The threat by Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) owner Herb Simon worked: the Reno City Council preliminarily approved a plan to refinance a $55-million Aces Ballpark construction debt. A final vote is scheduled for Nov. 7; it’s expected to go the same way unless something changes. The city would use general funds, to […]
Tag Archives | class aaa
In memoriam: Joe Cullinane
Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International League) Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Cullinane passed away Friday at the age of 89. He broadcast Red Wings games for 13 seasons from 1962-74 and was enshrined to the Red Wings Hall of Fame in 1995 along with Earl Weaver and Pat Santillo. “Joe was a wonderful broadcaster, […]
El Paso: No federal issues at play in ballpark lawsuit
A lawsuit filed to halt a new El Paso ballpark on the grounds city officials violated the Voting Rights Act is being challenged by city attorneys as not being within the legal purview of the federal government. The lawsuit says ballpark planning should be shut down because city officials — including city manager Linda Wilson […]
Will new 51s lease yield new Las Vegas ballpark?
Lease negotiations for Cashman Field held bigger stakes than just an assured home for the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League): they also may have committed the city to a new ballpark down the line. Representatives of Howard Hughes Corp. and Steven Mack — the potential buyers of the 51s from Derek Stevens […]
Reno airport authority: Don’t expect us to bail out Aces ballpark
As Washoe County struggles to find some money for the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), the local airport authority is clear on one thing: Don’t raise car-rental taxes to pay for the ballpark. Aces ownership has been open about asking Washoe County to come up with $1.5 million annually to pay down debt […]
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark / Oklahoma City Dodgers
Let’s begin with the bricks: 480,000 of them were used in the construction in the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Small wonder, then, that the stadium is nicknamed The Brick. FAST FACTS Opened: April 16, 1998 Capacity: 13,066 seats Dimensions: 325L, 400C, 325R Surface: Grass Owner: […]
MountainStar Sports takes control of Tucson Padres
With all the requisite paperwork and permissions complete, MountainStar Sports Group has taken control of the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), paving the way for a move to El Paso in 2014. Realistically, the sale of the team was close to final when MountainStar Sports Group signed a Franchise Purchase Agreement on Sept. […]
Fifth Third Field to host outdoor ECHL hockey
Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League), is hosting outdoor hockey in 2014 in the form of a Toledo Walleye (ECHL) game. The negotiations to set up the game probably weren’t too grueling: the same nonprofit owns both the Walleye and the Mud Hens, with Joe Napoli heading both […]
Aces owners: Refinance ballpark debt or we’ll move team
The owners of the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) say they want to refinance debt on Aces Ballpark before some big payments are due in 2014 — and are threatening to pull the team if Washoe County won’t cooperate. Some big names in the real-estate development world own the Aces and the privately […]
El Paso ballpark foes file suit in federal court to shut down project
Opponents of a new downtown El Paso ballpark for a Class AAA franchise have filed suit in U.S. District Court and invoked the Voting Rights Act, saying the siting of the facility was racially motivated. We’re not so sure we see the logic of the lawsuit, but it makes some serious allegation against City Manager […]
Coca-Cola Field / Buffalo Bisons
In the late 1980s, Major League Baseball was of a high mind to expand, looking for potential cities to host brand-new franchises. Into this fray leapt the city of Buffalo…. FAST FACTS Opened: April 14, 1988 Capacity: 18,025 seating + 150 standing room Dimensions: 325L, 371LC, 404C, 367RC, 325R Surface: Kentucky Blue Grass Owner: City […]
Watch Knights ballpark construction on webcam
The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) have put up a webcam so you can monitor construction progress on BB&T Ballpark for the next 18 months. The ballpark is slated to open for the 2014 season. The webcam can be viewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Along the way, the Knights will […]
Zephyr Field / New Orleans Zephyrs
What do the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers have in common? Each team’s nickname predates its current city. The Hornets came from Charlotte, the Jazz moved from New Orleans, and the Lakers once played in Minneapolis. So it is with the Zephyrs, originally the Denver Zephyrs, who moved to New […]