Wilmington (N.C.) Mayor Bill Saffo has come out against the current financing proposal for a new ballpark, saying the proponents don’t have enough “skin in the game.” In an interview with a local conservative talk-radio host, Saffo blasted the plan: “Pardon the pun here; we’re putting all of our skin into the game and they […]
Archive | Future Ballparks
Work continues on new WVU ballpark
WVU athletic director Oiiver Luck says work continues on a new ballpark for the Mountaineers and potentially a minor-league baseball team. The plan, proposed by Luck and developer Mon-View LLC, calls for the establishment of a tax-increment-financing (TIF) district in Morgantown, with the proceedings funding a new ballpark at the proposed University Town Center complex. Two counties have already signed off […]
Preferred site emerging for Wilmington ballpark?
A prominent Wilmington (N.C.) family may offer a large parcel of land off Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway as the site of a new ballpark for an Atlanta Braves-owned Carolina League team. We reported on Monday this site was emerging as the leading location for the $35-million ballpark, which would be built by private developers and […]
Wilmington ballpark financing plan unveiled
A private developer would borrow money to build a new ballpark for a High Class A Carolina League team, with Wilmington (N.C.) and Mandalay Baseball Properties paying down the debt over time. The ballpark, which would be home to an Atlanta Braves farm team in the form of the relocating Lynchburg Hillcats, is projected to […]
Mandalay, Braves to update Wilmington on ballpark
We’ll know more about a proposed Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark when Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves update city officials on funding and site plans. Progress on the new ballpark has been fairly swift, with National Sports Services commissioned to scout out potential ballpark sites and identify possible revenue streams. Mandalay officials say they can […]
Five potential ballpark sites under discussion in Wilmington
Five potential ballpark sites in Wilmington (N.C.) for an Atlanta Braves farm team will be presented to the public at meetings tonight and tomorrow night. The five sites include what many in the city consider to be the leader: a riverfront site near PPD, a site mentioned as the frontrunner since talk of a new […]
Northwoods League exploring Blaine ballpark
Another effort to bring a summer-collegiate Northwoods League team to the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., will be studied in the coming two months. The National Sports Center in suburban Minneapolis is a large, multifacility complex housing arenas, soccer facilities and ballfields; it’s been eyed for several years by the Northwoods League and potential […]
Renderings released for PNC Field renovations
We have a first detailed look at the potential renovations for PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), with Lackawanna County releasing renderings. The ballpark renovation is slated to begin any day now; construction can’t begin until the sale of the SWB Yankees to the Mandalay Baseball Properties/New York Yankees partnership, […]
After kerfuffle, Birmingham ballpark design team unchanged
After an apparent move to change the lineup of the design team for a new downtown Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark, nothing will actually change — for now. No one is really talking about why Mayor William Bell and his staff decided to remove Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio and Hoskins Architecture from the […]
Birmingham mulls changes in ballpark design team
We sense a little Schadenfreude in the air: Birmingham Mayor William Bell is seeking to eliminate two local architects from the design team for a new downtown Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark. The Birmingham News is reporting the mayor’s office is working to remove Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio and Hoskins Architecture from the […]
Ballpark bond issue on table in El Paso
The El Paso City Council may ask city voters to approve a massive bond issue that could reach $835 million, including up to $55 million for a new ballpark for a Class AAA Pacific Coast League team. Last night the Council was presented a wish list of projects from groups seeking funding approval. A group […]
Mandalay, Braves to pursue private financing for new Wilmington ballpark
Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves will pursue private financing for a new waterfront Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark, though some public money may end up being part of the deal. At a press conference this morning, Mandalay’s Rich Neumann and the Braves’ Mike Plant announced they’d be working on primarily private financing for the ballpark […]
New ballpark on deck in Savannah?
A new ballpark may be in the works in Savannah, where city officials are looking to divert $22 million raised for a downtown arena to a new ballpark for the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League). The preliminary plan calls for money raised via special purpose local option sales tax to be spent […]