Columbia (S.C.) is the second-largest U.S. market without pro sports and could support a return of Minor League Baseball, but questions remain about a funding source for a proposed $41.8-million ballpark. A report prepared by Brailsford & Dunlavey indicates the market is robust enough to support minor-league baseball, despite some potential competition with the USC […]
Archive | Future Ballparks
Search on for new Palm Beach County site for ‘Stros/Jays spring complex
With a Palm Beach Gardens location for a new Houston Astros/Toronto Blue Jays spring-training complex off the table, the search is on for a new site within Palm Beach County. The issues: questions about the appropriateness of a regional park as the future home of the complex (which would be near two schools and require […]
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 […]
Sounds, Nashville reach agreement on new ballpark
Sulphur Dell will once again host baseball, as the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the city of Nashville — led by Mayor Karl Dean — reached agreement on a funding plan for a new ballpark. The specifics of the deal are expected to be announced on Monday. It’s actually a three-way partnership […]
Politicos: New Sounds ballpark would revitalize city core
A new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark would revitalize a dormant area near downtown and bridge the gap to the gentrifying Germantown neighborhood, according to local politicians presenting the plan. A new ballpark would be built at the former Sulphur Dell site, currently used for parking and other light-industrial uses. It’s part […]
Richmond quietly positions for new ballpark
Richmond is putting together ownership of the The Diamond and surrounding land to position the city for a new ballpark there or at Shockoe Bottom. Richmond originally owned the land at The Diamond and then shifted ownership to the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which then built the ballpark. The deal called for the return of the […]
Activists: Ballpark not best use for Shockoe Bottom
Efforts to bring a new ballpark for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA: Eastern League) in Shockoe Bottom must be balanced with an awareness of the sad history of the slave trade in the area, according to activists opposing the project. Though there’s no proposal formally on the table, Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones has been […]
Poll: Squirrels home should be built next to current home
In a nearly worthless poll, the Richmond Times-Dispatch discovered suburban voters love the idea of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark be built for maximum suburban access. The poll of 694 people in Richmond (which, under Virginia law, isn’t within a county) and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover showed […]
Crane: We could have relocated PCL team here by 2016
Astros owner Jim Crane says Triple-A ball could be in the Houston area by 2016, and announced that planning a new spring-training home to be shared with the Toronto Blue Jays is in the final stages. The Astros have been working with an area developer on a plan that would include a new Triple-A ballpark; […]
Biloxi: Let’s slow down new-ballpark plan
The Biloxi City Council took a step back from funding a new Class AA Southern League ballpark and decided to analyze whether the investment makes economic sense. The Council had previously agreed to spend $21 million on the new $35-million ballpark for a relocated Southern League team, to be owned by veteran MiLB operator Ken […]
Mayor requests state aid for new downtown Colorado Springs ballpark
Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is asking the state for $82 million in sales-tax incentives to help fund a variety of projects, including a new $60.7 million ballpark for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). The application, filed yesterday with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, would be […]
Fredericksburg officials, Quinn discuss new ballpark
Bruce Quinn, majority owner of the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League), met with Fredericksburg (Va.) officials last night about a potential new ballpark and how it could be funded. Quinn has been negotiating with Hagerstown officials about a new ballpark, but those discussions have stalled. With Fredericksburg officials working on a ballpark plan […]
Biloxi petition drive falls short; council to study bond rates
A petition drive to force a referendum on city spending on a new Bixoli ballpark has fallen short, with the City Council voting today to move ahead with gather rate information on a potential bond sale. The Steps Coalition, a group seeking to put the question of bonding to voters in a fall election, gathered […]