Lee County officials are once again pitching Washington Nationals brass on a move to the vacant City of Palms Park, but there are no plans yet for the team to shift from Viera’s Space Coast Stadium. The information comes from Lee County Commissioners pursuing another MLB team for spring training. How much serious interest there […]
Tag Archives | lease
River Bats to be made over for 2012 under new ownership
The new owners of the St. Cloud River Bats (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) say they’ll make over the franchise with a new name and new colors while paying back rent on Joe Faber Field. Gary Posch and Joe Sexton, owners of a local auto dealership and investors in the Willmar Stingers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), […]
ISFA: Boy, did the White Sox get a sweet lease for The Cell
The Chicago White Sox may have a valid lease for U.S. Cellular Field running though 2029, but that’s not stopping the Illinois Sports Facility Authority from reevaluating its relationship with the team. The team’s lease is pretty simple: the team pays $1.5 million a year and controls all revenue from ticket sales, concessions, parking and […]
State turns down Reno ballpark tax appeal
Because the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) have a year-round lease on Aces Ballpark, owners can’t seek a property-tax reduction based on partial ballpark usage, according to a state panel. The Aces ownership had sought a reduction in property values using a unique argument: because the ballpark is being used only part of […]
Mayor, Council differ on approach to Rays ballpark issue
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster is committed to keeping the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field through all legal means possible, but the City Council is aggressively questioning that absolutist approach. The split between the city and the council was apparent at a workshop for the council yesterday. Normally, a City Council workshop means a […]
Zion, Fielders headed for court?
After a horrific 2011 season, it doesn’t look like the city of Zion (Ill.) and the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) owners have settled their differences — and their paths may cross next in court. You know what a nightmarish season the Fielders had. Opening the 201 North American League season with a […]
Cubs, Mesa finally ready to sign lease for new spring-training complex
It’s official: the city of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs are signing a 30-year lease for the team to train at a new complex slated to open in 2014, but there’s still plenty of design work to be done. The Mesa City Council is expected to sign off on the lease during Monday’s meeting. It […]
Ripken Baseball: Damage control in Augusta
Prospects for a proposed downtown Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark dimmed after accusations that Ripken Baseball caused fiscal issues for Aberdeen, Md. due to the financing of Ripken Stadium. The issue: a 2007 report from the Baltimore Sun detailing how the Aberdeen IronBirds (short season A; NY-Penn League) sell out every game […]
Toros suing to get back into Hi Corbett Field
Jay Zucker is suing to get back the Tucson Toros (independent; North American League) lease to Hi Corbett Field after it was terminated by the city last June. The issue: Zucker, the former owner of the Tucson Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) held a lease for the Toros, who played the 2009 and 2010 […]
Ziedelis named Carolina League Exec of Year
Dave Ziedelis, the general manager of the Frederick Keys, has been named Calvin Falwell Executive of the Year for 2011, awarded to the Carolina League’s top executive. “It is a great honor to be given this award,” Ziedelis said. “The league is full of outstanding people and I am very grateful. We have had a […]
Keys, Frederick on verge of 10-year Harry Grove Stadium lease
If there’s been a worse procedure for a city to negotiate a ballpark lease than what’s been going on with the City of Frederick and the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League), we’ve not seen it. But there’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel, and a 10-year lease is expected to […]
Schaumburg to Frontier League: sources
Though it’s not a totally done deal, we’re told, it appears likely the Pat Salvi-owned Schaumburg team will be playing in the independent Frontier League next season, as he honors a deal struck by former owner Alan Oremus. We reported on this earlier this month, raising the potential that a Frontier League team, and not […]
Keys lease raising debate in Frederick
Several Frederick Board of Aldermen members want to see more information about the bidding process for Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League), saying the city passed on a better bid from the independent Atlantic League. One board member, Karen Young (wife of Ron Young, the former Frederick mayor […]