The Arizona Diamondbacks could gain greater control of Chase Field if the ballpark is transferred from the Maricopa County Stadium District to the city of Phoenix, as the team looks at major renovations down the road. The issue: the ballpark, funded with a special Maricopa County tax that expired in 1997, is controlled by the […]
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Japanese players: We’re ready to skip WBC
Japanese professional baseball players are threatening to boycott the 2013 World Baseball Classic because of a revenue deal giving two-thirds of the proceeds to MLB and players union, and only 13 percent to them. The split is unfair, they say, because the event is popular in Asia and derives a lot of the $18 million […]
Reds enjoying great year on field, at box office
A first-place team has good crowds filling Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, as the team is on pace to come close to setting a franchise record for GABP attendance. At the current pace, the Reds would draw 2,340,576 fans this season, just a little less than the Great American Ball Park record of […]
Despite bomb threat, Tigers game proceeds
A bomb threat called into the 911 system proved to be a bust, as last night’s Tigers-Angels game at Comerica Park wasn’t interrupted by a large-scale search for an explosive device. Instead, police searched the ballpark in vain for a bomb. There was no evacuation of the 33,950 fans on hand, and the game experience […]
Can Bud Selig warm relationship between Cubs, politicians?
We’re not entirely sure Bud Selig will be able to patch things up between the Ricketts and Chicago politicians, but he reportedly will take a crack at lobbying for public money toward Wrigley Field renovations — holding an All-Star Game as an enticement. The Chicago Cubs ownership, led by Tom Ricketts, wants to spend $500 […]
Newly available land parcel could bring downtown Tampa ballpark — maybe
It’s not as though there are plenty of downtown Tampa land parcels suitable for a new ballpark, but the potential move of a large flour mill could get things rolling for a new Tampa Bay Rays facility. A mill owned and operated by ConAgra is a major presence in downtown Tampa in many ways: besides […]
European football hits American ballparks this summer
Ballparks in major cities are serving another sporting purpose this summer: hosting international soccer matches. In the past it wasn’t unusual for ballparks to host non-baseball sporting events, especially college and pro football. But soccer is a new player in the ballpark world. For a baseball team, converting the field for use as a soccer […]
Cubs, Mesa break ground on new spring-training facility
The Chicago Cubs and the city of Mesa yesterday broke ground on a new $99-million spring-training complex, slated to open for the 2014 season. Take a peek at the new renderings. The ballpark, to be designed by Populous, will hold 15,000 fans and include a videoboard, shaded seats and luxury suites. The new complex will also include […]
Selig: Rays attendance is “inexcusable”
Taking a shot aimed more toward apathetic fans than the forces preventing a new ballpark, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said the Tampa Bay Rays attendance — or lack thereof — is “inexcusable.” Speaking at his annual press conference during All-Star festivities, the commissioner noted the Rays were 29th in MLB attendance (20,582 fans a game) […]
Twins waiting for word on 2014 All-Star Game
With the 2012 All-Star Game in the books and the 2013 game slated for Citi Field, the fate of the 2014 match — eyed by the Minnesota Twins for Target Field — will be a continuing font of discussion. We won’t see MLB Commissioner Bud Selig make a decision about 2014 for several months, though […]
Fenway Park added to National Register of Historic Places
Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, a move that bestows both recognition and potential tax breaks to the venerable ballpark. “Recognizing the incredible history of this ballpark through the National Register designation is a great way to bring the national parks and the […]
NBC vying for piece of MLB media-rights pie?
With the exclusive-bargaining window closed for its current media partners, Major League Baseball is reportedly fielding an offer from NBC Sports to join the broadcasting fold. Right now there are three MLB broadcast partners: Fox, paying $257.1 million for Saturday, All-Star and World Series games; ESPN, paying $306 million for Sunday night games; and Turner, […]
Groundbreaking for new Cubs complex set for Wednesday
The Chicago Cubs and the city of Mesa have scheduled a groundbreaking for a new spring-training complex that is most definitely still a work in progress. The complex is set to open in 2014, but there are many issues outstanding: whether Arizona State will be a tenant, the exact design (the above rendering is more […]