Memphis offers $20M for AutoZone Park; city, Cards to pay $20M for renos
The city of Memphis is set to pay $20 million for AutoZone Park, the home of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), and spend $5 million more on upgrades, along with $15 million from the St. Louis Cardinals. Those are the terms of the deal, which will be debated by the Memphis City […]
Shocker: Olympic Stadium’s roof needs more repairs
The roof at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is in constant need of repair, as 2,000 tears in the last year has doubled the annual maintenance costs to $800,000 — raising issues again about the facility’s viability. The former home of the Montreal Expos is generally in good shape; the roof is the big issue when it […]
Bush Stadium lofts big hit in Indy
It’s proven to be a bigger success than anticipated: with lofts at Indianapolis’s renovated Bush Stadium sold out this summer, Core Redevelopment is building 144 flats at the former home of the Indianapolis Indians (Class AAA; International League). The 1931 ballpark, which opened as Perry Stadium, had sat empty for several years after the Indians […]
Nats pitch ballpark roof; DC officials not enthusiastic
A pitch by Washington Nationals ownership to put a new retractable roof on Nationals Park didn’t meet with much enthusiasm from District officials, who say a $300-million price tag is too much. Ted Lerner presented a plan and renderings last July to D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray for a new roof. The District is already heavily […]
Prepping for the Winter Meetings
It’s coming up fast: the annual Baseball Winter Meetings and Baseball Trade Show launches next Monday, and we will once again be exhibiting. The trade show runs Monday night through Wednesday at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Disney World, and we will be there in Booth 1320. No goodies or giveaways: we’re once again […]
Debate continues over new Saints ballpark design
The design of a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark has been criticized by some public officials for not being retro enough, as a debate rages over its impact on the historic Lowertown neighborhood. For those of you unfamiliar with St. Paul geography, here’s a short lesson. The Lowertown district, part of downtown, […]
Nashville: We’ll save money building at Sulphur Dell
Building a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark at Sulphur Dell instead of a proposed waterfront site will save the city millions in construction and financing costs. The new ballpark, to be built on the site of the historic Sulphur Dell ballpark, which served as home to Nashville baseball from the end […]
A’s sign two-year lease to stay at Coliseum
The Oakland A’s and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority agreed on a two-year lease extension for O.co Coliseum, giving the team control of concessions and flexibility for the future. The two sides had suffered through some contentious negotiations: the authority, believing it had the upper hand, sought a lease extension between five and eight years […]
Nashville acquires land for new Sounds ballpark
The city of Nashville will officially acquire a key parcel of land from the state for construction of a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark on the old Sulphur Dell site. As far as historic locations go, this is a biggie: baseball was played on the Sulphur Dell site from the Civil […]
Could new Braves ballpark be derailed by lawsuit?
Tea Party opponents of a new Atlanta Braves ballpark in suburban Cobb County are searching for a legal reason to oppose the project — but the clock is ticking. The issue: the way the Braves introduced the new ballpark — just two weeks before a county vote on the project — didn’t give opponents much […]
Isotopes Park wins 2013 Field of the Year
The field at Isotopes Park, home of the Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), has been named the winner for the 2013 Field of the Year by the Sports Turf Managers Association. The organization’s Field of the Year Award has been given since 1992 to members who manage baseball fields at the professional level. […]
MLB to screen fans entering games next season
Major League Baseball teams will screen all fans attending games next season, more than likely in the form of full-body metals detectors, according to MLB’s head of security. The commissioner’s office is issuing guidelines for increased security at regular-season games next season, and they’re expected to to finalized before the Winter Meetings in two weeks. […]
Lake Monsters unveil new logo, branding
The Vermont Lake Monsters (short season A; NY-Penn League) unveiled a new team logo and identity featuring the team’s mascot, CHAMP, as the team begins their 21st season of Minor League Baseball. After using logos with the variation of a gray “Champ” floating through the letter V during the franchise’s first years as the Vermont […]