The ownership of the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League) has managed to pull off something rare in the sports-business world: success in both baseball and pro hockey. We covered the story of the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye on our sister Arena Digest site today. The same nonprofit that owns and runs the Mud Hens […]
Tag Archives | international league
New SWB ballpark, new team branding?
A new team name and branding could be in the offing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) once the team moves to a renovated PNC Field in 2013. The promise to look at the team name during a period of intense chance came from New York Yankees COO Lonn Trost during yesterday’s groundbreaking […]
SWB Yankees, Lackawanna County break ground on PNC Field renovations
It should feel like a new ballpark: officials with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) and Lackawanna County broke ground today on a PNC Field facelift. The $43.3-million renovation of the Moosic, Pa. ballpark, years in the making, has finally begun after the $14.6-million sale of the SWB Yankees last week to the New […]
Knights notch another major sponsor
With city politicians still debating whether to help fund a new Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) ballpark, the team has signed another major sponsor: Piedmont Natural Gas. The Charlotte-based firm is the first founding partner for a proposed uptown Charlotte ballpark. Mecklenburg County has already committed $8 million and a low-cost land lease for the […]
Construction begins on PNC Field renovations
Construction work on the renovation of PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) has begun, with workers prepping the site today. It’s been a whirlwind week for the SWB Yankees and Lackawanna County: in a short amount of time the sale of the SWB Yankees was closed by the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose […]
Connie Marrero, oldest former major leaguer, turns 101
Connie Marrero, who pitched for the original Washington Senators and is the oldest former major leaguer, turned 101 years old yesterday. The Cuban-born Marrero pitched for the original Senators — now the Minnesota Twins — at the tail end of his career, making his Major League Baseball debut as a 39-year-old rookie with the 1950 […]
SWB Yankees sold
It’s official: the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) franchise has been sold to Mandalay Baseball Properties and the New York Yankees for $14.6 million. The sale was finalized this morning by the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority. The proceeds from the sale will immediately go toward the renovation of PNC Field, which could begin as […]
PNC Field renovation could begin Friday
Time is a-wastin’: the renovation of PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), could begin Friday if a sale of the team is approved today. Last night Lackawanna County commissioners and the Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority held a public hearing to go over the $14.6 million sale of the SWB Yankees to Mandalay […]
Details of SWB Yanks ballpark lease emerge
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) will cover cost overruns and contribute to future maintenance of PNC Field while paying higher rent, as details of a new lease becomes public. Lackwanna County and the Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority will be considering a proposed lease for a renovated PNC Field; Mandalay Baseball Properties and the New York […]
City funding for Knights ballpark: iffy
Despite a naming-rights deal and indications that financing is almost in place for a new Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) ballpark, some councilmembers are questioning city funding. City staff has recommended $8.5 million be paid toward the $54 million ballpark project: $6 million from hotel/motel taxes and $2.5 million in property-tax rebates from the […]
Sale, ballpark issues for SWB Yankees settled
The long-awaited sale of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) and a 30-year lease for a renovated PNC Field could be wrapped up by Thursday. Officials with Lackawanna County say they’ve reached an agreement with Mandalay Baseball Properties and the New York Yankees to sell the team for $14.6 million and commit the team […]
Knights sign BB&T for new-ballpark naming rights
The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) unveiled a naming-rights partner for a proposed new Uptown ballpark: BB&T Corp. Under the agreement, the ballpark will carry the BB&T name and include signage and other promotional opportunities, starting when the Knights are scheduled to begin play in April 2014. It would be the second Minor League Ballpark […]
Gwinnett County: No compromises on ballpark development
An effort to scale back promised development at Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Braves (Class AAA; International League), is meeting with resistance from local residents and elected officials. Part of the rationale for the $64-million county investment in Coolray Field was the promise of associated development by the developer who sold the land to […]