Though Cobb County’s contribution to a new Atlanta Braves ballpark is capped, more public money in the form of state grants may be part of the final financial equation. The exact extent of any state aid is not yet known and will depend on exactly what form the final ballpark and development design takes. Basically, […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
Could MLB really return to Montreal sooner than later?
Many baseball insiders assume MLB will return to Montreal, but some — like agent Scott Boras — are pushing for an earlier return if the Tampa Bay Rays cannot solve their ballpark issues. Boras was pretty clear about Montreal serving as a better home to the Rays, as reported by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago […]
Other groups making plays for A’s, new waterfront ballpark?
We may have new players in the ongoing Oakland Athletics ballpark drama: three potential new ownership groups, including one that includes Golden State Warriors owners, are interested in buying the team and building a waterfront ballpark. We already knew that Clorox chairman and CEO Don Knauss and former Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream boss T. Gary […]
Risk versus reward in home-plate collisions
It’s still a hot topic: the decision by Major League Baseball to eliminate home-plate collisions, protecting both catchers and baserunners. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler looks at how the change will affect the game. In Orlando last week, Major League Baseball announced an end to collisions at home plate. The exact details have not been announced yet, but […]
Wolff warming to new Oakland ballpark?
While flatly rejecting the idea of a waterfront ballpark, Oakland Athletics co-owner Lew Wolff said there is the potential to do a deal at the current Coliseum site — quite a reversal from his previous opposition. Oakland officials are pushing two viable sites for a new A’s ballpark: the Howard Terminal site on the inner-harbor […]
New Braves ballpark hits resistance from school district, Tea Party
An unlikely alliance of school-board members, Tea Partiers and Democrats are combining to oppose any public funding of a new Atlanta Braves ballpark in Cobb County. All three have their own reasons to oppose public money for the $672-million Braves ballpark, which will also include a $400-million development adjacent to the facility. This was a […]
MLB: We’re eliminating home-plate collisions to protect players
It was a surprise announcement at the Winter Meetings, but a good one: Major League Baseball is preparing rule changes to cut down on home-plate collisions for 2014. It’s a play that can end and alter careers, as Ray Fosse, Mike Matheny and Buster Posey can tell you. And with concussions a hot topic in […]
Business leaders pitch Oakland waterfront ballpark
Turning the heat up on Lew Wolff and MLB, Oakland business and political leaders unveiled plans for a new $500-million, 38,000-seat ballpark at the Port of Oakland, for the Oakland Athletics. This gives the A’s two potential ballpark sites in the city of Oakland: Coliseum City, which would contain new facilities for the A’s and […]
Chicago approves Wrigley Field expansion plan
The City Council approved a plan from the Chicago Cubs to expand the walls of Wrigley Field into Sheffield and Waveland avenues, clearing the way for more signage and bleacher party decks. The walls of the ballpark would extend 15 feet on Sheffield Avenue and 16 feet on Waveland Avenue, with both streets losing a […]
MLB told A’s no move to San Jose: Report
The San Jose Mercury-News is reporting Major League Baseball officially turned down Lew Wolff’s request to move the Oakland Athletics to San Jose last July, a day before San Jose filed suit against MLB. A letter from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was filed as part of court documents Friday outlining why San Jose should not […]
Will numbers work for new A’s ballpark at Coliseum site?
An ambitious plan to make over the current Coliseum site with new Oakland A’s and Oakland Raiders facilities is hitting some political turbulence over the financials. Oakland officials are pushing a Coliseum City plan for the current site of the O.Co Coliseum and Oracle Arena; it calls for a new A’s ballpark, an Oakland Raiders […]
Brewers explore spring-training move to Tampa Bay area
The Milwaukee Brewers are thinking about opting out of the team’s Maryvale Baseball Park lease in Phoenix and moving spring-training operations to the Tampa Bay area. The team has the ability to opt out of its Maryvale baseball lease after the 2015 season and beyond. With the Toronto Blue Jays on the way out around […]
Cubs to add more night games; beer plaza in question
The Chicago City Council approved a plan to allow the Chicago Cubs up to 43 night games at Wrigley Field — including a guaranteed 35 — but held off approving a ballpark-side plaza where beer and wine would be sold. Any changes to the operations at Wrigley Field are dependent on two powerful entities signing […]