MiLB: Heaviest use of Vero Beach baseball facilities since 1940s
Here’s one reason why spring training is unlikely to return to the former Dodgertown in Vero Beach: Between youth tournaments, swimming meets and other events, Vero Beach Sports Village is the busiest it’s been since the 1940s, when the Brooklyn Dodgers hosted 26 teams there during spring training. It’s a vindication of sort for Minor […]
Dodgers scrap half-price drink promotion
In the wake of a nasty beating of a San Francisco Giants fan in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on March 31, the Los Angeles Dodgers are scrapping a half-price drink promotion slated for midweek day games and preparing for increased security at tonight’s game. The six-game promotion that runs throughout the season will continue […]
Crunching the 2011 Florida spring-training numbers
Attendance at Grapefruit League games at Florida spring-training facilities was slightly higher in 2011 than in 2010, but overall attendance been a little down since record numbers were set in the middle of this decade. A total of 1,571,196 fans attended Florida spring-training games this past spring. That’s higher than last year’s tally of 1,427,627 […]
TinCaps welcome millionth fan to Parkview Field
A significant milestone was reached at Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League): During last night’s IPFW/Purdue collegiate baseball game, the millionth official guest of the ballpark went though the turnstiles. The million fans include those attending TinCaps games, collegiate games, concerts and other special events. Since April 2009 […]
River Bandits prep for Mississippi River flooding
If it’s spring, it’s time for Mississippi River flooding. And that means the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) are preparing Modern Woodmen Park for access to the ballpark while the waters invade the parking lot. Improvements made to Modern Woodmen Park over the last five or six years, such as the […]
Hicks, Rangers back in court
A dispute over control of parking lots at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington has landed the current and former owners of the Texas Rangers in court, with the team alleging Tom Hicks is poised to gouge fans attending games. UPDATED When Rangers Baseball Express bought the Texas Rangers from Tom Hicks, they also entered into […]
Green Bay examining new ballpark financing tools
With total private financing of a new Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) facility seemingly stalled, three Green Bay aldermen are joining ranks to explore public-financing options for a new ballpark. The Bullfrogs have already put together a pretty cool ballpark plan, calling for a new facility to built on the shores of the […]
Kraft ticket promo returns to Minor League Baseball
Nice way for a family to save money at the ballpark: the Kraft Singles promotion with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) returns for 2011, as participating teams will offer two-for-one tickets in exchange for any Kraft Singles package wrapper redeemed at the box office. This season’s program features several elements, both in and out of the […]
Fenway mixer: More booze at the ballpark?
The Boston Red Sox are asking the city for permission to serve more mixed drinks at Fenway Park this season, but allegations that the team has not been sufficiently diligent in preventing alcohol-related incidents will be addressed at a hearing today. The hearing, before the Boston Licensing Board, will address allegations that the Red Sox […]
All quiet at AT&T Park last night
It was a normal AT&T Park night, with no major fights or public incidents, as the San Francisco Giants hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since Giants fan Bryan Stow was beaten March 31 at Dodger Stadium. Giants officials implemented security measures at AT&T Park on the par for a World Series […]
Cansecos hits North American League
Fresh off an appearance on Celebrity Apprentice, Jose Canseco has signed up to manage the Yuma Scorpions (independent; North American League) and will play in the field as DH/1B; he’ll be joined by brother Ozzie Canseco on the Scorpions roster. Besides playing in the field, Ozzie will serve as hitting coach and bench coach. “I’m […]
Security tight tonight at AT&T Park for Dodgers-Giants tilt
Security for tonight’s Los Angeles-San Francisco game at AT&T Park will be played with extra security both within and outside the ballpark, as the Giants front office brings in World Series-level measures to prevent any retaliatory moves from fans in the wake of last month’s Dodger Stadium beating. Giants fan Bryan Stow was beaten in […]
Nashville seeking community input for ballpark site
After years of study and a focus on the Thermal Plant site for a new ballpark, Nashville is seeking community input regarding alternative ballpark locations for the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), providing a breath of fresh air to the proceedings. It’s no secret the present and past owners of the Sounds had […]