Efforts continue to bring pro baseball back to Atlantic City
A group that included former Atlantic City Surf GM Mario Perrucci and Atlantic League founder Frank Boulton met with Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian about bringing pro baseball back to Surf Stadium. Surf Stadium — née the Sandcastle and Bernie Robbins Stadium — formerly hosted independent baseball, but fell into disrepair after the departure of […]
Fredericksburg to move ahead with ballpark financing negotiations
The Fredericksburg (Va.) City Council will move forward with negotiations on a new baseball complex and ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League), but it’s not clear whether the city will commit an additional $18 million to the project. Diamond Nation has proposed a $61-million development at Celebrate Virginia South featuring a […]
Slammers owners: We’re hitting our numbers
Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) CEO Josh Schaub says that despite an attendance slide, the team is hitting its numbers in terms of revenues, and that his group is committed to the market. Owners Nick Semaca and Schaub, a Twin Cities attorney, took over the Slammers two years ago. The team is averaging 1,888 fans […]
Colorado Springs Sky Sox set attendance record
Another good year at Security Service Field, where the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) set a season attendance record after a big crowd Tuesday night. The Sky Sox welcomed 7,630 fans through the gates Tuesday night and in the process set a new single-season attendance record. The 344,523 fans to enter […]
Spokane, Texas extend player-development contract
The Spokane Indians (short season A; Northwest League) will remain a Texas Rangers affiliate through 2016, as the two teams extended their player-development contract (PDC) for two more years. “We’re more than excited to be able to continue the affiliation with the Texas Rangers two more years,” said Spokane Indians Vice President-General Manager Chris Duff. […]
Simunic, RedHawks exercise contract option
The only manager in Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; American Association) history, Doug Simunic, will be with the team through the 2017 season, as a two-year contract extension was exercised. Simunic signed a three-year extension in 2012, with the potential for a two-year extension. That extension is now in play. “I would like to capture one more […]
Centerplate CEO caught abusing dog; protests follow
Centerplate CEO Desmond Hague was caught on camera abusing a Doberman puppy, and the result may be a significant loss in business for the concessionaire. From Fortune: CEO Des Hague, who has led the company since 2009, was caught on video surveillance abusing a dog in an elevator. The footage, taken from a Vancouver apartment […]
It’s official: Astros, River Bandits extend affiliation
Here’s the official announcement: The Quad Cities River Bandits (Class A; Midwest League) and the Houston Astros have signed a two-year extension of their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2016 season. River Bandits owner Dave Heller and Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan made the announcement at a press conference Tuesday at Modern Woodmen […]
Drillers affiliation in play?
We may have another affiliation in play, with Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) GM Mike Melega saying the team won’t address its MLB affiliate until after the season — which may mean a change from current parent Colorado Rockies. The two have a history of announcing player-development contracts before the end of the season […]
MKE Sports to manage Aviators in 2015
MKE Sports & Entertainment, the group seeking to build a new independent-league ballpark in the Milwaukee suburbs, has signed a deal to manage the Rockford Aviators (independent; Frontier League) in 2015. Mike Zimmerman, who ultimately failed to convince Franklin (Wis.) officials to finance a new ballpark at his Rock Sports Complex for a Frontier League […]
Northwest League, Pioneer League to square off in 2015 All-Star Game
History in the making: the short-season-A Northwest League will take on the rookie Pioneer League in a 2015 All-Star Game to be held August 4 at Avista Stadium, home of the Spokane Indians. We’ve seen interleague All-Star Games in recent years — like the Triple-A All-Star Game between the International League and the Pacific Coast […]
Jacksonville Suns, Miami Marlins extend PDC through 2016
The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) and Miami Marlins announced a two-year extension of their player development contract (PDC), through the 2016 season. There has not been a losing season for the Suns as a Marlins affiliate, a partnership that began with the 2009 season. “I am proud to renew our affiliation with the […]
Affiliation news: Mets, Astros, 51s, River Bandits
With less than a week for teams to exclusively renew their player-development contracts before open season, it looks like the New York Mets will stay with the Las Vegas 51s, and Houston’s Reid Ryan will be heading to Quad Cities today to renew with the River Bandits. Though a formal deal has not been announced, […]