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, […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
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 […]
Waterfront site emerging as potential A’s home
Once written off as an expensive alternative for a ballpark site, the Howard Terminal waterfront site in downtown Oakland is being pushed as a prime location for a new Oakland A’s facility thanks to changing circumstances. What’s different? The site’s owner, the Port of Oakland, has decided the 51-acre terminal isn’t crucial for maritime operations; there’s plenty […]
LA brings in Janet Marie Smith to oversee Dodger Stadium renovations
Janet Marie Smith, perhaps the most successful ballpark executive in the last 20 years, will attempt to work her magic at Dodger Stadium, as the team names her Senior VP of Planning and Development. The most important task for her: overseeing renovations to Dodger Stadium, a project promised by the new Los Angeles Dodgers ownership even before […]
MLB committee meets with Oakland, San Jose officials about future of A’s
The blue-chip committee appointed by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was in the Bay Area last week to meet with Oakland and San Jose reps about the status of their ballpark bids and the future of the Oakland Athletics. Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff wants to move the A’s to a new downtown San Jose ballpark, […]
Lee County to Nats: We really, really love you
Lee County still wants to see the Washington Nationals as a tenant at City of Palms Park, but with little money for upgrades, county and Fort Myers officials are embarking on a new strategy: convince the Nats front office they are loved. It’s a common strategy: when you don’t have the money to address a […]
Rays: We’ll talk new ballpark with Hillsborough County
Tampa Bay Rays ownership says they’ll sit down with Hillsborough County to discuss a new ballpark — even as St. Petersburg officials hint at legal action to keep the team at Tropicana Field. Yesterday Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 to invite the Rays ownership, as well as reps from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, for […]
New Marlins ballpark a failure? Hardly
We’ve seen a raft of articles declaring Marlins Park a failure, but we’re not so sure; the new Miami ballpark has led to a 49 percent increase in per-game attendance from old ballpark to new — the third-best this century. It’s easy to blast the Miami Marlins front office for ineptitude, especially after the trading […]