoff games, as well as other mutually agreed upon sporting events such as collegiate tournaments. The county also gets $1 for every ticket sold, once the team sells more than 700 for an event and 50 percent of the luxury suite sales, which are not yet priced, according to the agreement. All total, the county expects between $50,000 and $80,000 annually.

Ballpark Notes
Posted Jan. 25, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Former Red Sox infielder John Valentin will is the new manager of the Inland Empire 66ers (High Class A; California League). Former Dodger knuckleballer Charlie Hough will again be the squad’s pitching coach, while Henry Cruz will serve as the 66ers’ hitting instructor….Speaking of the 66ers: The team will have a new radio home in 2008 after reaching an agreement with KCAA 1050 AM, which will broadcast all 140 games per season over the next three years.  The new radio deal ends the team’s broadcast relationship with 91.9 FM KVCR, which had been the radio home of team for the past five years. It also marks the first time in a decade that every 66ers game will be carried over the airwaves.  Under terms of the deal, KCAA will air all 66ers games live except for a handful of Sunday day games and few midweek day games, which will be tape delayed….Dan Shwam returns as manager of the Laredo Broncos (independent; United League Baseball). Shwam led the Broncos to the semifinals in 2006 after taking over for former Manager Mike Smith in mid-season…."Dirty Al" Gallagher is the new manager of the Harlingen WhiteWings (independent; United League Baseball). Gallagher brings more than 20 years of minor league baseball experience and 1,100 victories to the Rio Grande Valley.

More specifics revealed on new Marlins ballpark proposal
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Florida Marlins would cover all cost overruns, avoid sales taxes and impact fees, receive free rent for a marketing office and change the team name to the Miami Marlins under the terms of a proposed lease presented to the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County on Jan. 18. The ballpark would be smaller — 37,000 seats, 300 club seats and 60 suites — and sport a retractable roof. The actual ballpark itself, slated to open in 2011, is estimated to cost $389.4 million, with the entire budget of the project (which includes design work and demolition of the Orange Bowl) pegged at $525 million. A final design hasn’t been established, but architect HOK Sport has presented three alternatives. None of this is very remarkable: large construction projects are frequently given waivers on sales taxes, and the team-name change has been discussed for months. The budget numbers — Miami-Dade County putting $249 million into the project, the city of Miami $121 million and the Marlins $155 million — are the same figures elected officials proposed last month.

Omaha’s ballpark committee to present ideas publicly
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
After four months of private meetings, the Omaha’s ballpark review committee is going public. The committee is scheduled to make a presentation on potential stadium sites to the board of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority at a specially called meeting on Feb. 6. It will be the first time the ballpark review committee members will address the ballpark issue in a public forum. MECA board members said they expect the committee to discuss each of Omaha’s ballpark options and elaborate on why a parking lot near the convention center and arena appears to have emerged as the top site for a downtown ballpark. The committee is considering options to rebuild or renovate Rosenblatt Stadium, as well as options for a new downtown ballpark. The city hopes to secure a long-term contract with the NCAA to keep the College World Series in Omaha.

Committee unanimously approves Winston-Salem ballpark design
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Winston-Salem Community Appearance Commission unanimously approved final design plans this afternoon for the new Winston-Salem Warthogs (High Class A; Carolina League) ballpark. The vote ensures that the project’s co-developer, Billy Prim, who also co-owns the team, can build the ballpark as planned. But concerns about proposed parking lots and signs at stadium remain — including worries about a 38-foot water-bottle advertisement for Primo, a bottled-water company started by Prim.

New Nationals Park expected to open on time
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The construction team working on Nationals Park, the new home of the Washington Nationals, has 66 days to get the place into shape before an exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles. It sounds like most of the ballpark will be operational: what’s left to be done is in the interior areas, making sure the electricity and the concessions work.

Gwinnett car rental tax to go toward new ballpark
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Gwinnett County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a tax on vehicle rentals to help pay for a new ballpark for the relocated Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League). The $600,000 a year the tax is expected to generate will help pay off $33 million in debt the county will incur to build the ballpark. The county also decided to divert $7 million in property-tax revenue towards the project. More on the prospects of pro baseball in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Some pointed comments from the Richmond Style Weekly.

Fisher Cats, Blue Jays extend PDC
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Toronto Blue Jays today announced a four-year extension of their Player Development Contract (PDC) that ensures the Fisher Cats will remain the Blue Jays’ Double-A affiliate through 2012. Toronto has been New Hampshire’s Major League parent club since the Fishers’ inaugural season in 2004, and the four-year extension represents the longest allowed by Major League Baseball.

Bevos to unveil new logo, unis next week
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will unveil the team’s new identity system — including all-new logos, colors and uniforms- during a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Pioneer Place shopping center in downtown Portland. In addition, new Beavers manager and former major leaguer Randy Ready will be on hand to meet with fans and members of the media at the launch event. It marks Ready’s first visit to Portland since being appointed manager of the Beavers in December.

Drillers, city agree on ballpark talks
Posted Jan. 23, 2008 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)