We're a little teary-eyed in the Ballpark Digest offices this afternoon: literally the last copy of Cradle of the Game: Ballparks and Baseball in North Carolina shipped to our distributor. What should we do: Publish another edition or retire the title? Should we look at an electronic (Kindle/iPad/Nook) edition? We want your input as to […]
Author Archive | Kevin Reichard
Rays: No, we’re not interested in limiting ballpark search to St. Pete
After the city of St. Petersburg offered to amend the Tampa Bay Rays’ lease to allow for a new ballpark in Pinellas County with no penalties for leaving the Trop, the Rays have countered by saying any new-ballpark search much encompass the entire Tampa Bay area. After the city of St. Petersburg offered to amend […]
Edenton Steamers may fold if community support doesn’t arrive
The nonprofit that owns the summer-collegiate Edenton Steamers says they need the community to come up with $50,000 to ensure the team’s survival. The nonprofit that owns the Edenton Steamers (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) says they need the community to come up with $50,000 to ensure the team’s survival. The Steamers are owned by […]
Promotions Watch: Voltaggio packs them in at Keys game
Nice promotion for the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League): Top Chef finalist and local restaurateur Bryan Voltaggio manned a concessions stand at Harry Grove Stadium, pulling in a crowd almost double what the Keys draw on an average Tuesday night. This shows the high-end promotion can work in the right market — and […]
Martinsville Mustangs approach break-even point, ensuring survival for 2011
The future of the summer-collegiate Martinsville Mustangs depends on approaching a break-even point on the books — and it looks like the team will come close to that this season. The team has been subsidized by the city in recent years, but facing their own budget issues, leaders say the team much approach break-even or […]
San Jose likely to scrap ballpark referendum
MLB made San Jose an offer it couldn’t refuse in a request to delay a fall referendum on the proposal to bring the A’s to the city; we’re told more than likely the city will honor the request. Smart move. UPDATE: Yup, Mayor Chuck Reed just announced the referendum will be scrapped. MLB made San […]
Floodwaters hit Quad Cities; ballpark is just dandy
Flooding has hit downtown Davenport, and in that past that would have meant a halt to games at Modern Woodmen Park. But as in past years, renovations to the ballpark cut down the flood threat — and even though the parking lots are filled with water, the game will go on. As in past years, […]
MLB asks San Jose to put off ballpark referendum
It takes nine months to create a baby; it apparently takes three times as long for MLB to hatch a ballpark plan, as Bud Selig and Bob DuPuy ask San Jose officials to delay a referendum authorizing the use of city redevelopment funds to buy land for a new A’s ballpark. Fed up with delays […]
Five sites emerge as home for new Cubs facility
Five sites are under consideration as the new home of a Chicago Cubs spring-training complex in Mesa, but two are emerging as the front-runners. The two are Riverview Park and downtown Mesa. The sites have some pretty specific criteria attached: besides serving as the home to a new ballpark and spring-training complex, the site must […]
Five cities to battle Hoover, Barons for SEC tourney
Five pro ballparks will be entering the bidding to host the SEC baseball tourney, now drawing large crowds at Birmingham’s Regions Park. The five: AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League); Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, home of the Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League); Coolray Field, home of the […]
It’s what for dinner: the two-foot brat
Sunday night we had the best food of this season at a ballpark: a two-foot brat served up by the Madison Mallards at the Duck Pond. Not a gimmick: it was surprisingly good. The brat itself is from Stoddard’s of Cottage Grove, who also supplies brats and other meats (smoked turkey legs, smoked brisket, smoked […]
The week that was: July 25
The most popular stories on Ballpark Digest the past week, as measured by page views. The most popular stories on Ballpark Digest the past week, as measured by page views. Panama City making play for minor-league ball Yuma Scorpions missing payroll, looking at move Escondido in, San Marcos out of Bevos ballpark mix Mystery groups […]
San Jose to move forward with ballpark referendum; Selig “disappointed”
Clearly frustrated by the lack of progress and communication over a proposed San Jose ballpark for the Oakland A’s, city leaders decided to go ahead with a fall referendum on the proposal to donate land to the project. Not surprisingly, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig isn’t too thrilled with the idea. Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff […]