This makes us very happy: “Bull” Barch is back in baseball as the Voice of the Lake Erie Crushers (independent; Frontier League), as he takes a break from calling Notre Dame College games to replace Tim Calderwood. Andy “Bull” Barch is currently the Assistant Sports Information Director at Notre Dame College and serves as the […]
Archive | At the Ballpark
RFQ for Amarillo multipurpose venue released
A Request for Qualifications for the operator of an multiuse ballpark/venue in downtown Amarillo has been released by Wallace Bajjali Development Partners, developer of the facility. You can download the RFQ here. The RFQ is pretty straightforward, asking for potential owners of a professional baseball franchise their qualifications for running the facility, including their background […]
Fat Cats owners may seek affiliated team for Ottawa
The owners of the Ottawa Fat Cats are asking the city of Ottawa for an Ottawa Stadium lease extension in order to give the group time to seek a professional franchise for Canada’s capital, a request that seems to have slowed down the city’s ardor for renovating the ballpark as a multuse facility. There’s no […]
MiLB: Heaviest use of Vero Beach baseball facilities since 1940s
Here’s one reason why spring training is unlikely to return to the former Dodgertown in Vero Beach: Between youth tournaments, swimming meets and other events, Vero Beach Sports Village is the busiest it’s been since the 1940s, when the Brooklyn Dodgers hosted 26 teams there during spring training. It’s a vindication of sort for Minor […]
Fenway mixer: More booze at the ballpark?
The Boston Red Sox are asking the city for permission to serve more mixed drinks at Fenway Park this season, but allegations that the team has not been sufficiently diligent in preventing alcohol-related incidents will be addressed at a hearing today. The hearing, before the Boston Licensing Board, will address allegations that the Red Sox […]
Nashville seeking community input for ballpark site
After years of study and a focus on the Thermal Plant site for a new ballpark, Nashville is seeking community input regarding alternative ballpark locations for the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), providing a breath of fresh air to the proceedings. It’s no secret the present and past owners of the Sounds had […]
Valcke: Baseball can work in Ottawa
Despite a poor record of Triple-A and independent baseball succeeding in Canada’s capital, Tom Valcke says that Ottawa Stadium is a gem and should not be renovated as a concert venue — rather, it should be pitched as an MiLB short-season-A home while continuing to host the Ottawa Fat Cats. Valcke is a well-known and well-respected […]
New life for new California ballparks?
New ballparks in California for Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams are again economically feasible, as California legislators reject an attempt by Gov. Jerry Brown to divert city and county economic-redevelopment funds to fund basic services. We’re talking three ballparks here: a new Oakland Athletics ballpark either in San Jose or Oakland; a […]
The Week That Was: April 10
The preservation of a historic playing field, franchise shifts and sales in the independent-baseball ranks, a San Francisco ballpark visit, and some bad news from Clark and Addison were the biggest stories this week. A look at the top stories on Ballpark Digest this week, as measured by page views. Giants fan severely beaten in […]
Marlins still working on a naming-rights deal for new ballpark
The Florida Marlins missed a soft deadline Friday of having a naming-rights agreement in place for the team’s new ballpark a year before opening, but team president David Samson says a deal should be done within a month. It sounds like the team is heavy in discussions with potential partners, so thoughts that the place […]
Ottawa: Ballpark should be converted to concert venue
Ottawa Stadium, the former home to International League and Can-Am League teams, should be converted to a multiuse concert and event venue, under a city-staff recommendation due for debate this week. The ballpark, formerly home to the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League) and two Can-Am League teams, is currently leased to a local semi-pro […]
The Week That Was: April 3
The opening of the Major League Baseball season, the end of the Spring Training season and some potential shifts in the independent-baseball world made headlines this last week. The top stories on Ballpark Digest for the past seven days, as measured in page views. From the Frontier League to Cubs PA announcer Moreno: Time to […]
Storm enter extreme-eats arena with Home Wrecker, Filthy McNasty
The Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League) are entering the extreme-food world with a series of new creations to the Diamond Club menu, including the two-pound Home Wrecker hamburger and the five-pound-plus Filthy McNasty chili dog Nice. The specifics: the Filthy McNasty — which could feed four comfortably — is a two-pound burger […]