The Class AAA Pacific Coast League has approved the move of the Tucson Padres to El Paso in 2014 — if the City Council approves a lease at today’s meeting, a decision where the outcome is still up in the air. This email from league offices, as released by team purchaser MountainStar Sports (Josh Hunt […]
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Rickey: El Paso could lose Triple-A team if ballpark not approved
The fate of a Triple-A team in El Paso is dependent on City Council approval of a ballpark lease tonight; otherwise, says PCL President Branch Rickey, league approval of the move could be rescinded. His stance was sent via email to El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson yesterday: “If the City Council were to put off […]
Braves: We’ll have a team in Wilmington for 20 years
If voters approve a new ballpark in Wilmington, N.C., for a Braves farm team, Atlanta officials say they’ll keep a team there for 20 years and manage the ballpark should Mandalay Baseball Properties go under. Mike Plant, Atlanta’s executive vice president for business operations, laid out the commitments in an interview for the Wilmington StarNews. […]
MountainStar: Deal to bring Triple-A to El Paso could fall through if ballpark not approved
With support on the City Council for a new downtown ballpark wobbly, MountainStar Sports warns that bringing a Triple-A team to El Paso is contingent on a ballpark lease being passed Tuesday — but a key council member has declared her opposition to any deal without a public vote. With Mayor John Cook poised to […]
Debate emerges over Birmingham Negro Leagues museum
When the new home of the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) opens next spring, a planned museum honoring Negro League history won’t be open — though it is fully funded. The issue: how to program the museum in the face of criticism from Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick, who says the world doesn’t […]
MountainStar, El Paso amend proposed ballpark lease
MountainStar Sports Group, working to bring the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) to a new downtown El Paso ballpark, has agreed to several lease changes designed to bring more money to city coffers and drops a noncompete clause with the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association). The changes come after some City Council […]
El Paso mayor: I can still scuttle ballpark deal
El Paso Mayor John Cook says he may veto a proposed deal for a new Triple-A downtown ballpark, and there’s a chance the City Council may lack the votes to override it. Cook, an opponent of building a new ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), has the power to veto […]
Mandalay, Wilmington, Braves agree to ballpark lease
The city of Wilmington (N.C.), Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves agreed on a lease for a proposed waterfront ballpark — if voters agree to fund it via property-tax hike in the November elections. That’s a big if, of course, and we’re hearing that polling in the field has the referendum going down, but […]
Final tally for MiLB attendance: 41.28M
The final tally for attendance at Minor League Baseball games: 41,279,382, representing an increase over 2011 and marks the eighth year in a row that the industry has topped 41 million fans. “On behalf of our 15 leagues and 176 clubs, I would like to say thank you to the more than 41 million fans […]
Vegas delays 51s lease; future of Cashman Field in doubt
A proposed lease extension to Cashman Field by the prospective buyers of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) has been put on hold while the city debates the future of the facility. Two years still remain on the existing lease, but Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC (a joint venture of Howard […]
C’s: No plans to move to Triple-A
Vancouver Canadians (Northwest League) co-owner Jake Kerr says there are no plans to acquire a Triple-A Pacific Coast League franchise, as the team is solid at the short-season level. Still, he added in an interview, the C’s ownership would listen to any proposals out there. It would take a lot to bring a PCL team […]
In memoriam: Went Hubbard
Went Hubbard, the former and current owner of the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League), passed away yesterday after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 83. Hubbard bought the Drillers in December 1986 from the Texas Rangers. Under his ownership attendance increased from 162,000 in 1986 to a then franchise record 351,929 in 1999. […]
Lease terms unveiled in El Paso
A new Triple-A team in El Paso would pay $200,000 annually in rent under the terms of a proposed 25-year lease for a new downtown ballpark. The proposed lease between the city and MountainStar Sports Group would run for 25 years, with options for three five-year extensions. The team would pay $200,000 in yearly rent, with […]