Facing the potential loss of the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League), Hagerstown officials are pitching a new downtown ballpark as a way to keep baseball in town. The Suns are negotiating with Winchester (Va.) officials for a new ballpark in that city, though no final agreement on a lease or funding plan has […]
Archive | Future Ballparks
New for 2013: Estadio Sonora
A noteworthy ballpark south of the border designed to host the Caribbean Series, the Hermosillo Naranjeros and potentially some MLB exhibitions or World Baseball Classic games: Estadio Sonora. The new 15,000-seat ballpark will replace Hector Espino Stadium as home of pro baseball in the Mexican city. It’s a city that’s supported baseball: the Arizona Diamondbacks have […]
Hagerstown looking at new ballpark to keep Suns
Hagerstown isn’t giving up the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) without a fight, as city officials tap the expertise of the Maryland Stadium Authority for tips on a new or renovated ballpark. The Suns play at Municipal Stadium, a facility that’s certainly seen better days, but one that’s done OK in the past. […]
El Paso group seeking downtown ballpark, T-Padres
An El Paso investment group is looking at building a privately financed ballpark in downtown El Paso and buying the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) for relocation. The group, as outlined in today’s El Paso Times, would be taking advantage of Escondido, Cal., to close on funding for a new ballpark after the […]
Champaign takes another run at new ballpark
The effort to bring professional baseball to Champaign, Ill., continues, as a city task force will meet at the end of the month to map out a game plan for funding a new ballpark. The exploratory committee, whose deliberations will be closed to the public, will take a look at the plethora of options available […]
Wilmington ballpark dead on arrival?
Any potential for a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark is apparently dead in the water, as a political squabble between the city and New Hanover County over a totally unrelated item leads county officials to walk away from talks. It’s quite surreal, actually. City and county officials disagreed over whether the city should annex a new […]
Milwaukie seeks public input on new ballpark
Milwaukie (Ore.) city officials have scheduled a series of hearings on a proposed minor-league ballpark in the Portland suburb for a short-season-A Northwest League ballpark. With a proposed ballpark for the Yakima Bears (short-season A; Northwest League) in Vancouver, Wash. seemingly stalled because of disagreements over funding, Milwaukie officials are rushing into the breach with […]
Richmond: Yes, we really do intend on building a new ballpark
A day after comments from Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) President Lou DiBella suggested frustration with the lack of progress on a new ballpark, Mayor Dwight C. Jones reiterated the city’s commitment to a new facility. DiBella suggested the team would look for a new home because it looked like a new ballpark […]
More legal silliness in Charlotte
Jerry Reese, who failed in five previous lawsuits to stop the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) from building a new ballpark, is back in court a sixth time — and seeks the same outcome. Reese, whose lawsuits were tossed early in the proceedings, is now arguing a lease extension signed between the team and […]
Researching ballpark sites in Nashville
There’s another run at a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark, as Populous is hired by Metro to determine the best sites in Davidson County for a new facility. If this sounds familiar, it is: the previous owners of the Sounds retained Populous to come up with a ballpark plan. The result […]
Cubs courting Sun Devils as ballpark partner
The Chicago Cubs are pitching Arizona State University officials on sharing the team’s new Mesa spring-training facility in a move that could see the Sun Devils leave venerable Packard Stadium. It’s fairly unusual for an MLB team to court a college program to share a spring-training facility, but this isn’t a normal circumstance. The Sun […]
Vikings stadium debate could help Saints, Huskies — but unlikely to happen
A proposed new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark and a renovation of Duluth’s Wade Stadium could be part of any bonding bill for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium — but the Legislature is unlikely to meet in special session to consider the issue. The state of Minnesota made national headlines with a 20-day […]
New NAL ballpark pitched for Bay Area
Another new independent North American League ballpark is in the works, as investor Brian Clark pitches the Dublin City Council on a $8-million facility in that Bay Area city. Clark, whose Centerfield Partnership is also pitching a new ballpark in San Rafael, is looking for city funding for a ballpark that could cost between $5 […]