With the independent-baseball regular season wrapping up yesterday, it’s time to parse the attendance numbers for 2012. Here are 2012 independent attendance numbers, listed by league. These numbers are for the top indy league who actually report attendance figures; there are others who do not. (Yeah, we’re looking at you, Freedom and Pecos leagues.) This season saw the loss of […]
Tag Archives | american association
Design/build team announced for new Saints ballpark
The design/build team for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) has been chosen: Ryan Companies, AECOM and Julie Snow Architects. “We are very excited to design and build the next great addition to the city of St. Paul,” said Mike Ryan, director of architecture and engineering for Ryan, via press release. “Ryan is committed […]
MountainStar, El Paso amend proposed ballpark lease
MountainStar Sports Group, working to bring the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) to a new downtown El Paso ballpark, has agreed to several lease changes designed to bring more money to city coffers and drops a noncompete clause with the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association). The changes come after some City Council […]
Dayton confirms: $25M for new Saints ballpark
The final step in funding a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) is complete, as Gov. Mark Dayton signs off on $25 million in state bonding proceeds for the project. Earlier this week the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recommended the spending, out of 90 projects submitted to be part of $47.5 million […]
State recommends funding of Saints ballpark
The Minnesota Department of Employment of Economic Development has recommended the state spend $27 million on a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark. The department was charged by the Minnesota Legislature earlier this year to spend $47.5 million of the biannual bonding request on important statewide projects. Out of 90 proposed projects, the Saints […]
Simunic set to return to RedHawks
We don’t spend a lot of time covering managerial hirings, but this one is worth noting: Doug Simunic is set to return for three more years with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; American Association). Simunic is one of the great characters of baseball and the winningest coach in independent baseball. He began his coaching career with the […]
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks welcome three-millionth fan
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; American Association) welcomed the three-millionth fan in team history to Newman Outdoor Field last night. Nikki Rude, who says she typically attends around ten RedHawks games a season, was attending her first game of 2012 on Tuesday when she became the lucky fan. Rude won a RedHawks gift package that included […]
CommunityAmerica, T-Bones extend naming-rights deal
The Kansas City T-Bones (independent; American Association) and CommunityAmerica Credit Union announced an extension of the naming-rights deal for CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed. The ballpark has been known as CommunityAmerica Ballpark ever since the T-Bones moved to Kansas City from Duluth, Minn., 10 years ago. “Ten years ago, we […]
“Save Midway” group springs up once again
Peter Boehm has been fighting new-ballpark efforts by the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) for more than a decade, and he’s back in action, arguing against a new downtown facility in a local paper. He posted his reasoning at TwinCities.com, saying that spending $54 million on a new ballpark isn’t the best use of […]
Pheasants see boost in ’12 attendance
After a few years in the doldrums, the Sioux Falls Pheasants (independent; American Association) are seeing a boost in the box office, attracting 100,000 fans for the first time since 2009. The Pheasants have averaged 2,511 fans per game through 40 openings, an increase of nearly 61 percent over the average in 2011. With nine home […]
Tkachuk: I’ll fund American Association team on my own
Keith Tkachuk is so eager to see an independent American Association team in Fort McMurray that he’s willing to spring for it, with or without local investors. The former GM of the Edmonton Capitals (independent; North American League) was in WInnipeg to pitch league officials on the Fort McMurray market and why it would be perfect […]
Fort McMurray: We’re open to American Association team
A rep from Fort McMurray (AB) is in Winnipeg to see how the independent American Association does business, but the odds of indy ball reaching northern Alberta are slim at the very, very best. Tim Reid, chief operating officer of the corporation that runs MacDonald Island Park, where a new ballpark could potentially be housed, […]
St. Paul approves Saints funding deal; next up, state funds
As expected, the St. Paul City Council today approved a $27-million funding package for a new Lowertown St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark, as both sides await word on a matching state grant. The package calls for the city to pay $17 million toward the new ballpark project ($8.5 million in bonds, repaid over […]