As planned, a clothing retailer has bought the former home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League), Knights Stadium, and plans to tear down the ballpark to make way for a shipping center. Cato Corporation bought the 32-acre site in Fort Mill, S.C., for $841,284, which covers the ballpark and surrounding parking. The company, […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
MiLB Charities donates $10K to Florida flood relief
Minor League Baseball Charities is donating $10,000 to a nonprofit providing relief assistance to flood victims in Northwest Florida, with Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) fans voting on the recipient. “After the storms and floods hit the greater Pensacola area, we reached out to our employees, fans and local non-profits to find out […]
Group seeks halt to Nashville ballpark construction for archaeological research
A local group is seeking to delay construction on a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark to comb the area for archaeological artifacts. This isn’t the first time construction of the ballpark in the Sulphur Dell area has been challenged by the Committee for the Preservation of Salt Town, a group researching […]
Kokomo approves bonds for new ballpark
The Kokomo (Ind.) Common Council moved ahead with a $11-million bonding plan for a new downtown ballpark that would also provided needed flood mitigation. The new ballpark, envisioned for 2015, would provide both a playing field for area baseball and soccer fields but also add flood mitigation in the form of berms, a raised ballpark […]
Griffith memorial stolen from Tinker Field
A bronze memorial to former Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith at Orlando’s Tinker Field has disappeared, leading to worries that the historic piece was sold for scrap metal. The memorial sat in the ballpark concourse, directly past the front gates. Griffith, as owner of the Senators, brought his team to Tinker Field for spring training […]
Thanks a million — again
We hit a coveted milestone again this month, recording a million page views on Ballpark Digest. Thanks to each and every one of you for your patronage and support. We’re in the middle of what’s turning out to be a great season. We’ll have some book announcements this week, and some site announcements as well. […]
Feds target MLB teams, interns, clubbies over back pay
Better prepare: the Labor Department is targeting Major League Baseball teams for back pay to interns and clubhouse staff, bringing them to minimum wage. Let’s face it: lowly paid labor is a backbone of all professional sports, and many current front-office personnel spent their time toiling for low wages (or, going back some time, no […]
City of Palms Park has new tenant: Edison State College
In a move that will keep the ballpark open for at least a decade but likely precludes a return of spring training, Edison State College is bringing back baseball and playing at Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park. Edison State College officials decided a year ago to bring back baseball, and the entire school is […]
Japanese plan: boost economy with more baseball
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to boost the Japanese economy using a variety of tools, which may include the addition of four teams to the country’s major leagues. There are currently 12 teams in the Pacific League and the Central League, and a report to be considered by Abe calls for the addition of four […]
Silverdome contents to be auctioned
It was once envisioned as a home for independent baseball once the NFL and NBA moved out, but today the Silverdome is in sad shape, with its contents to be auctioned. The Silverdome opened in 1975 with a ten-acre Teflon roof supported by forced air, a model also used in the Metrodome and B.C. Place. […]
One last look at Cooper Stadium
We’re in the middle of our Target Field/Midway Stadium day-night doubleheader, but we thought you’d like to see this shot: the ongoing demolition and repurposing of Cooper Stadium, former home of the Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League). As you’ll recall, Cooper Stadium, which opened in 1932, has sat empty since the Clippers moved to […]
State action could save Houston Astrodome
By designating the Houston Astrodome as a “state antiquities landmark,” the Texas Historical Commission could prevent Harris County from tearing down the famed facility. There are no current plans to tear down the Astrodome, which has sat empty since 2009. Last year Harris County voters rejected a $217-million bonding proposal that would have turned the […]
Deal reached on Flying Squirrels ballpark funding
Work on a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark in Shockoe Bottom will continue, as the City Council voted to spend $10.6 million in the current budget cycle on land acquisition. The Council had threatened to strip all ballpark funding from the budget, but negotiations led by Mayor Dwight Jones led to […]