After hearing pitches from the American Association, North American League and several groups with ties to the Frontier League, officials with the Village of Schaumburg are expected to decide as soon as tomorrow on a new tenant for Alexian Field. The presentations took place last week, and groups making pitches were told that a priority […]
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Brockton Rox unveil new look for 2011
In honor of the team’s 10th anniversary — has it really been that long? — the Brockton Rox (independent; Can-Am League) unveiled new team logos and colors for the 2011 season. Interestingly, the team went with different designers for different marks. The team’s principal mark (above), designed by Todd Malhoit of Detroit-based Original Design Group, […]
Court: Schaumburg can move ahead with Flyers eviction
With no sale of the team as of today, the Village of Schaumburg received permission today from a Cook County judge to evict the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; North American League) from Alexian Field. What comes next, though, is a little murky. Receiving permission to evict and actually evicting are two different things: the Village now […]
Normal to host 2012 Frontier League All-Star Game
Plan ahead: The Normal CornBelters are hosting the 2012 Frontier League All-Star Game at the Corn Crib on July 11, 2012. Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee made the All-Star Game bid to Mayor Chris Koos at the Town of Normal Council Meeting tonight at City Hall. “The Frontier League is extremely pleased to have the […]
Dayton proposes $20M for new Saints ballpark
We’re a long ways from any money actually changing hands, but a bid from the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) for state funding is off to a good start, as it’s made Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton‘s initial bonding proposal, presented today to the State Legislature. Dayton released a wish list for a billion-dollar bonding […]
Capitals owners: NAL is nice, but we really want PCL ball
The Edmonton Capitals are set for a season in the independent North American League, but the team’s owners are pretty open about their lack of enthusiasm about indy ball — and their preference to field a team in the Pacific Coast League. Good luck. The Capitals are owned by the Katz Group, owner of the […]
Flyers tax woes date back to August
The Schaumburg Flyers (independent; North American League) have been operating without an Illinois business license since August 25, 2010, a situation that caused the state to shutter the team’s doors at Alexian Field. It’s been dubbed a “misunderstanding” by Flyers owner Rich Ehrenreich, who says the state has been paid but the payments were made […]
Flyers sale postponed; team loses business license
The sale of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; North American League) has been pushed back a month, but the asset is diminishing daily: the team’s business license from the state of Illinois has been revoked because of nonpayment of taxes. The decision to postpone a scheduled Jan. 20 hearing to evict the team from Alexian Field […]
Pro baseball returning to Thurman Munson Stadium
Canton’s Thurman Munson Stadium, the former home of the Canton-Akron Indians (Class AA; Eastern League) and two independent Frontier League teams, may once again see pro baseball in the form of the startup Ultimate Baseball League. The ballpark, which opened in 1989, has been used for amateur baseball since the demise of the Canton Coyotes; […]
Tijuana out, Henderson in for NAL 2011
With teams receiving the go-ahead to officially release schedules this afternoon, we have a new lineup for the 2011 independent North American League: the Tijuana Ambassadors are out, the Henderson Roadrunners are in. That, of course, gives the league two Roadrunners franchises. Adding Henderson, a Las Vegas suburb, isn’t a surprise: Las Vegas was present […]
Flyers sale still in works; indy world waits on resolution
A sale of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League) is still ongoing and could close within a week or two, but the future of the team is still in up for debate and generating a lot of buzz in indy-ball circles, as the fate of the team could affect the proceedings in at least two […]
Can-Am League to go with eight teams in ’11
In a gutsy move, the independent Cam-Am League is going with eight teams for the 2011 season, including a Ramapo team that may or may not have a completed ballpark in time for the season and a new travel team. Joining the existing Quebec Capitales, Worcester Tornadoes, Brockton Rox, New Jersey Jackals and Pittsfield Colonials […]
NAL at 12 for 2011; league looking at Metrodome?
The independent North American League has apparently settled at 12 teams for the 2011 season, with two divisions of six teams each; meanwhile, league officials have talked with Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission leaders about putting a team in the Metrodome. Really. The league lineup: in the Eastern Division — Rockford RiverHawks, Lake County Fielders, Schaumburg […]