The newest NYC real-estate mogul: Mo Vaughn
What’s Mo Vaughn been doing since he left the game of baseball? Along with two partners, he’s invested over $500 million in run-down housing and its renovation. What’s Mo Vaughn been doing since he left the game of baseball? Along with two partners, he’s invested over $500 million in run-down housing and its renovation, creating […]
The week that was: July 31
The top stories on Ballpark Digest the past week, as measured by page views. The top stories on Ballpark Digest the past week, as measured by page views. MLB season to start earlier; final days of spring training gone under proposal Twins darken batters' eye at Target Field Five sites emerge as home for new […]
Promotions Watch: Rock Cats bring in Jonas Brothers, ESPN for celebrity softball match
The New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) may have snared the ultimate in off-day promotions, as the Jonas Brothers — yes, those Jonas Brothers — will change their repertoire from hit singles to doubles, triples and home runs when their “Road Dogs” softball team takes on the ESPN “G.O.A.T.S,” a team of ESPN […]
Padres pitch one-sided lease to Escondido
No wonder the San Diego Padres are in a hurry to have Escondido (Cal.) officials approve a lease for a new Portland Beavers ballpark quickly: the deal proposed is totally one-sided in favor of the Padres. The city would borrow $45 million (at a total cost potentially of $90 million) for the new ballpark and […]
Twins darken batters’ eye at Target Field
After receiving complaints from the big bats in the lineup, the Minnesota Twins took the paintbrush to the center-field batters’ eye, but for now the trees will remain. We’re sure Carl Pavano and Scott Baker are thrilled with this. After receiving complaints from the big bats in the lineup, the Minnesota Twins took the paintbrush […]
Pols: Let’s not fix up PNC Field — or sell team to Mandalay, either
If Mandalay Baseball and the New York Yankees want to see improvements to PNC Field, they’ll need to fund them, according to several Lackawanna County Commissioners, who don’t want to see the pair exercise an option to buy the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Yes, it’s an inconsistent stand, but the rhetoric is certainly placing the future of […]
MLB season to start earlier; final days of spring training gone under proposal
The final weekend of spring training in 2011 would be wiped out in favor of regular-season games, as MLB works to adjust the season to the World Series could be played earlier. The final weekend of spring training in 2011 could be wiped out in favor of regular-season games, as MLB works to adjust the […]
Some unofficial market research: our next books
We're a little teary-eyed in the Ballpark Digest offices this afternoon: literally the last copy of Cradle of the Game: Ballparks and Baseball in North Carolina shipped to our distributor. What should we do: Publish another edition or retire the title? Should we look at an electronic (Kindle/iPad/Nook) edition? We want your input as to […]
Rays: No, we’re not interested in limiting ballpark search to St. Pete
After the city of St. Petersburg offered to amend the Tampa Bay Rays’ lease to allow for a new ballpark in Pinellas County with no penalties for leaving the Trop, the Rays have countered by saying any new-ballpark search much encompass the entire Tampa Bay area. After the city of St. Petersburg offered to amend […]
Edenton Steamers may fold if community support doesn’t arrive
The nonprofit that owns the summer-collegiate Edenton Steamers says they need the community to come up with $50,000 to ensure the team’s survival. The nonprofit that owns the Edenton Steamers (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) says they need the community to come up with $50,000 to ensure the team’s survival. The Steamers are owned by […]
Promotions Watch: Voltaggio packs them in at Keys game
Nice promotion for the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League): Top Chef finalist and local restaurateur Bryan Voltaggio manned a concessions stand at Harry Grove Stadium, pulling in a crowd almost double what the Keys draw on an average Tuesday night. This shows the high-end promotion can work in the right market — and […]
Martinsville Mustangs approach break-even point, ensuring survival for 2011
The future of the summer-collegiate Martinsville Mustangs depends on approaching a break-even point on the books — and it looks like the team will come close to that this season. The team has been subsidized by the city in recent years, but facing their own budget issues, leaders say the team much approach break-even or […]
San Jose likely to scrap ballpark referendum
MLB made San Jose an offer it couldn’t refuse in a request to delay a fall referendum on the proposal to bring the A’s to the city; we’re told more than likely the city will honor the request. Smart move. UPDATE: Yup, Mayor Chuck Reed just announced the referendum will be scrapped. MLB made San […]