Vacated by the Milwaukee Brewers following 1997 spring training, Chandler’s run-down Compadre Stadium could be demolished this summer, as a developer has proposed housing on the site. Compadre Stadium has always presented an interesting issue for Chandler officials. Despite the boom in spring-training facilities in the greater Phoenix area, Chandler officials never really pushed Compadre […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
Ferguson new GM of Sioux Falls Canaries
We have a new GM for the Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; American Association): VP of Sales Matt Ferguson has been promoted. Ferguson began his career with the Canaries in 2010 as a sales executive and was promoted to director of ticket sales in 2012. In 2013, Ferguson was named vice president of sales, a position […]
New for 2014: The Baseball Thesaurus, 2e
It’s a double play: We’re releasing the second edition of Jesse Goldberg-Strassler‘s best seller, The Baseball Thesaurus, and for the next week we’re offering free shipping to celebrate. With readers responding to the first edition — which, by the way, sold out — it was time to come out with an expanded second edition, due […]
New for 2014: Cradle of the Game, 2e
We have a new book announcement: Cradle of the Game, 2e. North Carolina has a rich baseball history, and this book by Mark Cryan tells that story through the state’s ballparks. The Tar Heel State has a special place in the baseball world; it’s a place where affiliated teams play at almost every level — […]
Barons draw largest-ever crowd to Regions Field
Talk about starting the season off with a bang: the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) drew the largest crowd ever to Regions Field, as parent Chicago White Sox came in for an exhibition. The announced attendance of 8,513 marked the largest in Regions Field history, while the sellout was the seventh at the downtown Birmingham […]
Artifacts discovered at Sulphur Dell site
As the Sulphur Dell area once hosted a graveyard, it’s no surprise that historic artifacts were indeed found at the construction site of a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark there. It was actually expected: archaeologists have been working at the site alongside the construction crew to monitor the possible unearthing of […]
New plan for Tiger Stadium site: youth baseball, mixed-use development
With the first proposed plan for the Tiger Stadium site that makes any sense, the city of Detroit is seeking bids for a mixed-use development that would maintain the historic playing field for youth baseball. A major player is already involved: Detroit PAL, a nonprofit youth sports organization, has committed to building a 10,000-square-foot headquarters […]
Personnel news in Lincoln, Joliet
Some personnel news to end the week: Mark Vasko returns to the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League), while Steve Zoucha is new director of sales for the Lincoln Saltdogs (independent; American Association). Vasko returns to the Slammers as Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the upcoming season. Vasko was the radio voice for the […]
Metrodome demolition almost completed
It took years to build and mere weeks to take down: Demolition of the Metrodome has proceeded to the point that for all intents and purposes the former home of the Minnesota Twins is no more. Officials with the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority say that most of the Metrodome has been […]
Field naming rights in Biloxi up for bid
Biloxi (Miss.) officials will be marketing field-naming rights to the new Class AA Southern League ballpark that will host the relocating Huntsville Stars in 2015 and beyond. From the Sun-Herald: City attorney Michael Collins told the Biloxi Council on Tuesday the administration is drafting a request for proposals so interested parties can bid on the […]
Shanahan steps down from BayBears
Mobile BayBears (Class AA; Southern League) President Bill Shanahan, who has been with the team since its inception, has stepped down and will move with his family to South Carolina. Shanahan began his career in Minor League Baseball in 1984 and has thirty years of professional sports ownership, management, sales and operations experience. Shanahan has […]
This summer’s big ballpark act: Florida Georgia Line
This year’s big ballpark music act: Florida Georgia Line is embarking on two separate tours that will hit a multitude of MLB and MiLB venues in May, June and July. The This is How We Roll Tour has the hot country duo teaming up with rapper Nelly and Chris Lane to perform at MiLB ballparks: […]
Marlin new SVP/GM of Brockton Rox
Veteran baseball executive Todd Marlin is the new senior vice president and general manager of the Brockton Rox (summer collegiate; Futures Collegiate Baseball League). Marlin is the latest addition to the team’s senior management team which also includes President and majority owner Chris English, Shaw’s Center Vice President Michael Canina and consulting partner Andy Crossley. […]