Three groups, including one led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, have been approved to further negotiate a purchase of the San Diego Padres from John Moores. Moores had a deal to sell the Padres to Jeff Moorad for $530 million, but the deal collapsed after former agent Moorad failed to garner enough […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
Mayor slams Wilmington ballpark financing proposal
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 […]
Harris County considers Astrodome renovation
Good news for fans of historic structures: Harris County is considering a $270-million renovation of the Astrodome that would decrease capacity and make it more attractive for midsized events. The plan, as proposed by CSL and Populous, would raise the floor of the Astrodome and make it a more intimate venue, seating 5,500 for hockey […]
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 […]
Fate of Astrodome again under debate in Houston
It’s a topic that pops up every few years, as Houston decides what to do with the economically obsolete Astrodome, the indoor ballpark once hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. There had been plans floating around for domed ballparks in the 1950s and 1960s — most notably Buckminster Fuller‘s proposal for a covered […]
Marlins: No plans to move in ballpark fences
Though the craze seems to be for MLB teams to move in their fences, Miami Marlins management say they see no need to change the dimensions at newly opened Marlins Park. Over the last 20 years most new ballparks have opened with some fairly spacious outfield dimensions. The thinking was straightforward: fair dimensions mean fair […]
The Week That Was: May 20
Tearing down ballparks, Chicago politics of all sorts and the future of the Oakland Athletics made the list of the most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. WSJ: Tear down Wrigley Field now! Upper deck of PNC Field coming down this week Logos released for NAL’s Sonoma […]
Seat-squatting NYPD cop/Mets fan arrested
An off-duty New York Police Department cop was arrested for refusing to move after squatting in Citi Field seats during Wednesday’s Reds/Mets game. The officer, Eduardo Cornejo, did indeed have a ticket to the New York Mets game but moved up to better seats when he saw their availability. When security asked him to return […]
Mets owners to develop land near Citi Field
The owners of the New York Mets must not be too broke: they’re reportedly on tap as part of an investment group developing 20 acres adjacent to Citi Field. The 20 acres at Willets Point is currently home to scrapyards and auto-repair shops. It’s been a target of development efforts for years; its proximity to […]
Ballparks and economic development: Still a contentious issue
Are we seeing more evidence that ballpark construction is indeed an economic catalyst? Two recent case studies in Toledo and Washington provide some compelling arguments for the proposition. Today The Atlantic looks at Fifth Third Field, the home of the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League), and how it’s providing some $50 million in […]
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 […]
Tampa planning Ybor City baseball museum
A museum honoring Tampa baseball history could be installed in Al Lopez’s childhood home under a plan pushed by the Ybor City Museum Society. Al Lopez, for those too young to remember, was the first Tampa native to play in the majors, joining the Brooklyn Robins (later the Dodgers) in 1930 and spending productive seasons with […]