It is an interesting new-ballpark bargaining strategy, to be sure: threaten to leave the market before serious negotiations begin. But that’s exactly what the press release sent out by the Orange County Flyers (independent; Golden Baseball League) lays out. The OC Flyers haven’t been the biggest of successes in the indy circuit, though the team […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Na Koa Ikaika Maui owners seek new money, will return in 2011: owner
Fresh off an inaugural season that saw 50,343 fans pass through the turnstiles at Maehara Stadium, the Na Koa Ikaika Maui (independent; Golden Baseball League) owners are seeking new investors to help cover the losses sustained in 2010. Running a pro sports team in Hawaii isn’t cheap: travel costs are a killer, even on a […]
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 […]
New for 2012: The Loudoun Hounds
The name of the new independent Atlantic League team in Loudoun County, Virginia, has a name and a logo: The Loudoun Hounds. The team name and logo reflects the equestrian traditions intrinsic in the history of Loudoun County and the wider region. “Today, I am proud to unleash the Hounds,” announced Bob Farren, President and […]
After voter rebuke of public funding, Ramapo looks to private sector
After voters overwhelmingly spanked down proposed public funding of a new ballpark for an independent Can-Am Association team, the city is looking to the private sector for assistance. The referendum, which was rejected by a 2-1 margin, halted the city of Ramapo (N.Y.) from borrowing $16 million to build a new ballpark for the Ramapo […]
Three finalists named in Sugar Land name-the-team contest
We have the three finalists for the name-the-team contest in Sugar Land, Texas, for the new independent Atlantic League team — and are they doozies. The three names: the Lizard Kings, the King Canes and the Skeeters. The King Canes are a reference to the sugar industry in Sugar Land (duh!), the Skeeters are a […]
ULB facing ballpark issues in Amarillo?
Multiple sources indicate that the independent United Baseball League may be removed as a tenant of the Amarillo Dilla Villa within a matter of weeks by Texas’s Potter County because of unpaid rent going back to the beginning of the 2010 season. The embattled indy circuit, which lost a ballpark lease in Laredo after the […]
New Loudoun County team to announce name, logo Sept. 21
Mark it on your calendars: the new independent Atlantic League team slated to play at a new Loudoun County ballpark will announce its team name and logo on Sept. 21. The event will be highlighted by Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, the former Washington Senator who will help introduce the name, logo and uniform for […]
Consultant: Baseball at new Sugar Land ballpark shouldn’t impact neighbors–but concerts might
Opposition to new ballparks usually falls along the lines of increased traffic and noise impacting local residents. That’s the case in Sugar Land, Texas, where a proposed Atlantic League ballpark should fall within city noise guidelines during a baseball game — but not for concerts. Those are the findings of a consultant hired by the […]
Beach Bums set attendance record, make playoffs for first time
It’s been an exceedingly good year for the Traverse City Beach Bums (independent; Frontier League): the team set a single-game attendance record on the season closer on a year that saw the team make the league playoffs. This means there will be a first-ever playoff game at Wuerfel Park, the team’s home for its first […]
Midway Stadium / St. Paul Saints
It is the ballpark that put independent baseball on the map, the place where Mike Veeck and crew honed their skills at turning a minor-league baseball game into a three-ring circus. Oh, and some pretty good baseball has been played here over the years as well. Here’s a look at Midway Stadium, the home of […]
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium / Wichita Wingnuts
You will take a step back in baseball history when you visit Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, located on the southwest edge of downtown Wichita. Home to the American Association’s Wichita Wingnuts and the National Baseball Congress (NBC), the 1934-built ballpark features a treasure trove of baseball history. FAST FACTS Year Opened: 1934 Capacity: 6,400 (3,000 chairback seats, […]
Frontier League announces end-of-year honors
The independent Frontier League announced its end-of-the-season awards today, and the Southern Illinois Miners and Ryan Gates were the big winners. The Southern Illinois Miners attracted over 200,000 fans for the fourth consecutive season, finishing the regular season with an average attendance of 4,253 fans, both enough to win Organization of the Year. The Miners […]