With the Reno City Council rescinding a plan to pay $30 million toward Aces Ballpark debt, a threat made by team owner Herb Simon is thrust back into the spotlight: Would be follow through on a plan to move the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League)? Simon is a multibillionaire, worth approximately $2.2 billion, […]
Tag Archives | class aaa
Reno withdraws funding plan for Aces Ballpark
Elections have consequences: the new majority on the Reno City Council voted to rescind a deal paying $1 million annually for 30 years to address debt on Aces Ballpark, home of the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). The vote wasn’t close — 6-1 — and it came after new members of the City […]
Concrete going down in Charlotte ballpark
Later today we’ll see a major milestone in the construction of BB&T Ballpark, future home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League): the first concrete is going down. The Knights are moving to the new Uptown ballpark in 2014. Image from the webcam installed at the construction site. Click here to check in on […]
Washoe County balking at Aces ballpark subsidy
The effort to bring lots of public money to paying down Aces Ballpark, home of the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), hit a snag after Washoe County officials put the brakes temporarily on a request for $15 million. The Reno City Council has already committed $30 million over 30 years (out of general […]
Rangers to host exhibition games at Alamodome
The Texas Rangers will host two exhibition games at the end of spring training at the Alamodome, which brings up a long-time issue in the city: the future of baseball in San Antonio. The stadium, built for football and also serving as a past home of the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), will provide an interesting […]
City, Diablos talking end of Cohen Stadium lease
The city and the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association) are discussing a termination of the team’s lease at Cohen Stadium, which could lead to a downsizing of the facility in the future. The Tigua tribe, owners of the team, had talked about running the Diablos even after a new Triple-A Pacific Coast League team […]
Voters approve El Paso hotel/motel tax for new ballpark
After much rancor, a federal lawsuit and assertions that voters were being ignored, those same voters roared back with a vengeance, overwhelmingly approving a rise in the hotel/motel tax to fund a new downtown ballpark for a Triple-A Pacific Coast League team. Proposition 3, which raised the hotel/motel tax by two percentage points, with the […]
Rainiers eye more ballpark improvements for 2013
With a slight attendance dip last season and a disappointing number of walk-up sales, the Tacoma Rainiers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are looking at ballpark improvements to attract the impulsive. The team just ended a second season at a renovated Cheney Stadium: after setting an attendance record in 2011, the numbers were down last […]
Dell extends naming-rights deal with Round Rock; ballpark renovations on tap
Dell and the Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) announced a ten-year renewal of their naming-rights deal for Dell Diamond, through the 2023 season. “Dell has been a valued partner with the Express since day one, and this extension ensures our partnership well into the next decade,” Express Owner/CEO Reid Ryan said. “Moving […]
New SWB moniker to be unveiled Nov. 14
The overhaul of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) is proceeding apace, with a new moniker set to be unveiled Nov. 14 and renovations to PNC Field on schedule. The team had settled on six finalists — Blast, Black Diamond Bears, Fireflies, RailRiders, Porcupines, Trolley Frogs — before leaving things to an open vote […]
Sadak to SWB Yankees; Janus replacement in Wilmington
Award-winning John Sadak is the new voice of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League); he’ll be replaced as the voice of the Wilmington Blue Rocks (High Class A; Carolina League) by Matt Janus. Regular followers of the Ballpark Digest awards know Sadak from our annual recognition of his work as one of the best […]
El Paso ballpark debate enters final stretch
The debate over public funding of a new downtown El Paso ballpark enters the final stretch, with both sides making a push to convince voters to support them in the upcoming elections. The immediate issue: whether or not to approve a 2 percentage point hike in the city’s hotel/motel tax to mostly fund a $50-million […]
El Paso: ballpark will happen with or without hotel tax
A new downtown El Paso ballpark will happen with or without voter approval of a hotel/motel tax hike, according to city officials, as opponents argue that voting down the tax will be the same as voting down the ballpark. Proposition 3 on the Nov. 6 bond ballot designates the ballpark as a sports venue — […]