Lower attendance, revenues haunting Mets front office
The austerity package embraced by the New York Mets may have helped stem the losses from Citi Field operations, but debt still looms for a franchise looking at another sub-.500 season. In a filing with New York City Industrial Development Agency, which issued the construction bonds for the ballpark, the Mets released a partial picture […]
Mandalay, PSC exploring Ottawa
A rather breathless and inaccurate report in the Ottawa Citizen has some locals excited about the possible return of pro baseball to the Canadian capital. The report, which you can read here, has one central fact correct: Mandalay Baseball Properties and Professional Sports Catering officials did indeed visit Ottawa Stadium near the beginning of the […]
Fall games pitched by Big Ten
Fall games that would count toward College World Series eligibility is being pitched by Big Ten coaches and officials as a way to level the NCAA baseball playing field, currently dominated by southern and western squads. It’s no secret Big Ten coaches and administrators are frustrated by the imbalance in college baseball: SEC and PAC-12 […]
Hounds ballpark receives preliminary approval
A new ballpark for the Loudoun Hounds (independent; Atlantic League) at One Loudoun Place received approval from the Loudoun County Planning Commission and will be debated by the full board on March 25. The full Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is expected to take up the matter during a March 25 hearing. The One Loudoun […]
Rooney: Frontier League to W.Va. could take years
Though there’s some excitement about bringing the independent Frontier League to West Virginia, consultant Tom Rooney warns that much, much more work needs to be done before any decisions are made. West Virginia has been a hotbed of activity the last 12 months when it comes to potential new ballparks: West Virginia University is moving […]
Hutchins new GM in Wilmington
The Wilmington Sharks (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) announced the hiring of Pat Hutchins as the team’s new general manager. After leaving Greenville and East Carolina University, Hutchins has called Wilmington home for over 15 years. He has already hit the ground running for his first season in the Coastal Plain League. “The chance to […]
Storm Chasers to hold name-the-beer contest
The Omaha Storm Chasers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are holding an unusual promotion to launch the 2013 season: a name-the-beer contest. The Storm Chasers are partnering with Nebraska Brewing Company — a fine, fine purveyor of potent potables — on a special brew sold at Werner Park, and the team is asking the public […]
TinCaps: It’s all about the cash, baby
There’s no arguing with the logic here: the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) are giving away $5,000 on Opening Night because, well, people like cash. “We wanted to mark the start of year number five with something significant,” said TinCaps President Mike Nutter. “We kept thinking of clever things to give away […]
Barons expand front office for move to new ballpark
Time to staff up with a move to a new downtown ballpark: the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) announced eight new hires in the front office. The additions to their front office staff on Monday: Don Leo, Corporate Sales Manager, Brett Oates, Group Sales Manager, Steve Bayko, Community Group Ticket Representative, Sydney Weldon, Corporate […]
Nolan Ryan on his way out in Rangers front office?
Nolan Ryan could be on his way out as CEO of the Texas Rangers after the promotions of Jon Daniels and Rick George took away much of his day-to-day responsibilities, according to reports in the Dallas-Fort Worth press. On Friday the team announced the promotions of General Manager Jon Daniels to President of Baseball Operations/General […]
Skylands Park sale falls through
A purchase of Skylands Park has fallen through after an investor specializing in distressed properties couldn’t make the numbers work. Mark Roscioli missed a March 1 deadline to close on a purchase of the former home of the New Jersey Cardinals (short season A; NY-Penn League) and the Sussex SkyHawks (independent; Can-Am League) for $950,000. […]
Dodgers unveil plans for sharpest scoreboards in majors
The Los Angeles Dodgers are installing the sharpest videoboards in the majors — a full high-def 1080p — in Dodger Stadium for the 2013 season, with the assistance of ANC Sports Enterprises. They will be the first 10mm 1080p surface mount light-emitting diode (LED) displays in baseball. The new scoreboards will be in both right […]
Oakland, Mesa reach final agreement on HoHoKam Park move
It’s close to official: the city of Mesa and the Oakland A’s have reached agreement on a lease for HoHoKam Park beginning in 2015, subject to approval from the City Council on Monday. The deal calls for at least $20 million in renovations for the current spring home of the Chicago Cubs, slated to move […]