A new ballpark for the Loudoun Hounds (independent; Atlantic League) is on hold while issues related to access are being resolved, with 2014 now eyed as an opening date. Here’s the statement from the Hounds’ Bob Farren via the team’s Website: With the fact that construction of the road system cannot begin for several more […]
Tag Archives | 2014
New Ballpark Village plan on tap for Cards
The St. Louis Cardinals are making another run at a Ballpark Village development next to Busch Stadium, calling for a a 100,000-square-foot retail and entertainment complex. It’s a yearly occurrence, it seems: a Ballpark Village was in the original plans for Busch Stadium, but the Cards and Cordish Co. could never quite pull the trigger on […]
Groundbreaking scheduled for new Cubs spring facility
The groundbreaking for a new Chicago Cubs spring-training facility in Mesa, Arizona has been scheduled for July 11. The Cubs will share the new facility with the Arizona State baseball team. The new facility is slated to open on Dec. 1, 2013, in plenty of time for the 2014 college season. It will seat 15,000 (12,000 fixed […]
Knights sign BB&T for new-ballpark naming rights
The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) unveiled a naming-rights partner for a proposed new Uptown ballpark: BB&T Corp. Under the agreement, the ballpark will carry the BB&T name and include signage and other promotional opportunities, starting when the Knights are scheduled to begin play in April 2014. It would be the second Minor League Ballpark […]
Illinois guv: no public money for Wrigley Field renovations
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn laid down the law today: no way the state contributes to an effort to spend public money on a renovation of the privately owned Wrigley Field. “Our state has severe fiscal challenges so the very idea of the state of Illinois spending millions and millions of dollars on Wrigley Field, I […]
City, Cubs finalizing terms of Wrigley Field renovations
In a surprising assertion, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says his city is close to a deal with the Chicago Cubs to help fund renovations to Wrigley Field. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts has repeatedly called for city or state help in renovating the Chicago landmark, which will be 100 years old in 2014. He’s pitched a […]
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 […]
BayBears, D-Backs extend PDC
The Mobile BayBears (Class AA; Southern League) and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their player-development contract (PDC) for two more years, through the 2014 season. “The D-backs are elated to be affiliated with the Mobile BayBears organization and the Mobile community for an additional two years,” said Diamondbacks Director of Player Development Mike Bell. “Bill Shanahan […]
Wild Things to bring new team to Bridgeport, WV
The Washington Wild Things (independent; Frontier League) have entered an exclusive deal to bring pro baseball to the Charles Pointe Master Planned Community in Bridgeport, West Virginia in 2014. Charles Pointe is a $1.4-billion mixed-use community spanning over 1,700 acres in Bridgeport along the I-79 high tech corridor, combining commercial, residential and recreational opportunities, including […]
Saints ballpark funding passes hurdle — kinda
A funding plan for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark squeaked by a huge hurdle, with Republican lawmakers including design money as part of their Minnesota legislative bonding proposal. Gov. Mark Dayton had recommended $27 million in state funding for a new downtown St. Paul ballpark in his bonding request to begin […]
Ricketts: Time to talk Wrigley Field public funding again
If it’s spring, it’s time for Tom Ricketts to once again call for public funding of renovations to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. It’s been a constant theme for Ricketts since buying the Cubs and the historic ballpark: that Wrigley Field needs work, and the public should pick up at least $200 million […]
Funding for renovated CCU ballpark approved
Coastal Carolina University will have an upgraded ballpark for the 2014 season, as $10.2 million in state funding for a new baseball/softball complex is finalized. The preliminary plan is to start construction on both facilities after the 2012 season, with both the Coastal softball and baseball teams playing their home games at other local venues […]
O’Conner, San Diego make news in slow Winter Meetings
During an unusually slow Winter Meetings, two events made headlines: Pat O’Conner was re-elected unanimously as Minor League Baseball president and San Diego was awarded the 2014 event. We’re talking slow in terms of activity among owners: normally there’s plenty of chatter about teams on the market and potential buyers, but this year the talk […]