No surprise: Major League Baseball today approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to a group led by Ron Fowler and Peter O’Malley, ending John Moores’ tenure as team owner. The vote this morning was seen as a formality by many in baseball; a new owner doesn’t get this far if the skids weren’t […]
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Election loss could impact future of Twins, Nats in Fort Myers
The defeat of Ray Judah, a big supporter of spring training in Fort Myers, could impact the future of Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals spring training in Lee County. Judah was running for reelection on the Lee County Board of Commissioners, but came in third in Tuesday’s Republican primary behind a candidate who strongly criticized […]
MLB owners expected to approve Padres sale tomorrow
Unless something goes dramatically wrong overnight, 29 MLB owners are expected to approve the sale of the San Diego Padres to a group led by Peter O’Malley and Ron Fowler tomorrow. The MLB owners are meeting in Denver. Today the MLB Finance Committee and Executive Council heard a presentation from the proposed new ownership group, and […]
Cards’ Ballpark Village plan to receive state scrutiny next week
The $100-million Ballpark Village project pushed by the St. Louis Cardinals will be discussed by the Missouri Development Finance Board next week. The Cardinals are seeking $17 million in state and local tax credits for the project, which is set to feature a St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, a live music venue and […]
Twins shift broadcasting to team-affiliated station
As many predicted, the Minnesota Twins are shifting team broadcasts from ESPN 1500 to FM 96.3 K-TWIN, a radio station also owned by the Pohlad family, beginning with the 2013 season. The agreement calls for FM 96.3 K-TWIN, part of Northern Lights Broadcasting, to broadcast all regular and post-season games and at least 25 spring-training games. […]
Will Padres sale affect San Diego development?
John Moores did a lot more than just own the San Diego Padres: his leadership led both to Petco Park and an impressive economic renaissance of the ballpark area. Will he continue those efforts now that he’s selling the team? When it comes to tangible economic development relating to ballpark development, there’s no better success […]
A’s ballpark situation to be informally discussed at next owners’ meetings: report
This is way less important than positioned: the Oakland Athletics ballpark situation will be an informal topic of conversation at the next MLB owners’ meetings, according to a newspaper report. Why this is not news: from what we’ve been told there are plenty of informal topics of conversation when MLB owners get together. Those informal topics […]
Youth: I didn’t mean to haze players with laser pointer
A youth arrested for allegedly using a laser pointer to distract players during a Cards-Giants game at Busch Stadium says he really meant to point it at nearby buildings, not at the playing field. Eric Bogard, 17, was arrested in a Busch Stadium luxury box after Cardinals manager Mike Matheny and a police officer fingered […]
Parking huge issue for proposed Rays ballpark site
A proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark site in St. Petersburg’s Carillon Business Park may have one fatal flaw: the total lack of parking in the mostly developed 432-acre complex. On the plus side, the site sits near an exit from the Howard Frankland Bridge, the almost-five-mile bridge connecting St. Pete and Tampa and could provide a nice view […]
Hamtramck Stadium receives historic designation
Hamtramck Stadium in Detroit, once home to the Detroit Stars of the Negro National League, has received designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Built by businessman John Roesink in 1930 as the home of the Stars, the ballpark still exists but isn’t used for baseball. However, the original grandstand (enhanced in 1940 with WPA […]
Why $2B for Dodgers might have been steal: $7B in media rights
Though many were amazed when the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium sold for $2 billion, an analysis of the team’s potential media-rights bonanza indicates the sale price may have been a real bargain. This isn’t necessarily news to baseball insiders who know a key to the future of the sport lies in media rights, […]
Fan arrested at Cardinals game for using laser pointer
An underaged fan was arrested at last night’s Giants-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium for using a laser pointer to distract players, after manager Mike Matheny personally fingered the suspect from the field. The 17-year-old boy was booked on suspicion of peace disturbance at an athletic event and was released after posting $150 bail. But the events […]
O’Malley group reaches agreement to buy Padres
A group led by Peter O’Malley and family, as well as pro golfer Phil Mickelson, has reach an agreement to buy the San Diego Padres from John Moores and other minority investors. The sale price has not been formally announced, but it’s been pegged at around $800 million, though that number may actually be lower because […]