Three firms — Ewing Cole, L.R. Kimball and Populous — submitted bids to provide design services on the renovation of PNC Field, the home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), slated to begin at the end of the 2011 season.
All three have experience with minor-league ballparks, both on new construction and renovations. Philadelphia’s Ewing Cole, which has advised Lackawanna County on the renovations to date, is overseeing the renovations at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Phillies (Class AA; Eastern League) and designed Citizens Bank Park. Pittsburgh’s L.R. Kimball designed Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the home of Penn State Baseball and the State College Spikes (short season; NY-Penn League). And Kansas City’s Populous opened Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, and ONEOK Field, home of the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) this past season.
Lackawanna County and the Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority are moving forward with a $40-million renovation of PNC Field. Virtually the entire ballpark, save part of the seating bowl and the field, will be redone. An architectural firm is expected to be in place by January 2011, with construction set to begin in September after the Yankees season.
RELATED STORIES: Luzerne County: SWB Yankees worth at least $25 million; Lackawanna County issues RFQ for PNC Field renovations; Debate rages over SWB Yankees sale; Yanks, Mandalay agree to buy SWB Yankees, unveil ballpark renovations; Compromise on the way in SWB ballpark squabble?; Rendell: Clock is ticking on new SWB ballpark financing; Counties continue spat; SWB Yankees likely to be sold this week; Lackawanna County: In a ballpark bind and mad; Squabbling could derail new SWB Yankees ballpark; Pols: Let’s not fix up PNC Field — or sell team to Mandalay, either
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