Given that a lawsuit alleging violations of state open-meeting laws was unlikely to prevail, a Florida judge refused to shut down renovations of Ed Smith Stadium, the spring home of the Baltimore Orioles, allowing work to proceed for a 2011 opening. Given that a lawsuit alleging violations of state open-meeting laws was unlikely to prevail, […]
Archive | Features
Sarasota approves Ed Smith Stadium renovation contracts
The renovation of Ed Smith Stadium, slated to be done by Spring Training 2011, is back on after construction contracts were awarded by Sarasota County, but the whole project could be derailed by yet another lawsuit. The renovation of Ed Smith Stadium, slated to be done by Spring Training 2011, is back on after construction […]
Rays: Time to talk new ballpark again
After ceding planning of a new ballpark to a community group — with mixed results — the Tampa Bay Rays ownership says they're ready to jump back into the fray and begin talks with local municipalities about the location and funding of a Tropicana Field replacement. First stop: St. Petersburg. After ceding planning of a […]
State funding for Cubs spring facility “dead”; Florida explores new money for luring Cactus League teams
A state plan to help fund a new Chicago Cub spring-training facility in Mesa is all but dead, according to legislators; meanwhile, Florida revs up state program for spring-training financial aid. A state plan to help fund a new Chicago Cub spring-training facility in Mesa is all but dead, according to legislators; meanwhile, Florida revs […]
Target Field opens on chilly, lovely night
Target Field opened yesterday with a big bang, giving Twins baseball fans outdoor baseball for the first time since 1981. On a cool evening when rain threatened to wipe out the proceedings, the weather gods smiled on the proceedings and diverted a storm system to the east, paving the way for outdoor baseball. A near-sellout […]
Poll: San Jose residents would vote in favor of new A’s ballpark
The poll indicates overwhelming support for a plan for the city of San Jose to give downtown land to the Oakland A's for a new ballpark. A poll of San Jose residents indicates overwhelming support for a plan for the city of San Jose to give downtown land to the Oakland A's for a new […]
Selig pushes Cubs aside, will directly negotiate funding of new spring venue
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, an outspoken opponent of a Cactus League ticket surcharge that would bail out the finances of the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority and help fund a new Cubs facility, says he's taken over negotiations with the state over the outlines of any funding plan. Meanwhile, we hear from several sources that […]
A Century of Ballparks: Charlotte Sports Park
It is amazing how quickly the sports world has adopted green building practices in their many forms; you don’t hear of a new ballpark opening these days without some mention of the green aspects to the facility. But there’s one form of green building that’s snuck in under the radar: renovation work. Renovating an existing […]
Target Field opens with college game
The weather gods are certainly smiling on the Minnesota Twins, as the first game at Target Field is in the books, with over 37,000 fans showing up to an exhibition game involving the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Operations went smoothly, and the fans were pleased. The first game at Target Field is in the […]
A Century of Ballparks: Ed Smith Stadium
Our third stop on our 2010 celebration of a century of great ballparks: Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. OK, Ed Smith Stadium isn't really a great ballpark; it's middling at best with no historic legacy. But for Sarasota baseball enthusiasts and Orioles fans, Ed Smith Stadium really is a great ballpark: it allowed Sarasota to […]
A Century of Ballparks: Joker Marchant Stadium and Tiger Town
We begin our celebration of a century of great ballparks with a visit to Joker Marchant Stadium, one of the grand dames of spring training. Tiger Town dates back to the end of World War II, when the former Lodwick School of Aeronautics was converted to a training complex; Joker Marchant Stadium opened in 1966 […]
Red Sox unveil initial plans for new spring-training facility
The plans for a new Lee County spring-training complex include a replica of the Green Monster, but the rest of the design is pure Florida: light and airy, with plenty of room for fans to move about. We have renderings of the project, slated to open in 2012. The Boston Red Sox unveiled initial renderings […]
Spring has sprung: All pitchers and catchers in MLB camps
All pitchers and catchers are now at their MLB camps, and position players will be reporting to most teams in the next few days. A look ahead to the coming workouts. All pitchers and catchers are now at their MLB camps, and position players will be reporting to most teams in the next few days. […]