Charlotte County Sports Park / Tampa Bay Rays / Charlotte Stone Crabs
Longtime spring-training aficionados may be able to recognize Charlotte County Sports Park as the former spring home of the Texas Rangers, remodeled to serve as the spring home of the Tampa Bay Rays and the regular-season home of the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Maybe. FAST FACTS Opened: 1988; renovated in 2009 Cost: $5 million original construction; […]
Lee County to hear pitches for BoSox spring-training sites
Nine companies will tell Lee County officials why their property should serve as the site of a new Boston Red Sox spring-training camp.
Cavemen go high tech at Clemens Field
Larry Owens and the Hannibal Cavemen crew are using high-tech tools at an old WPA-era ballpark.Clemens Field may be a WPA-era facility, but the management of the Hannibal Cavemen (summer collegiate; Prospect League) is using some high-tech tools to enhance the ballpark experience. Many of the tools are connected with energy and energy conservation: the […]
NYCBL to Albany
The former Bennington Bombers will set up shop at Bleecker Stadium.The summer-collegiate New York Collegiate Baseball League is coming to Albany, as the Albany Dutchmen will set up shop at Bleecker Stadium, which dates back to 1936 and once served as the temporary home of the Pittsfield Senators (Class AA; Eastern League) in 1971 and […]
Wolff: Goal is team in “Northern California”
Let the conspiracy theories begin after Oakland A’s co-owner Lew Wolff releases a new-ballpark statement that specifically doesn’t mention Oakland or the Bay Area.Let the conspiracy theories begin after Oakland A’s co-owner Lew Wolff releases a new-ballpark statement that specifically doesn’t mention Oakland or the Bay Area. As you’ll recall, the Oakland A’s officially ended […]
Ballpark Notes for Feb. 24, 2009
New groundskeepers in Clinton and Altoona lead today’s edition of the ballpark news.New groundskeepers in Clinton and Altoona lead today’s edition of the ballpark news. The Clinton LumberKings (Low Class A; Midwest League) announced the hiring of Dan Thomas as the club’s new Stadium Manager and Head Groundskeeper. Thomas joins the organization after spending 2008 […]
Crushers to announce naming-rights deal tomorrow
The Lake Erie Crushers have scheduled a press conference tomorrow to announce a naming-rights deal for a new Avon ballpark.Naming rights may be hard to come by these days, but the Lake Erie Crushers (independent; Frontier League) have scheduled a press conference tomorrow to announce a deal for a new Avon ballpark. The team will […]
Renovated Diamond may do in Richmond
Richmond city officials are pondering whether a renovated Diamond will do for a Class AA Eastern League team.Richmond (Va.) city officials are pondering whether a renovated Diamond will do for a Class AA Eastern League team. Last week we pointed out that a renovated Diamond, the former home of the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International […]
Join Ballpark Digest at the Astros spring opener!
Spring-training games begin on Wednesday, and we’ll be there, as Kevin Reichard signs copies of The Complete Guide to Spring Training at the Astros spring opener.Spring-training games begin on Wednesday, and we’ll be there, as Kevin Reichard signs copies of The Complete Guide to Spring Training at the Astros spring opener. Reichard will be in […]
G-Braves complete prep on new ballpark
The seats are installed, the scoreboard is up, and the field will be ready for play. We have pics of the new Gwinnett Braves ballpark, slated to open in April.The seats are installed, the scoreboard is up, and the field will be ready for play. We have pics of the new Gwinnett Braves (Class AAA; […]
Defenders outline Holman Stadium renovation plans
The American Defenders of New Hampshire unveiled their plans for changes to Historic Holman Stadium.The American Defenders of New Hampshire (independent; Can-Am Association) want to make several changes to the WPA-era Holman Stadium. And while none of the changes are major, they may need to be approved by Nashua because of the historic nature of […]
Is Houston angling to close Astrodome?
Events scheduled for the Astrodome this year have been scrapped after city officials found "code violations" that will cost millions to remedy — and some see the closure as a first step toward closing the beloved venue.Events scheduled for the Astrodome this year have been scrapped after city officials found "code violations" that will cost […]
Tucson makes another run at spring training — but will MLB bite?
A Tucson lawmaker is asking the Arizona Legislature to approve sales-tax hikes for new spring-training facilities. But if voters approve, will any MLB team be interested?You’ve got to give Rep. Vic Williams, a Republican from Tucson, points for persistance in the face of overwhelming odds. Williams is the legislator working to keep spring training in […]