Nice news out of Texas, where the Grand Prairie AirHogs (independent; American Association) drew a record crowd of 7,101 fans to QuikTrip Park for the 2012 season opener. It was an occasion to celebrate: the crowd watched the 2011 American Association champions receive their championship rings. Former AirHog ace Jason Jennings, who won the decisive Game […]
Tag Archives | american association
RailCats: U.S. Steel Yard needs upgrades
After a decade, U.S. Steel Yard is starting to show its age, and the management of tenant Gary SouthShore RailCats (independent; American Association) wants to work with the city on improvements. Gary is in the same situation as many other cities: tax revenues are down and city coffers are empty. And while the city has […]
Lemurs successfully launch new ballpark
A big crowd of almost 6,000 was on hand last night to see the Laredo Lemurs (independent; American Association) open their new ballpark, Uni-Trade Stadium. Laredo baseball fans had to wait a while to see the sport return to the city; the market went without baseball last year while the new ballpark was under construction. […]
Affiliated ball in St. Paul? Don’t hold your breath
A hot rumor in Twin Cities baseball circles has the St. Paul Saints possibly going affiliated if a new downtown ballpark opens. Forget it: the chances that happens are slim and none. Not that there’s no precedence for a market switching from indy to affiliated in the wake of a new facility: it’s happened in […]
St. Paul officials confident in scoring state aid for Saints ballpark
A day after the Minnesota Legislature wrapped up its 2012 session with dramatic funding of a Minnesota Vikings stadium, it appears the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) may be a winner as well. We wrote several days ago about the Saints project being shut out of any direct funding in the legislative bonding bill […]
Saints ballpark funding alive — but just barely
State funding for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark is still alive, but will be a long shot as the Minnesota Legislature finalizes its bonding plan for the 2012 session. Gov. Mark Dayton had included $27 million in state money in his initial bonding request to the Legislature, but neither chamber included […]
Northern League lives on — in court
The independent Northern League may be no more, but it lives on in a Cook County courtroom in the form of a lawsuit against the circuit’s former law firm. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that the league’s original law firm, Chicago-based Gozdecki, Del Giudice, Americus & Farkas, failed to adequately draft a […]
Pheasants unveil 20th-anniversary logo
The Sioux Falls Pheasants (independent; American Association) unveiled a 20th anniversary logo to mark the team’s history in independent baseball. “It’s exciting and surreal to think that this modern era of professional baseball in the Sioux Empire celebrates twenty years this season,” said Pheasants CEO Gary Weckwerth. “For those that have followed the team during […]
State aid for Saints ballpark coming down to the wire
State funding for a new St. Paul Saints ballpark (independent; American Association) is very much in the air, as Minnesota legislators hunker down for the end of the 2012 session. There are two big issues before lawmakers that could in theory involve St. Paul’s request for $27 million in state funding for a Lowertown ballpark: […]
Saints add 0K race to annual Running of the Pigs
Exercise we can embrace: the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) will hold a 0K race as part of the team’s Ninth Annual Running of the Pigs on April 21. Billed as a race perfect for an ultra marathon runner or couch potato, the 0-K race is the only competition in the world where everyone […]
Nitz returns as Voice of the Explorers
One of our favorite broadcasters returns: Dave Nitz is back as the voice of the Sioux City Explorers (independent; American Association) for the 2012 season. The 2012 season will mark Nitz’s 31st year in baseball broadcasting, his fourth as the Voice of the X’s. A radio broadcast veteran, Nitz has been calling collegiate and professional […]
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 […]
Saints ballpark bill suffers setback in Senate
Proposed state funding for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark suffered a setback in a Minnesota Senate bonding proposal, where the project was totally zeroed out. The Senate Republicans unveiled a $496-million bonding bill today, and the proposal was pretty naked in its politics: the mostly rural caucus failed to include funding […]