The landscape surrounding FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A; Eastern League), is undergoing a major makeover as construction continues on the new Redner’s Event Center, set to open next year. (more…)
Author Archive | Jarah Wright
2022 Ballpark of the Year: Atrium Health Ballpark
A modern ballpark must do more than just host a baseball game: it must serve the community on many levels, including economically. Atrium Health Ballpark has been everything Kannapolis and the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-A; Sally League) planned, and its success is why we’ve selected it as our 2022 Ballpark of the Year. (more…)
2022 Logo/Branding of the Year: Beloit Sky Carp
It was a year of change for Beloit. Not only did the team get a new ownership group and a new ballpark, they also rolled out a new logo and new branding. Their new identity as the Beloit Sky Carp (High-A; Midwest League) is our choice for the 2022 Logo/Branding of the Year. (more…)
2022 Charity Event Award: San Antonio Missions
After the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, baseball became a tool to bring the community together and help them heal. That’s why we’ve selected the San Antonio Missions (Double-A; Texas League) and their Uvalde fundraiser night for the 2022 Ballpark Digest Charity Event Award. (more…)
2021 Logo/Branding of the Year: Burlington Sock Puppets
We have a sockingly different winner for Best New Logo/Branding in the 2021 Ballpark Digest Awards: The Appalachian League’s Burlington Sock Puppets, who turned some lemons into lemonade after losing its MLB affiliation. (more…)
2021 Best New Food and Beverage: Beloit Sky Carp
Teams perpetually look for new ways to bring fans to the ballpark, and that includes creative food offerings. Successfully launching those new food and beverage efforts in the COVID era while moving into a new ballpark makes the Beloit Sky Carp (High-A Central) 2021 Ballpark Digest Awards winner for Best New Food and Beverage. (more…)
2021 Promotion of the Year: The Wonders reunite at Erie SeaWolves game
Just over 25 years ago, a man in a really nice camper put a song on the radio that launched a band called The Wonders. A memorable 2021 reunion of the That Thing You Do! cast at an Erie SeaWolves (Double-A Northeast) game is our 2021 Promotion of the Year in the annual Ballpark Digest awards. (more…)
UConn celebrates first season at Elliot Ballpark
Elliot Ballpark, tucked into a wooded hillside on Jim Calhoun Way at the University of Connecticut, may be overlooked at times—but not in 2021, as the Huskies baseball program celebrated its first season in a ballpark that’s been decades in the making. (more…)
New downtown Gastonia FUSE project designed to please fans, spur investment
With the announcement of a team name for the Gastonia Honey Hunters (independent; Atlantic League) and a new downtown Gastonia ballpark almost completed, city officials and fans are looking forward to the 2021 season. (more…)
Ballpark Preview: Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field
This was supposed to be a big year for the University of Florida baseball program, with a send-off for Alfred A. McKethan Stadium and a grand opening for a new ballpark. But like most things in 2020, a wrench was thrown into those plans. Now, Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field is ready for play. […]
Ballpark Preview: New Fredericksburg Ballpark, Fredericksburg Nationals
It’s a hurry-up-and-wait situation for the Fredericksburg Nationals (High A; Carolina League), who worked hard to complete a new ballpark for 2020, only to see the season delayed after the sport was shuttered by COVID-19. Here’s a look at the New Fredericksburg Ballpark taking shape in Virginia. (more…)
Ballpark Preview: Toyota Field, Rocket City Trash Pandas
After six long years since the Huntsville Stars left Joe Davis Stadium, baseball returns to the area with the arrival of the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Class AA; Southern League) to Madison’s Toyota Field, ready to host Minor League Baseball when play resumes. (more…)
Staying in baseball shape during home confinement
When the 2020 MLB season was shut down in mid-March, training went from a group activity to an individual quest. Here’s one story about how sports tech has helped an MLB aspirant prep for upcoming play. (more…)