The late George Steinbrenner officially joined the ranks of Yankee immortals with the installation of a plaque honoring the former team owner in Yankee Stadium’s hallowed grounds, Monument Park. The tribute to Steinbrenner — weighing more 760 pounds but, more importantly, larger than the tribute to Col. Jacob Ruppert — was unveiled last night in […]
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Miami-Dade County to Marlins: We thought you were broke
Miami-Dade County Commissioners are a little peeved that the Florida Marlins presented their finances as being in dire straits while showing a $33-million profit in 2008-2009 and are asking the team to cover $50 million in borrowing expenses. We can predict what the reaction will be: No. The request was made by Commissioner Sally Heyman […]
Study evaluates potential Cubs spring-training sites
A study evaluating potential spring-training sites for the Chicago Cubs gives an edge to a site on the fringe of the city versus downtown Mesa — but we’re not sure the project is being judged by the right criteria. The study, commissioned for less than $20,000 by Mesa officials, evaluates three potential spring-training sites on […]
360 Architecture nabs A’s ballpark design
If Lew Wolff and the Oakland A’s end up building a new ballpark in San Jose, Kansas City’s 360 Architecture will be designing it, according to an announcement from the team. No surprise, as 360 Architecture has been working with Wolff and the A’s for years now on ballpark design; 360 did the initial work […]
Vegas mayor: We’re ready to build ballpark for American League team
Mayor Oscar Goodman says his city has launched talks regarding a new 45,000-seat roofed ballpark in downtown Las Vegas, adding that an American League team is involved. Two guesses as to what team he’s alluding to, but be warned: Goodman’s enthusiasm sometimes outpaces reality. During his weekly press conference today, Goodman discussed the early stages […]
Greenberg, Ryan land Rangers — will ballpark changes be in the offing?
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court overseeing the sale of the Texas Rangers by Hicks Sports Group ended up almost exactly where it began: with Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan controlling the team, the winners of a bidding process forced by Tom Hicks’ creditors. We’re not going to get into the specifics here — they ended up […]
San Jose to move forward with ballpark referendum; Selig “disappointed”
Clearly frustrated by the lack of progress and communication over a proposed San Jose ballpark for the Oakland A’s, city leaders decided to go ahead with a fall referendum on the proposal to donate land to the project. Not surprisingly, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig isn’t too thrilled with the idea. Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff […]
Report: Petco Park providing 7.6% return on city investment
So much for the malarkey that a new ballpark can never provide a financial return to a public investment: San Diego’s $301 million investment in Petco Park will net the city $355 million in new tax revenue — a ROI of 7.6 percent. Critics, of course, scoff at the numbers, saying downtown San Diego would […]
Cubs to Naples: We prefer to stay in Arizona, thank you
The quest to bring the Chicago Cubs to a new spring-training site in Naples is all but over, as Crane Kenney politely declines the offer for now — which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone following the situation. What was surprising: how dogged the two outfits seeking the Cubs were pursuing the team, even […]
In memoriam: George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner, the passionate owner of the New York Yankees whose spats with players and coaches sometimes overshadowed his accomplishments in putting together winning teams and building successful businesses, passed away this morning at the age of 80. He had been ill for some time. UPDATED: Statements from Marv Goldklang, Bud Selig and other baseball […]
Judge: Orioles-Sarasota deal stands
A Florida circuit judge refused to strike down the contract between the Baltimore Orioles and Sarasota County for public funding of an Ed Smith Stadium renovation, saying that the deal can move forward with no changes. A Florida circuit judge refused to strike down the contract between the Baltimore Orioles and Sarasota County for public […]
Cubs, Mesa working on new spring-ballpark agreement
Despite an impending deadline that ends the exclusive negotiating period between Mesa and the Chicago Cubs over a new spring-training facility, Mesa officials say a new agreement is in the works, and they're confident the Cubs are committed to the Phoenix suburb for the long haul. Despite an impending deadline that ends the exclusive negotiating […]
Rays: We need to expand new-ballpark search past St. Pete
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, long on the sidelines during the area ballpark discussions, has come out and said the search for a new-ballpark site must include the entire Tampa Bay area, not just downtown St. Pete. Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg, long on the sidelines during the area ballpark discussions, has come […]