The Salt Lake Bees (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim extended their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2016 season. “We have enjoyed our longstanding relationship with Salt Lake and are thrilled to announce an extension through 2016,” said Scott Servais, Angels assistant general manager and head of scouting and […]
Tag Archives | 2016
Manatees close to Winter Park ballpark deal
The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) are close to a deal on a new ballpark at Winter Park’s Alfond Stadium site, with two hearings on the project set for today. Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando. The team, currently playing at Viera’s Space Coast Stadium (spring home of the Washington […]
New Fredericksburg ballpark opening delayed to 2016
It looks like a new Fredericksburg ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) will be delayed until 2016, as the owners still need to close on financing and land acquisition. Suns ownership signed a two-year lease extension for Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, giving the team a cushion as it works to close […]
Hops, D-Backs extend PDC through 2016
Another player-development extension to report: the Hillsboro Hops (short season A; Northwest League) and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their PDC through 2016. The Hops have been a Diamondbacks affiliate since 2001. “We are extremely proud of our Diamondbacks affiliation,” said Hops General Manager K.L. Wombacher. “Since our affiliation began in 2001, we’ve had 32 players […]
Columbia approves new ballpark
It went down exactly as Mayor Steve Benjamin promised: the Columbia (S.C.) City Council voted to move forward with a funding plan for a new ballpark on a 4-3 vote. The deal with Hardball Capital’s Jason Freier commits the city to borrowing $29 million for the ballpark construction and infrastructure costs. Hardball Capital will pay […]
Columbia mayor: We have votes to fund new ballpark
Columbia (S.C.) Mayor Steve Benjamin says the votes are there to pass a new-ballpark funding plan, with final approval expected at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Veteran MiLB owner and operator Jason Freier has been working with Columbia on the ballpark plan, which calls for $29 million in bonding from the city and a new ballpark […]
Lugnuts propose apartments, restaurant for ballpark
Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League), could see the addition of apartments, ballpark upgrades and a year-round restaurant under the terms of a proposed private-public partnership. The $22-million proposal has Lugnuts owner Tom Dickson investing $11 million into a new scoreboard and apartments past the outfield wall […]
New Columbia ballpark receives initial city approval
A new Columbia (S.C.) ballpark won initial approval from the City Council on first reading on a 4-3 margin, with a final vote scheduled for March 18. That the vote was close was not a surpise; opposition to the project had been gaining some momentum in recent day. The financing plan: Hardball Capital, led by […]
Potomac naming-rights deal down to two finalists
Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) owner Art Silber says a naming-rights deal for a new ballpark should be finalized in April, with talks centered on two potential buyers. The new ballpark is slated to open in 2016. “We’re really close to the one that puts us over the top, which is the naming […]
Vikings stadium battle moves to state supreme court
A legal battle over bonding for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, which will also host college and high-school baseball, reached the Minnesota Supreme Court. Three Minneapolis residents — none of them a lawyer — filed suit to stop the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority from selling bonds to build the new stadium, set to open in 2016. […]
New GreenJackets ballpark project hit with lawsuit
A ballpark opponent has filed suit against North Augusta’s Project Jackson development, saying tax-increment financing (TIF) has been inappropriately implemented in the funding plan. Project Jackson is a $144-million development in North Augusta that includes retail, hotel, convention center and a new ballpark for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League). The ballpark itself […]
Marion County delays decision on ballpark sales-tax referendum
A decision on a public referendum covering a sales-tax hike for a new Tampa Yankees (High Class A; Florida State League) ballpark in Ocala has been delayed by Marion County commissioners until later in December. Really, the decision has little to do with the merits of a sales-tax hike and more to do with whether […]
New P-Nats ballpark delayed to 2016
It’s official: opening of a new Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) ballpark will be pushed back to 2016 after a naming-rights deal took longer than anticipated to close. Owner Art Silber was hoping to wrap up the naming-rights deal in time for a 2015 opening, but negotiation delays for the $15-million deal caused […]