The status of a public bailout of Aces Ballpark, home of the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), remains in limbo after Washoe County Commissioners pass on a proposed plan to commit a half-million dollars annually for debt relief. The county is being asked to pay $500,000 annually for 30 years as part of […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
Fightin Phils unveil display upgrades for 2013
The Reading Fightin Phils (Class AA; Eastern League) are launching a $1 million multimedia videoboard project at FirstEnergy Stadium in the months leading up to the 2013 season. Once installed, the project, which includes the addition of a 30’x60’ HD10 board in center field, will make technological advances while enhancing the fan experience at America’s […]
Future of Vegas baseball in Summerlin? Maybe
A recent spat over the future of baseball in Las Vegas has everything to do with development and nothing to do with baseball, as the future of the sport in Sin City may rest in a nearby suburb. With the sale of the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) certain — Derek Stevens […]
Pro ball in Ocala? Not likely, per the numbers
Though there’s some public enthusiasm to bring a Florida State League team to Ocala, the chances of it happening are very slim, say owners who know the circuit well. The topic of pro baseball in central Florida came up at the Winter Meetings with several owners; it’s an area we know well after spending a […]
More development emerging near Fort Wayne ballpark
The next time someone claims ballparks can’t spur economic development, send them to Fort Wayne, where yet another round of development near Parkview Field is in the works. Anyone who spent time in downtown Fort Wayne knows what a wasteland the ballpark area was before the ownership of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; […]
Ottawa deal far from certain: owners
After Ryan-Sanders Baseball walked away from a deal to bring a Class AA Eastern League team to Ottawa, a broker tries again to find a potential owner — but with the economics of the deal on the daunting side, that’s not an easy task. There has been plenty of folks willing to look at the […]
Frederick Keys to mark 25th anniversary in 2013
Major milestone on the way: the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) are marking the team’s 25th anniversary in Frederick. Keys staff are currently working on a special baseball card set featuring a selected Keys player from each year of the franchise. The card set will be available at the Keys gift shop at […]
Winter Meetings returning to Nashville in 2015
We had the Best. Winter. Meetings. Ever. So we’re psyched to know the Baseball Winter Meetings event is returning to Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort in 2015. It will mark the seventh time that Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center will play host to the Baseball Winter Meetings. “Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is proving, […]
New for 2013: Generals Park
The home of the Jackson Generals (Class AA; Southern League) will be known as Generals Park after former rights holder Pringles passed on an extension of its naming deal. Pringles is a large employer in Jackson and bought naming rights to the ballpark when it opened in 1998. We chatted a little with Generals ownership […]
Prepping for the Baseball Winter Meetings
What do the Baseball Winter Meetings mean to you? “I know equally as many people who dread the Winter Meetings as who love them,” writes Jesse Goldberg-Strassler on the eve of baseball’s big event. The Meetings, depending upon your perspective, are a party, a chore, an adventure, a once Major League institution now mostly co-opted […]
Winter Meetings underway; lots of schmoozing in Nashville
The annual Baseball Winter Meetings launched over the weekend in Nashville, with plenty of schmoozing taking place last night in the spacious lobby area of the Gaylord Opryland; the Baseball Trade Show starts this afternoon. We’ll be in Booth 1328. Drop by for a chat. We’ll be posting from the show floor as well, and […]
Emeralds ‘Squatch out with new look
The Eugene Emeralds (short season A; Northwest League) are adopting a Sasquatch theme for future logos, as the team unveiled new logos based on the Pacific Northwest legend. The new identity pays tribute to the legend of Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest. The primary logo features a Sasquatch unearthing trees behind “Emeralds” lettering. Fans will […]
Populous lands El Paso ballpark design contract
Not a surprise: Populous will design the new Triple-A downtown El Paso ballpark, after the City Council today approved a contract by a 6-2 margin. Populous had been working with the city on preliminary planning for the $50-million facility, expected to open in 2014 to house the relocating Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). […]