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 […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
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, […]
Sacramento: Forget NBA, let’s woo MLB
Fresh off a failed attempt to build a new arena for the Sacramento Kings (NBA), Mayor Kevin Johnson says the city should be looking at building a downtown ballpark for a Major League Baseball team. Johnson, the former NBA star turned politician, been discussing MLB with former Pittsburgh Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy (publisher of the local newspaper) and […]
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 […]
Tal’s Hill, Astros train leaving the station?
The Houston Astros are looking at removing both Tal’s Hill in center field and the train running above it as part of branding changes for the 2013 season, when the team enters the American League. The raised center-field hill at Minute Maid Park, never popular with players, was named for former Astros executive Tal Smith in […]
Roger Dean Stadium to host WBC qualifier
Roger Dean Stadium will be one of four venues to host the newly created qualification rounds for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, scheduled for five days beginning September 19. Israel, France, South Africa and Spain will compete for the chance to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic in March. For the first time ever, […]
Dodgers: We’d look at adding NFL stadium to Chavez Ravine
The layout of Chavez Ravine, where Dodger Stadium is located, could change dramatically if an NFL stadium is built there — and the Dodgers would look at any proposals. It’s all talk, of course: the NFL wants to add one or two teams to Los Angeles, but the lack of movement on stadiums downtown and […]
MLB 2014 season to open in Australia?
The 2014 Major League Baseball season could begin at the Sydney Cricket Grounds in Australia, as officials there prepare a multimillion-dollar bid to land a commitment. Opening a season out of the country is becoming a routine things for Major League Baseball; this season saw the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics start their seasons in […]
Stray bullet grazes Rays fan at Tropicana Field
Well, this is a new one: a fan attending a Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field was grazed by a falling bullet that most likely came through the roof of the covered ballpark. The fan, Charles Sweatt, was watching the Rays game when he felt a sting in his right thigh. He didn’t think much […]
Cubs: Following the Fenway Park recipe for renovations
The Chicago Cubs have been following the Fenway Park blueprint save one major difference: the Ricketts sought public money for the project. Will that doom Wrigley Field upgrades? Emulating what Boston has done isn’t a bad move for the Cubs: under the John Henry ownership group, the Red Sox have put winners on the field […]