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 […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
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 […]
Could Giants-A’s battle be settled in court?
Though owners pledge not to sue Major League Baseball when they purchase a team, that’s not stopping plenty of lawyers from closely observing the battle between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s over San Jose. The spectre of a lawsuit from either party has surely been a concern to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig as […]
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, […]
Pinellas County, private investor want to pitch Rays, St. Pete on ballpark plans
Pinellas County and a private developer are adding their voices to the groups looking to talk with the Tampa Bay Rays about a new ballpark, as interest in a facility is heating up. Tuesday saw the Pinellas County Commission step in and request a meeting with the Rays and St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster about the future of the team, […]
First D-Backs doubleheader ever at Chase Field set for Aug. 22
Here’s your trivia for the night: There has never been a doubleheader held at Chase Field, but the Arizona Diamondbacks plan on changing that on August 22, commemorating the occasion with some promotions. Teams don’t hold many doubleheaders these days, and with the roof at Chase Field, the Diamondbacks certainly have never seen the need. […]
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 […]
Mets, MLB unveil All-Star Game logo
The New York Mets and Major League Baseball unveiled the official logo of the 84th All-Star Game, slated to be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. The logo is reflective of the primary mark that has represented the Mets throughout their history. Shaped within a baseball with orange stitching, the logo features a […]
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 […]
Phillies sellout streak snapped
It was bound to happen, especially with the team floundering in the standings: the Philadelphia Phillies’ record-breaking streak of 257 sellouts at Citizens Bank Park ended last night. The sellout streak began on July 7, 2009 when the team played the Cincinnati Reds. Total paid attendance for those 257 games was 11,585,952 with an average […]