It sounds like independent Northern League Commissioner Clark Griffith was working the phones fast and furiously this past week, seeking to augment the four teams remaining in the circuit with expansion teams and maybe even some refugees from the independent Frontier League. A quiet week was actually pretty good news for Griffith: it mean that […]
Tag Archives | class aaa
Thinking big in Escondido
The city of Escondido (Cal.) certainly is thinking big when it comes to a new home for the wandering Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League): What began as a $50 million ballpark has now expanded to a $180-million, 150-acre Sports Entertainment District, which could tie up every penny of city development money for years. […]
Omaha: Your center of the baseball universe come April
It’s a tale of two ballparks in Omaha, where two new facilities — TD Ameritrade Field and a new Sarpy County ballpark for the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) — are slated to open next April. Here’s a report on the construction progress for each. In general, both are on schedule for an […]
Bevos to Tucson for 2011
With so much uncertainty surrounding a proposed new ballpark in Escondido and concern about wear and tear at The Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm (High Class A; California League), the decision apparently has been made to relocate the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) temporarily to Tucson Electric Park for the […]
Escondido ballpark vote delayed after pollution found at site
A vote from Escondido (Cal.) officials to approve $50 million in spending for a new home for the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) has been delayed after city officials discovered pollution on the ballpark site. In addition, the city is still negotiating a lease with an ownership group led by San Diego Padres […]
In memoriam: Ben Mondor and Harold Cooper
Two giants in the Minor League Baseball world passed away: Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA; International League) owner Ben Mondor passed away last night, while former International League President Harold Cooper passed away this morning. Mondor and Cooper played important roles in Minor League Baseball, helping nurture the industry as it went through some terrible […]
Nine finalists unveiled for O-Royals name change
The nine finalists for the new — or perhaps simply updated — name and logo for the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) have been unveiled, and fans have one last chance to vote for their favorite. The nine finalists are: Cattlemen, Commanders, Force, Hailstorm, Omahogs, Royals, Sodbusters, Storm Chasers and Windwalkers. Fans have […]
The Week That Was: October 2
Here are the most popular stories published in Ballpark Digest this past week, as measured by page views. The big stories this week: new ballparks in Potomac and Westfield; a baseball institution drops baseball; and the continuing follies in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre over a new ballpark. Westfield approves site for sports complex, complete with new ballpark P-Nats, […]
Rendell: Clock is ticking on new SWB ballpark financing
The offer of $20 million in state money for a new Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) ballpark definitely has some deadlines attached, as Penn. Gov. Ed Rendell warns dueling Lackawanna and Luzerne counties they need to end their spat in the new few weeks. As we reported yesterday, Rendell is growing impatient with the […]
Counties continue spat; SWB Yankees likely to be sold this week
It’s increasingly likely that the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball will exercise their option to buy the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) before a Friday deadline, but that’s not stopping the owners of the team, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, from squabbling over the proceeds. You know the drill. Lackawanna and Luzerne counties jointly […]
Ballpark financial issues hit Reno
A decrease in property values in the area and an assessment that Aces Ballpark is now worth less than half the construction price is forcing Reno to pay $1 million this year in subsidies to its developer, the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) — and that payment may need to be repeated annually […]
Cleveland, Columbus extend PDC to 2014
No, the deal wasn’t slated to end, but the Cleveland Indians and Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League) decided they wanted to keep the dance going, extending their player development deal by two more years, to 2014. The two-year extension comes two days after the Columbus Clippers captured the Triple-A Championship after Tuesday night’s 12-6 […]
Lackawanna County: In a ballpark bind and mad
After years of neglect, Moosic’s PNC Field is falling apart. But Lackawanna County officials, lacking the funds to fix the ballpark and increasingly unwilling to sell the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), find themselves with no attractive choice to address the future of baseball in the area. Commissioners yesterday discussed the future of the […]