Minor League Baseball continued a strong 2012 on the attendance front after attracting 8,407,103 fans last month, bringing the industry’s season total to 22,346,686 through June — up 4.2 percent from June 2011. The 176 clubs in 15 leagues attracted 901,800 more fans than they did through June last year. “Our attendance remained strong through […]
Tag Archives | 2012
Silver Knight prep for second season
After a decent first season, it looks like the Nashua Silver Knights (summer collegiate; Futures Collegiate Baseball League) are set for an improved 2012. Launching a new league is always hard, and the FCBL did OK in its first season as a four-team circuit. The Silver Knights, playing out of historic Holman Stadium, averaged 869 fans […]
MiLB attendance remains strong in May 2012
The good year for Minor League Baseball attendance continues, as a total of 13,939,583 fans at ballparks through May represents a 6.3 percent increase over 2011. In total, the 136 clubs in 11 full-season leagues attracted 824,448 more fans than they did through May last year. “I am encouraged by our clubs’ attendance figures, not only in […]
NCAA baseball tourney field announced
The 64-team field for the 2012 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tourney has been unveiled, with play scheduled to begin this Friday. The national top eight seeds are Florida (42-18), UCLA (42-14), Florida State (43-15), Baylor (44-14), Oregon (42-17), North Carolina (44-14), LSU (43-16) and South Carolina (40-17). All eight seeds will be hosting first-round […]
Sally League All-Star game to feature unusual home-run derby: on a flight deck
When the Charleston RiverDogs host the 2012 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, the traditional home-run derby will be held on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. The competition, set for June 18, will feature Sally League sluggers launching drives into the Charleston harbor. The USS Yorktown is a historic venue: the decommissioned aircraft carrier is the […]
Gastonia unveils new logo
The Gastonia Grizzlies (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) unveiled a new logo for the 2012 season. The team colors of gold and black remains the same; what’s changed is the actual logo. “I think your logo is your identity,” managing partner Jesse Cole said. “I think the identity we had the first seven years is […]
NAL lays out game plan for 2012
After a hectic week, officials with the independent North American League laid out a 2012 game plan, with the Sonoma County Grapes a road team and the Hawaii Stars playing in Hilo. Forced into finding two new teams to ensure a four-team Northern Division for the upcoming season after the departure of the Yuma Panthers […]
MiLB attendance up 11.2 percent in April
Good weather, new Mexican League teams and some popular franchise shifts accounted for an 11.2 percent attendance increase among Minor League Baseball teams in April. MiLB clubs attracted 6,401,632 fans through the end of April, an 11.2 percent increase over the same time period last year. The total number of fans is the second highest […]
New Montgomery County ballpark fate tied to theme-park development
A much-anticipated new ballpark in suburban Houston is on hold while local officials wait to see whether a $500-million theme park will be built. Ventura Sports Group and the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in March 2010 for a new independent-league ballpark in the Houston suburb, to be […]
Blue Wahoos make mark by paying rent upfront
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) had a pleasant surprise for city officials: the team paid its entire 2012 rent — $175,000 — in advance. The team was slated to pay the Pensacola CMPA with a rent check of $35,000 at its March meeting, per the team’s lease, Instead, Blue Wahoos President Bruce […]
Chico Outlaws season scrapped
The independent North American League pulled the plug on the Chico Outlaws after failing to persuade Chico State to sign off on a three-year lease for Nettleton Stadium. Chico State had offered a one-year lease for the ballpark, under pretty much the same terms offered the last two years. The Outlaws — a team still […]
Spring-training games launch today
We have our first game of Spring Training 2012 today, as the Philadelphia Phillies host the Florida State Seminoles at 1:05 p.m. at Bright House Field. Let the games begin! Speaking of spring training: We’ll be in Florida next week and Arizona later in the month. Here’s the schedule for our upcoming Florida trip: March […]
FM RedHawks announce new videoboard for 2012
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; American Association) will have a major change to Newman Outdoor Field for 2012: a new videoboard. “We couldn’t be more excited to give this video board to our fans,” said RedHawks Owner & President Bruce Thom. “We are entering our 17th season and we want to continue to make the stadium […]