A change in the front office for the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League), as Nick Grueser replaces Patrick Day as general manager of the team. A native of western Massachusetts, Day had served as Lugnuts general manager since February of 2007. From all accounts it was an amicable parting of the ways. No […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
Hillsboro expected to reach lease agreement with Bears tonight
The Hillsboro (Ore.) City Council is expected to approve a lease for a new ballpark with the Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League) after meetings tonight. The council is scheduled for a work session to discuss changes to a proposed lease and ballpark agreement with the Bears, who would move to a new facility […]
FSL teams recovering from Tropical Storm Debby
Some Florida State League teams expect to resume play tonight after Tropical Storm Debby wiped out most of yesterday’s schedule — but field conditions may not be perfect. In fact, teams will be using every minute possible to prepare fields for safe play. At Hammond Stadium, the Fort Myers Miracle scrapped plans to pay two seven-inning […]
Florida flooding hits FSL ballparks
Here’s a dramatic shot showing the extent of flooding on the western side of Florida: Bright House Field, home of the Clearwater Threshers (High Class A; Florida State League) is underwater. If there’s any good from this, the Threshers are on the road. Still, there have been a slew of game cancellations across the south, […]
The Week That Was: June 24
New-ballpark renderings, new affiliation deals and new life for old ballparks. The most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Life on the bottom indy league: $50 a week ASU-Cubs spat may have unexpected beneficiary: new life for Phoenix Muni West Virginia ballpark renderings released Boulders, we hardly […]
Diablos casualty of new El Paso ballpark
One side effect of a new ballpark in downtown El Paso: the probable demise of the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association). Owned by the Tigua tribe, the Diablos play out of city-owned Cohen Stadium. Since buying the team for $500,000 in 2011, the Tigua tribe has spent about $750,000 on ballpark improvements, including a swimming […]
Savannah officials to visit Fort Wayne ballpark
If this doesn’t convince Savannah officials about the need for a new ballpark, nothing will: The City Council will visit Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League). Hardball Capital, which owns both the TinCaps and the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League), has been working on a […]
More delays for new P-Nationals ballpark
More delays for a new Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) ballpark, as owner Art Silber says a 2014 opening is now the most likely outcome. It’s been an interesting year for Silber and crew, as promises to unveil details of a replacement for Pfitzner Stadium have been delayed again and again while the team, […]
Downtown ballpark planning moving forward in El Paso
The El Paso City Council is set to discuss a proposed downtown ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). A few financing plans for a new El Paso ballpark have been floating around in recent months, ranging from a privately financed facility to one funded from the proceeds of a large […]
Wilmington officials: Proposed ballpark lease won’t happen
A proposed lease for a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark hasn’t generated a whole lot of enthusiasm from City Council members, who are balking at some of the provisions. Some of the provisions are actually pretty routine in the construction world, but in the hypersensitive bubble that is Wilmington politics, they come off as onerous or […]
Lakewood lands 2013 Sally League All-Star Game
The Lakewood BlueClaws will be the center of Sally League attention in 2013, hosting the circuit’s All-Star Game. “This is a banner day in BlueClaws history,” said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. “Almost 10 years to the day we hosted the All-Star Game in 2002, we are thrilled to announce that this magnificent event is coming to […]
Wilmington to ask voters to approve new-ballpark bonding
With the collapse of a public-private partnership backing a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark, voters will be asked directly this fall whether to back bonds on the project. Developer Flywheel/Trask has withdrawn from the project, which calls for Mandalay Baseball Properties to run a new ballpark for a relocating Atlanta Braves farm team, the Lynchburg Hillcats (High […]
San Jose lands 2013 Cal-Carolina All-Star Game
The 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game will be played at Municipal Stadium, home of the San Jose Giants (High Class A; California League), on June 18. “It is very exciting for the San Jose Giants organization and the city of San Jose to be hosting this event,” said Daniel Orum, president and CEO of the […]