It’s becoming a tradition: the New Orleans Zephyrs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are once playing smallball by bringing in Mini Lady Gaga for a post-game concert this Saturday. Terra Jolé will take the stage with her fellow “Mini Pop Stars,” which include Mini Beyonce and Mini Michael Jackson. This isn’t the first time Jolé […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
Shining knight to rescue Civic Stadium?
Local grocer Rick Wright is offering to lease Civic Stadium for three years to give the local Y and the Save Civic Stadium activists a chance to put together a plan to save the historic WPA-era facility and the former home to the Eugene Emeralds (short season; Northwest League). Wright owns Market of Choice, a […]
Bacon, bacon, bacon at The Diamond
More news out of Richmond: the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) landed Kevin Bacon to appear at The Diamond tomorrow night during what’s sure to be a delicious promotion: Tribune to Bacon Night. “Kevin is a busy guy, so we’re thrilled that he was able to find time in his schedule to make […]
Future of City of Palms Park still under debate
Though many in Fort Myers would like to see another MLB team train at City of Palms Park, that’s not happening any time soon, and Lee County is struggling to find a future use for the ballpark — with an outdoor pool again at the top of the list. It’s no secret Fort Myers and […]
In memoriam: Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew, a gentle slugger who put the Minnesota Twins on the map and later served as an effective ambassador for the game of baseball, passed away this morning in a Phoenix hospice after battling esophageal cancer. He was 74. Killebrew, signed out of Payette High School in rural Idaho by scout Ossie Bluege, made […]
We’re number one!
On the Internet, the numbers don’t lie: according to popular website-ranking service Quantcast, the combination of Ballpark Digest and Arena Digest is the most popular destination when it comes to sports-business coverage. According to Quantcast, the US rank of 55,816 for the Arena Digest/Ballpark Digest combo tops the Sports Business Daily Quantcast ranking of 57,310. […]
MiLB licensing sales up 12 percent in 2010
Despite the recession, last year was a good one for MiLB merchandise sales, as Minor League Baseball announced its national Licensing Program experienced a 12 percent increase in the sales of licensed merchandise last year over 2009. The program, established in 1991, consists of the 160 clubs in the domestic-based leagues. “Minor League Baseball is […]
Are final days near for RFK Stadium?
RFK Stadium is falling down, but what happens next to the former home of the Washington Senators and the Washington Nationals is anyone’s guess, as it will take lots of money to fix it up when there’s no obvious financial payout or an Act of Congress — literally — to tear it down. RFK Stadium […]
Faithful descend for piece of Ray Winder Field
Another piece of history went off into the sunset this weekend, as 500 seats from Ray Winder Field, the former home of the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League), were given away to baseball fans waiting overnight in line. Fans arrived on Friday night for the Saturday morning giveaway of the old-fashioned metal-and-iron folding chairs, […]
Stabilizer Solutions lands CWS ballpark contract
When the best college teams in the country gather next month in Omaha for the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park, they’ll be playing on a state-of-the-art playing field anchored with Stabilizer Solutions products. The playing field at TD Ameritrade Park will be under considerable scrutiny when the College World Series opens: it will […]
Long Island ballpark plan resurrected
Talk about a dramatic rise from the dead: Nassau County officials revived a plan for a new ballpark on Long Island, as a $400-million bond issue subject to voter approval would include $50 million for a new minor-league ballpark and $350-million Nassau Coliseum replacement. No word on the potential tenant. For years the New York Mets […]
Giants fan robbed at knifepoint outside AT&T Park
More on the MLB crime blotter: a San Francisco Giants fan was robbed at knifepoint during last night’s game at AT&T Park, with the object of desire a miniature Willie Mays statue issued on his 80th birthday. The first 20,000 fans at the game were issued the replica of the Willie Mays statue at the […]
Mapping the future of Olympic Stadium
Tired of subsidizing Olympic Stadium to the tune of $19 million a year, the provincial panel overseeing it has appointed a citizens committee to map the future of the former Montreal Expos home, but tearing it down isn’t an option — yet. The committee is headed by Lise Bissonnette, regarded as somewhat of a rising […]