The Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) are holding a team rebranding contest, and some of the finalists — Gum Dippers, Tire Jacks — are certainly noteworthy. You don’t see too many rebranding contests in the minors, and the premise of this one is pretty simple: either the Aeros name will be retained or a […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
Keys lease raising debate in Frederick
Several Frederick Board of Aldermen members want to see more information about the bidding process for Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League), saying the city passed on a better bid from the independent Atlantic League. One board member, Karen Young (wife of Ron Young, the former Frederick mayor […]
H-Sens prep festivities for 6-millionth fan
The Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League) are hitting a major milestone this weekend: unless the Market Street bridge to City Island collapses, the team will welcome the six-millionth fan in team history at some point during a weekend series against the Erie SeaWolves. It should be a festive time, especially with the Senators in […]
Mahoning Valley lands 2012 NY-Penn All-Star Game
Mark it on your calendars: The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have been named host of the 2012 New York-Penn League All-Star Game, to be played in mid-August 2012 at Eastwood Field. The official date will be determined once the 2012 New York-Penn League schedule is released in the fall. This will be the first time the […]
Budget issues postpone Squirrels ballpark to 2015 at earliest
The earliest a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark could open in 2015, as political and budgetary considerations will delay debate of a regional funding plan until 2012 at the earliest. The issue: some of the counties in the general Richmond area expected to contribute to the funding of a new ballpark […]
Ricketts: Boise’s Memorial Stadium is substandard
Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts may have done the Boise Hawks (short season A; Northwest League) a huge favor by coming to the Treasure Valley and ripping Memorial Stadium as being a substandard facility. Ricketts was in town to review the Hawks operations and speak to the Boise Chamber of Commerce. He was pretty pointed […]
Manchester struggles with ballpark debt
Despite projections that revenues from a new Manchester, N.H. ballpark for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) would be enough to cover debt, they’re not, so residents are paying the difference. When planned in 2006 and 2007, debt service for Northeast Delta Dental Stadium was projected to be covered by rent from […]
R-Phils bring back Gluttony Night for 2011
The Reading Phillies (Class AA; Eastern League) are bringing back one of the most popular and noteworthy promotions in Minor League Baseball in the last year: Tomorrow night is Gluttony Night at FirstEnergy Stadium. For just $7, all fans – especially hungry fans — can chow down on all-you-can-eat hot dogs, pizza, French fries, funnel […]
Reed steps down as voice of RiverDogs
Danny Reed, the voice of the Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class A; Sally League), is stepping down but isn’t going too far: he’s accepted a position as the new voice of The Citadel athletics. Reed will remain with the club through their August 18-21 series at Augusta, and College of Charleston announcer Jeff McCarragher will complete […]
Frederick reopens ballpark-lease discussions
A proposed lease between the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) and the city for Harry Grove Stadium will be reevaluated after city aldermen questioned why a higher bid from the independent Atlantic League was rejected. City officials will meet with Keys officials today to address some of these shortcomings — specifically, in the […]
Birmingham postpones Barons ballpark vote
No surprise here: the Birmingham City Council voted today to put off a decision on a proposed downtown Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark and has scheduled a work session next week to discuss the plan. Despite the request from Mayor William Bell to decide at today’s meeting, the majority of City Council members […]
Keys, Frederick have draft lease; aldermen want more information
The Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) have reached a proposed lease agreement for Harry Grove Stadium, but city aldermen presented with it objected to some of the terms and asked for more information from city staff. The lease called for the Keys’ base rent to go up from $30,000 annually to $100,000 for […]
Dodgers attendance woes could cost team $27 million
A bad season for the Los Angeles Dodgers gets worse, as a significant drop in attendance could end up costing the team some $27 million in decreased game-day revenues — or even more. The Dodgers have experienced a significant drop in attendance this season to 36,706 a game, some 16 percent this season versus the […]