We visit Elfstrom Stadium, the home of the Kane County Cougars. Concessions If your hunger and thirst cannot be slaked at Elfstrom Stadium, your tastes are truly bizarre or obscure. For starters, there's the standard ballpark fare: hot dogs (regular and foot long), Chicago red hots, Angus burgers and cheeseburgers, brats, chicken tenders, corn dogs, […]
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Elfstrom Stadium / Kane County Cougars
Note: Elfstrom Stadium was renamed Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in 2012. This visit was filed in 2009. The stated goal of the owners and management of the Kane County Cougars is a simple one: operate a county fair that happens to have a ballgame in the middle. And now that county fair has a new […]
Nuts cram the house to set season mark
When 96-year-old Greg Crary entered the gates at John Thurman Field on Saturday night, he was the 164,307th fan in 2009, breaking the Modesto Nuts franchise attendance record for the third consecutive season.When Greg Crary entered the gates at John Thurman Field on Saturday night, he was the 164,307th fan in 2009, breaking the Modesto […]
New Hampshire sets season attendance mark
With another standing-room-only crowd, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats set another season-attendance record.Tonight's crowd of 8,601 at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, a franchise record-tying 17th standing-room-only crowd of the season, allowed the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) to set an all-time single-season attendance record of 374,006 with two home dates still remaining. This marks […]
Apple Valley moves forward with planning for new Mavericks ballpark
Apple Valley officials are moving forward with a $35-million ballpark for the High Desert Mavericks, but many crucial details need to be worked out. Apple Valley, a smallish community east of Victorville, is moving forward with a $35 million plan for a new ballpark for the High Desert Mavericks (High Class A; California League). The […]
Fisher Cats reach out to Defenders fans with ticket offer
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will honor tickets issued honored by the American Defenders of New Hampshire.The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League)announced that they will honor tickets held by fans of the American Defenders of New Hampshire for any remaining regular season games at Holman Stadium for tickets to one of the […]
Ems poised for PK Park move — but it may not be permanent
The Eugene Emeralds will indeed be moving to PK Park next season, but the situation is considerably more complex than a simple venue shift. The Eugene Emeralds (short season; Northwest League) will indeed be moving to PK Park next season, but the situation is considerably more complex than a simple venue shift. Ems and University […]
Key decisions due on Connecticut/Richmond move this week
Eastern League owners will meet shortly to decide the fate of a proposed move by the Connecticut Defenders to Richmond. The deal, however, has some owners grumbling about the process. While the move of the Connecticut Defenders (Class AA; Eastern League) to Richmond is seen by most in baseball as being inevitable, it hasn't benefited […]
Defenders locked out of ballpark; future in doubt
The first-season American Defenders of New Hampshire were locked out of historic Nashua Stadium last night after failing to pay the city some $45,000 in rent and police bills. The first-season American Defenders of New Hampshire (independent; Can-Am Association) were locked out of historic Nashua Stadium last night after failing to pay the city some […]
‘Topes set to welcome 4-millionth fan
The Albuquerque Isotopes will welcome the 4-millionth fan in team history to Isotopes Park tonight. With just 967 fans to go, the Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will surpass 4-million fans in franchise history tomorrow when the ‘Topes take on the Memphis Redbirds at 6:35 p.m. MT. So far this season, the ‘Topes […]
It’s been a long summer without baseball in Richmond
It's been a long time since Richmond residents went through a summer without baseball. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Apparently it does. It's been a long time since Richmond residents went through a summer without baseball. Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Apparently it does, if this article by Michael Paul Williams […]
Ballpark Visit: Dutchess Stadium / 1
When Dutchess Stadium opened in 1994 as the new home of the relocated Erie (PA) franchise, it was a watershed moment for the league. Just like the folks around Augusta, the folks in the Hudson Valley were thrilled to have a team to call their own. This, too, was a place that had always been […]
Ballpark Visit: Dutchess Stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades
When Dutchess Stadium opened in 1994, it raised the fortunes of the short-season NY-Penn League. Since then teams like Brooklyn may have surpassed the Hudson Valley Renegades in attendance, but the team is still going strong, and the ‘Gades put on a party every home game. Mark Cryan looks at Dutchess Stadium and tells us […]