Despite the immense popularity of the Chicago Cubs, more than half the Chicago voters polled by the Chicago Tribune and WGN oppose public funding of renovations to Wrigley Field. The Cubs proposed earlier this year for the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to borrow $250 million for Wrigley Field renovations, with the bonds repaid by growth […]
Tag Archives | illinois
The next big thing: Artificial turf
Forget about the old days of AstroTurf, the artificial turf with practically no padding, the stuff that killed careers — or certainly impacted them, as Andre Dawson can attest. Today’s artificial turf is making a resurgence in indy and college ballparks, as the product has improved significantly in recent years. It wasn’t that long ago […]
The Corn Crib / Normal Cornbelters
It is the corniest ballpark in the independent leagues — which is saying a whole lot. While the Frontier League‘s Normal CornBelters made waves in America’s Heartland because of the team’s unusual marketing strategies and product placement, the real story is how team ownership and ballpark architects managed to create a mid-range ballpark on an […]
JackHammers owe $200K in back rent, bounced check to Famous Chicken
It’s one thing to owe the city of Joliet more than $200,000 in back rent — which the team admits is the case — but the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League) may have committed a more egregious sin: bouncing a check to the Famous Chicken after an appearance. To the Chicken! That the team owes […]
Elfstrom Stadium / Kane County Cougars
Note: Elfstrom Stadium was renamed Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in 2012. This visit was filed in 2009. The stated goal of the owners and management of the Kane County Cougars is a simple one: operate a county fair that happens to have a ballgame in the middle. And now that county fair has a new […]
U.S. Cellular Field / Chicago White Sox
Commonly referred to as Chicago’s other baseball team, the American League White Sox reside at 35th Street and Shields and play at U.S. Cellular Field (Comiskey Park until 2003). While “The Cell” does not have nearly the romantic history of its rival in Wrigleyville or the “Old” Comiskey Park, it’s a vastly underrated ballpark. FACT […]
GCS Ballpark / Gateway Grizzlies
There are many reasons to visit a minor-league ballpark: the ballpark itself, promotions during the game, great ballpark food, or the affordable entertainment. I really hate it when you attend a minor-league game and few of these aspects are present. However, that is not the case at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. It is what […]
Midwest League
Today’s Midwest League has its root in several Class C and D leagues spread across Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, including the Three-I League, the Illinois State League, the Wisconsin State League, and the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. The direct predecessor to the Midwest League is the Illinois State League, a six-team Class D league that began […]