Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff has been discussing with the city upgrades to Phoenix Municipal Stadium that would cost $30 million or so — “chump change” for what’s being spent on spring-training facilities in the area. That Phoenix Municipal Stadium needs some spiffing up is probably true: the latest upgrades nicely added a level of […]
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Ricketts: Not so fast on Wrigleyville West
Despite telling Mesa voters that development would be part of the mix at new Chicago Cubs spring-training complex, owner Tom Ricketts now says Wrigleyville West will need to wait until the new ballpark opens — if it happens at all. The issue is pretty simple: early feedback indicates there’s little demand from retailers and restauranteurs […]
Now at Al Lang Field: The International Baseball Series
Hungry for some baseball at Al Lang Field? Then check out the St. Pete International Baseball, where teams from around the world — including the Blue Jays, Phillies and Rays — compete at the historic spring-training facility now through March 13. The tournament, sponsored by the St. Petersburg Sports Alliance, hasn’t been publicized very well, […]
Mets managed Madoff investments for other investors
The owners of the New York Mets managed investments for others in Bernie Madoff‘s Ponzi scheme and threw some interesting conditions on participation: the investors, which included Larry King, Sandy Koufax and Tim Teufel, could have no interaction with Madoff and ask how he generated such impressive returns. The New York Times went through the […]
Target Field big tax winner for Minnesota, Minneapolis
Tax revenues generated by Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins, were significantly higher in 2010 than in 2009, when the team wrapped up a final season in the Metrodome. How much higher? Well, the state of Minnesota pulled in $11.6 million from fans at Target Field, $6.6 million higher than in 2009. […]
Jeff Wilpon: Mets aren’t for sale
Despite some vocal interest from the likes of Donald Trump in buying a majority share of the New York Mets, Jeff Wilpon says the team isn’t for sale — and he expects his family to be found innocent of charges that they unfairly profited from Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Wilpon, the chief operating officer of […]
Potential buyers emerge for Mets — but are they serious?
Donald Trump has reached out to Fred Wilpon about buying into the New York Mets — but he would so only if he could buy majority control. He’s the latest suitor for the team, which has attracted a lot of interest from the Manhattan monied set. According to Trump, he called Wilpon after the team’s […]
In memoriam: Gino Cimoli
Gino Cimoli may not be a household name in baseball circles, but he made one bit of baseball history over fifty years ago: he was the first Major League Baseball batter in a West Coast game, leading off for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants at Seals Stadium. The feat was much […]
Solar structure going up on Chase Field
Another improvement to Chase Field as the Arizona Diamondbacks prepare for a big season: an addition that will generate 75 kilowatts of solar power and also provide needed shade for fans as they enter and exit the ballpark. A product of a partnership between the D-backs, Maricopa County Stadium District and APS, the structure will […]
Yawn. NYT writer predictably blasts Mets for naming-rights deal
Let’s face it: Clyde Haberman of the New York Times has always hated the idea of the New York Mets selling naming rights to their new ballpark. He’s now using the recent financial issues facing the team to once again bash Citi Field and the Wilpons. Flash back to 2006, when the Mets first announced […]
It’s truck day!
At MLB clubhouses across the nation, the same scenario will be played out in the next few days: large trucks bearing lots of equipment will heading to Florida or Arizona, to be broken out for spring training. Yes, friends, it’s Truck Day! At least for the Red Sox, who not only have made Truck Day […]
Cuban: I’ll listen if the Wilpons want to sell me a chunk of the Mets
With the finances of the New York Mets increasingly under siege, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says he’s interested in investing in the team — but he needs to be sold by the Wilpons on the move. That’s sure to impress MLB owners. From the New York Post: “If they want to sit down and […]
San Jose rushing to acquire land for Athletics ballpark
The San Jose Redevelopment Agency is working to sell other city land and buildings to finance a purchase of the remaining parcels for a new Oakland Athletics ballpark, but initial bids came in lower than expected. The bids for the six properties fetched a total of $19.59 million in offers, below the $26 million the […]