A proposed Biloxi ballpark for a Class AA Southern League team has hit some more opposition, as some councilmen want to see it located elsewhere in the city, and more opponents seek public input. We already once covered the effort by the Steps Coalition to force a referendum on the ballpark-funding issue; leaders of that […]
Archive | Future Ballparks
Multiple teams on tap for Houston?
With the possible move of a Triple-A team to The Woodlands and several other cities in the area seeking independent Atlantic League franchises, Houston could be a baseball mecca in coming years. Houston is now the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest city in the United States. Baseball options in the city are limited: […]
Fredericksburg ballpark funding plan emerging
A potential funding plan for a new Fredericksburg (Va.) ballpark is on the table, with new real-estate taxes in the area possibly being tapped to fund the $30-million facility. We still don’t have a tenant for the new proposed 5,000-seat facility, envisioned for construction at the Celebrate Virginia site, though local officials have their eye […]
El Paso breaks ground on new Triple-A ballpark
A host of Minor League Baseball dignitaries combined with local politicos to officially mark the ceremonial beginning of construction on a Class AAA Pacific Coast League ballpark in El Paso. Attendees included City, County, State and national dignitaries, representatives of both El Paso and other nearby communities including Ciudad Juárez; leadership from Minor League Baseball, […]
Huntington mayor: We’re pursuing new ballpark again
After at least one false start in recent years, a proposed Huntington (W. Va.) ballpark for Marshall University and potentially a pro baseball team is back on the agenda of city officials. Be clear: the talk is the very preliminary stages, and there’s nothing in terms of a site, a funding plan or a tenant […]
El Paso approves new-ballpark financing plan
After city officials withdrew a request to add $10 million to the project budget, the El Paso City Council passed a plan to issue $52.8 million in bonds for a new downtown ballpark for a Pacific Coast League team. City officials had presented a plan to increase the ballpark budget by $10 million after diverting […]
Construction begins on new El Paso ballpark
With City Hall imploded and its debris almost gone, construction has begun on a new downtown El Paso ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Debris from City Hall is still being removed (that chore should be completed by the end of the week), but in the meantime crews are installing […]
Biloxi commits to borrowing $21 million for new ballpark — if plan emerges
The Biloxi City Council moved ahead with a plan to borrow $21 million toward the cost of a new ballpark, but the wheels are far from turning on any actual construction. The city council put what’s normally at the end of the process at the beginning, deciding to set up a funding plan now and […]
New Vikings stadium renderings released: pretty swank
Those sleepy high-school baseball players on the field at 3 a.m. will be competing in some pretty swanky surroundings, as the Minnesota Vikings unveiled plans for a new multiuse stadium. Besides serving as the home of the Vikings, the new stadium will host high-school and college baseball. This was a key point in negotiations over […]
Fredericksburg touted as ideal for professional baseball
As was expected by virtually everyone in the process: Fredericksburg (Va.) was touted as being “ideal” for professional baseball by consulting firm Brailsford & Dunlavey. The report from Brailsford & Dunlavey, which you can view here, cites a dense population and a strong demographic profile as two measures of potential success for a professional baseball […]
Fredericksburg to receive ballpark feasibility study Monday
Fredericksburg (Va.) officials will receive a report from consulting firm Brailsford & Dunlavey on the feasibility of a new $25-million ballpark for professional baseball on Monday. The report will be presented to the city’s Economic Development Authority, which authorized $18,000 for the study. In the meantime, the city has been exploring ways to finance a new […]
New Richmond ballpark: On or off?
Despite the effort by Richmond business leaders to see the economic impact of a downtown ballpark, there are some worries that planning for the new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark has stalled. Hopes were raised after 150 Richmond business leaders, part of Greater Richmond Chamber’s InterCity program, traveled to Denver to see […]
Shockoe Bottom gaining momentum as Flying Squirrels ballpark site?
The whispers are growing more urgent: Mayor Dwight Jones is reportedly looking at a new downtown ballpark for the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) and paying for it with funds generated by new development at The Diamond site. Under the plan, as reported by WTVR’s Mark Holmberg, The Diamond — home to Richmond […]