Three houses are being demolished to make way for a parking lot, as work on Joe Becker Stadium upgrades begins for the arrival of an independent American Association team in 2015.
WLD Suarez Baseball, owners of the former El Paso Diablos, has a deal with the city to prep Joe Becker Stadium for the pro franchise. Besides the creation of the parking lot, the $9.3 million ballpark upgrade ($5.3 million from WLD Suarez, $4 million from the city) will add new seats, lighting and restrooms to the ballpark, as well as install a new entry plaza and perhaps other development. Most of the work will take place this summer after the summer-collegiate Joplin Outlaws season ends.
The name of the new Joplin team will be announced April 21.
Image courtesy Missouri Southern.
RELATED STORIES: Joplin approves American Association ballpark investment; Joplin to negotiate ballpark lease with Diablos owners; Diablos owners pitch Joplin on ballpark improvements; Diablos close out El Paso tenure; Diablos talking end of Cohen Stadium lease
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!