Burham to Richmond, Verillo to Albuquerque
Two familiar names in the Minor League Baseball world are moving to new positions: Jay Burnham joins the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) broadcast team, while Laura Verillo is the new PR director for the Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Burnham, a 10-year veteran of minor league broadcasting, will join Squirrels’ […]
Midwest Collegiate League at six for ’13, adds Lexington Snipes
The summer-collegiate Midwest Collegiate League will field six teams for the 2013 season after adding the Lexington Snipes to the schedule. The Snipes will join the DuPage County Hounds, Chicago Zephyrs, Northwest Indiana Oilmen, Rockford Foresters and the Southland Vikings in the circuit. The Snipes have an established reputation in the Bloomington-Normal (Illinois) market and […]
Cleveland Indians exit broadcast world, sell SportsTime Ohio to Fox Sports
Another team exits the cable-television world, as the Cleveland Indians have sold SportsTime Ohio to Fox Sports and entered into a 10-year broadcasting agreement with Fox Sports Ohio. Aside from some individual owners, Fox Sports has become the most powerful player in the business of baseball, and the addition of the Cleveland Indians to the […]
Today in Baseball History: the early January edition
Baseball broadcasters and fans alike love the idea of “Today in Baseball History.” It’s the perfect middle-inning diversion during a mundane game, and a perfect diversion for fans. But that about the baseball events in the offseason? Jesse Goldberg-Strassler shares key events in baseball history for the beginning of January. —- Earlier in the day, […]
Debt paid down early on Target Field — saving $53.7M
Here’s why you build ballparks when construction and interest costs are low: the debt on Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, has been reduced by $53.7 million after the Minnesota Ballpark Authority took advantage of favorable market conditions. The savings were mostly realized by prepaying variable-rate debt on the ballpark, but having a steady […]
NECBL expands by three in 2013
After several years of losing franchises, the summer-collegiate New England Collegiate Baseball League will expand by three in 2013, adding teams in South Kingstown (RI), Plymouth (Mass.) and Saratoga Springs, NY. “We are thrilled at the addition of Plymouth, Saratoga Springs and South Kingstown,” said NECBL Commissioner Sean McGrath. “All three of these communities share the […]
Three firms bid on Saints construction project
The decision to open the design/build contract for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark yielded three bids, including a proposal from Ryan Cos., which was awarded the original contract. Officials from the city’s Parks and Rec Department are reviewing the proposals from Ryan, Knutson Construction and PCL Construction to design and build […]
The Year That Was: 2012
Ballpark visits across the country, the future of Wrigley Field, the preservation of old ballparks and planning for future MLB ballparks. The top stories posted on Ballpark Digest in 2012, as measured by page views. Appalachian Power Park / West Virginia Power JetBlue Park at Fenway South / Boston Red Sox Turner Field / Atlanta […]
Milovich new VP/GM in Myrtle Beach
Big shift: Andy Milovich, the long-time front-office exec with Palisades Baseball and the West Virginia Power (Low Class A; Sally League), takes the reins of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League). Milovich spent the past 19 seasons with Palisades Baseball, including stints as the top executive of the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves from […]
The Week That Was: December 23
New logos for the St. Lucie Mets, new teams in Kenosha and Saratoga, and financial results in New York City and Phoenix. The most popular stores on Ballpark Digest the past week, as measured by page views. Updated look for St. Lucie Mets unveiled Holidays are days of optimism in baseball world Citi Field revenues […]
Ten million thanks from Ballpark Digest
‘Tis the season to give thanks, and we want to thank each and every one of you as we hit a big milestone yesterday: sometime around 10 a.m. we served our 10-millionth page view for the year. We’ve never reached 10 million page views in a year before. Last year we hit 8,343,806 page views, […]
Holidays are days of optimism in baseball world
The time period between Christmas and New Year’s is an odd one, and more than a little awkward, too. That goes for the world in general, but it’s especially true for those who work in the baseball industry, Jesse Goldberg-Strassler explains. There is a hangover effect to Christmas, which has so much time and effort […]
Mickelson out of Padres ownership mix
Professional golfer and San Diego native Phil Mickelson is passing on an investment in the San Diego Padres, saying he doesn’t have the time to make a serious commitment to the new ownership group. Mickelson was included as potentially being part of the new Padres owners when the sale of the team from John Moores […]