Higher interest rates impact El Paso ballpark debt
Higher-than-anticipated interest rates on city-backed bonds is raising the long-term cost of a new El Paso ballpark by $17 million, as the City Council approved the deal yesterday. City officials had anticipated a rate of 5 percent for nontaxable bonds and and 5.75 percent for taxable bonds. That didn’t attract any bond buyers, so the […]
2015 ASG good for Cincy, bad for county taxpayers
It will cost Hamilton County taxpayers $5 million to spiff up Great American Ball Park for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, as routine repairs to the home of the Cincinnati Reds are accelerated. From the Cincinnati Enquirer: A separate “2015 All-Star Game Ball Park Preparation” memo shows just what the $5 million will pay for. […]
Knights announce return date to Charlotte
The official return of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) to Charlotte is set for April 11, 2014, when the team opens BB&T Ballpark. The date was announced at a press conference today. Members of the Charlotte Knights front office staff, along with Frances Crockett, former co-owner and GM of the Charlotte O’s, were […]
Twins unveil 2014 MLB All-Star Game logo
MLB and the Minnesota Twins unveiled the 2014 All-Star Game logo, featuring a silhouette of Target Field in front of a downtown-Minneapolis skyline. “The Twins are honored to host the 2014 All-Star Game Events,” said Twins Owner and CEO Jim Pohlad. “Even before opening Target Field in 2010, we dreamed of hosting this incredible event. […]
A wiener winner in Richmond
Here’s your wiener winner of promotions for the season: the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) are tying a major scandal to a $1 hot-dog night. The Salute to Scandal Night is scheduled for Thursday, August 1. Headlining the night will be $1 hot dogs available at all of the Flying Squirrels concession stands. […]
Brewers: $10 vouchers for fans at Miller Park in August
In an attempt to regain the favor of fans put off by a losing team and the Ryan Braun doping scandal, the Milwaukee Brewers are distributing $10 vouchers to fans attending a game in August. Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasiomade the announcement today that all fans attending any of the 12 Brewers home […]
Tiger Stadium debate rages on
The debate over the future of the old Tiger Stadium site rages on, as Detroit officials covet a $4 million federal grant controlled by ballpark advocates while others question whether the ballpark site is worth preserving. Detroit, of course, has been in the news in past weeks after a state-appointed manager ordered the city into […]
Prospect League at five: mixed results
The summer-collegiate Prospect League is now in its fifth year, and while there are many success stories on the field and in the front office, league officials say there is plenty of room for improvement. There are two ways to run a summer-collegiate league: for-profit versus nonprofit. Leagues like the Cape Cod League and the […]
Construction begins on new Quad Cities Ferris wheel
Construction of a new Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League), is finally underway after being delayed this spring and summer. Flooding and unseasonably heavy rains this spring and summer forced a delay of construction of a Ferris wheel past the left-field concourse at […]
Northwoods League adds showcase game to mix
It’s a scout’s dream: the summer-collegiate Northwoods League is adding a Big League Dreams Showcase to the schedule this season, with the best prospects in the league slated to play tonight in Madison. While the All-Star Game is an event based on accomplishments, the showcase is based on potential. The showcase is a doubleheader open […]
Ricketts: No Wrigley renovations without rooftop-bleacher deal
Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts made it clear that any Wrigley Field renovations would be shelved unless local rooftop-bleacher owners all agree not to sue the team over potential lost revenues. The issue: a new videoboard that could impact the views of Wrigley Field from the surrounding rooftop bleachers, but the Cubs have also agreed […]
Fredericksburg, Suns to meet Tuesday about new ballpark financing plan
A revised financing plan for a new Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) ballpark in Fredericksburg (Va.) will discussed Tuesday by owner Bruce Quinn and a local negotiating team. The plan isn’t public, but we do know some things about it. The original plan called for the city to finance a new ballpark, with […]
Hillsborough County ready to talk new Rays ballpark
If the Tampa Bay Rays can extract a concession from St. Pete to look at new-ballpark sites in the region, Hillsborough County is ready to talk about a new downtown Tampa facility. The Rays and St. Petersburg officials met Wednesday to discuss a change in the Tropicana Field lease that would allow the Rays to […]