With 80 percent of the land needed for a new Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark already acquired, the city of Birmingham says it’s on the verge of moving ahead with a new downtown facility. The site, across from Railroad Park, will feature a new $50-million ballpark with 8,500 seats, 26 suites (20 sold […]
Tag Archives | class aa
New Richmond ballpark by 2014?
Though there’s been little public discussion, progress is being made in talks between the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority over a new ballpark next to The Diamond in the city’s Boulevard district. The area has been the center of baseball in Richmond for decades; Parker Field sat at […]
Thunder on serious roll at the box office
It’s been a good season for the Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League): the team has sold out six straight games and attracted 48,617 fans ((8,103 per game) to Waterfront Park during that stretch. The six-game sellout streak is the organization’s first since a seven game streak in 2003 when 7,531 fans attended per game […]
Reevaluating Fair Grounds Field after 25 years
It was once the very model of a modern ballpark, but 25 years later Fair Grounds Field is showing the effects of time and a less-than-aggressive maintenance budget, as Shreveport evaluates the future of the home of the Shreveport-Bossier Captains (independent; American Association). Built for $3.5 million, Fair Grounds Field was designed to be a […]
Work continues on Engel Stadium preservation
A transfer of Engel Stadium management to a nonprofit will help preserve the historic former home of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA; Southern League), which is sorely in need of some TLC. Engel Stadium opened in 1929 and is very much a product of the era, with the classic grandstand and brickwork throughout the grounds. […]
Blue Wahoos rework lease for new Pensacola ballpark
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) will be paying more for a new ballpark that meets Class AA standards, as the $13 million ballpark will be ready for a March opening. Quint and Rishy Studer had an agreement for a new waterfront ballpark as owners of the Pensacola Pelicans (independent; American Association), but […]
As Harper skips Potomac, Silber works on ballpark solution
The Washington Nationals say the decision to promote Bryce Harper to Class AA Harrisburg Senators and not to High Class A Potomac Nationals (Carolina League) had nothing to do with the condition of Pfitzner Stadium — a ballpark desperately in need of replacement. P-Nats owner Art Silber and Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William […]
R-Phils embrace the craziness, honoring Crazy Hot Dog Vendor
The Reading Phillies (Class AA; Eastern League) are honoring one of the most unique mascots in all of baseball, the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor, as players will wear rather gaudy Crazy Hot Dog Vendor jerseys on July 10 and one lucky fan will win a 550-pound life-size Crazy Hot Dog Vendor statue. The first 2,500 […]
Thunder sets attendance mark
A rehab appearance by Derek Jeter helped the Trenton Thunder (Class AA; Eastern League) draw 9,212 fans on Sunday, July 3 to set a new franchise record for single-game attendance, surpassing the 9,134 fans that attended Roger Clemens appearance in a Thunder uniform on May 23, 2007. Jeter played the second of a two-game rehab […]
Sea Dogs welcome 7-millionth fan
The Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League) welcomed the 7-millionth fan to Hadlock Field last night, as Belinda Morel was greeted at the turnstiles by Sea Dogs’ General Manager Geoff Iacuessa. Morel received a Sea Dogs prize package consisting of gift certificates to LL Bean, Buffalo Wild Wings, and an hour massage from SOMA […]
Livington Parish: no new property taxes for new ballpark
A hike in property taxes has been eliminated as a source of funding for a new ballpark for a Class AA Southern League team, leaving Livingston Parish officials scrambling to find an alternate revenue source for construction. No surprise: there’s not much appetite these days to raise taxes in general, and property taxes are generally […]
Sea Dogs closing in on 7-millionth fan
The Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League) are nearing a franchise milestone: the team is expecting to welcome the seven millionth fan in franchise history sometime during the next homestand, running June 27-July 3. The Sea Dogs are 20,572 fans away from the milestone. The 7-millionth fan will receive a Sea Dogs prize package consisting […]
Blue Wahoos hit milestone: 1,000 season-tickets sold
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League) hit another milestone in season-ticket sales, closing on the 1,000th sale for the 2012 season. George Taylor of Pensacola purchased the 1,000th ticket. “I was in Montgomery when the (Montgomery Biscuits) came to town and it was a lot of fun,” Taylor said. “The games were a […]