Steamers will return in 2011, despite coming up short in fundraising
Despite coming up short in a fundraising drive to save the team, the Edenton Steamers (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) will return in 20111, as the league cuts them some slack on a mandatory letter of credit. The nonprofit Edenton Chowen Community Foundation, which owns and runs the Steamers, originally had a goal of raising […]
Ballpark financial issues hit Reno
A decrease in property values in the area and an assessment that Aces Ballpark is now worth less than half the construction price is forcing Reno to pay $1 million this year in subsidies to its developer, the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) — and that payment may need to be repeated annually […]
The Week That Was: September 25
Here are the most popular stories on Ballpark Digest for the past week, as measured by page views. It was a week of hope for new ballparks in West Chester, Loudoun County, Birmingham and Escondido; it was also a week where teams made preparations for the 2011 season by finding new or renewed affiliates. Phillies, […]
Suns officially sold
The sale of the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) has officially been completed, with a group of investors buying the franchise from Mandalay Baseball for a reported $6.7 million. The new ownership group is lead by Bruce Quinn, general manager of Polo Trace Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. The group also includes […]
Japanese teams in the mix for spring training?
Tucson officials say they’re close to signing some Japanese teams to train this coming spring at Tucson Electric Park, provided Major League Baseball teams are willing to play some exhibition games — and apparently they are. At a press conference yesterday officials with the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority said they’ve met with the […]
Na Koa Ikaika Maui owners seek new money, will return in 2011: owner
Fresh off an inaugural season that saw 50,343 fans pass through the turnstiles at Maehara Stadium, the Na Koa Ikaika Maui (independent; Golden Baseball League) owners are seeking new investors to help cover the losses sustained in 2010. Running a pro sports team in Hawaii isn’t cheap: travel costs are a killer, even on a […]
Burlington squared: Oakland signs PDCs with Bees, Lake Monsters
The Oakland A’s joined forces with two of the three Burlington minor-league teams today, as the last teams left standing in low A — the Vermont Lake Monsters (short season A; NY-Penn League), playing out of Burlington, Vt., and the Burlington Bees (Low Class A; Midwest League), from Iowa — officially announced player-development deals. “We […]
Cleveland to unveil Snow Days at Progressive Field
It’s the dream of every baseball team to monetize a ballpark in winter months, but the Cleveland Indians are building weeks of promotions and activities into a six-week promotion: Snow Days, featuring ice skating, snow tubing and more. Each day, beginning on Nov. 26, the Indians will blanket Progressive Field with 150 tons of snow, […]
Next up in your MLB ballpark: in-ballpark food delivery from a smartphone
The Philadelphia Phillies, MLBAM and Aramark yesterday unveiled a system at Citizens Bank Park allowing fans to order concessions from their seats and have them delivered in about 10 minutes or so. The ability to order concessions will be available throughout the end of the season. To use it, a fan calls up the At […]
JackHammers owe $200K in back rent, bounced check to Famous Chicken
It’s one thing to owe the city of Joliet more than $200,000 in back rent — which the team admits is the case — but the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League) may have committed a more egregious sin: bouncing a check to the Famous Chicken after an appearance. To the Chicken! That the team owes […]
Cleveland, Columbus extend PDC to 2014
No, the deal wasn’t slated to end, but the Cleveland Indians and Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League) decided they wanted to keep the dance going, extending their player development deal by two more years, to 2014. The two-year extension comes two days after the Columbus Clippers captured the Triple-A Championship after Tuesday night’s 12-6 […]
Lackawanna County: In a ballpark bind and mad
After years of neglect, Moosic’s PNC Field is falling apart. But Lackawanna County officials, lacking the funds to fix the ballpark and increasingly unwilling to sell the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), find themselves with no attractive choice to address the future of baseball in the area. Commissioners yesterday discussed the future of the […]
Twins set attendance record in first Target Field season
You don’t think there was some pent-up demand for outdoor baseball in Minnesota? The Twins set a season attendance record at Target Field yesterday, despite playing at a very small venue by MLB standards. “We are thrilled to have achieved this record during our Inaugural Season at Target Field,” said Dave St. Peter, Twins President. […]