Brevard County Manatees, Rollins College talking new ballpark
We’ve reported several times about efforts by the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) ownership seeking a move to Orlando, and now we have the details: the team is working on a ballpark plan witb Winter Park’s Rollins College. Baseball is a big thing at Rollins College, but the team’s current home […]
Reno withdraws funding plan for Aces Ballpark
Elections have consequences: the new majority on the Reno City Council voted to rescind a deal paying $1 million annually for 30 years to address debt on Aces Ballpark, home of the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). The vote wasn’t close — 6-1 — and it came after new members of the City […]
Midland ballpark naming rights on market after Citibank defection
The home of the Midland RockHounds (Class AA; Texas League) will have a new name in 2014, after the current naming-rights deal with Citibank ends in 2013. It’s been Citibank Ballpark since 2005, after the banking giant bought the original rightsholder First American Bank, which held the rights when the ballpark opened in 2002. The […]
Braves: No new ballpark in sight, so we’ll fix up Turner Field
Though the notion of a new ballpark was floated in the Atlanta Braves front office, it sounds like team brass is committed to renovating Turner Field and working to improve the 55 acres around the ballpark. If there was no ballpark and the Braves were looking for a new-ballpark location, there’s little chance it would […]
New for 2013: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Goodbye Yankees, hello Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League), as the team combines the top two vote-getters in a name-the-team contest into a single brand. It certainly takes a bold hand to create a team identity that combines porcupines and a trolley car — with the end result a trolley-riding porcupine that sometimes dons conductors’ […]
Trois-Rivieres Aigles unveil branding, logos
The Trois-Rivières Aigles — the newest team in the independent Can-Am League— unveiled their logos and branding while also announcing the hiring of Pierre-Luc “Pete” Laforest as manager. The club’s logos were designed by Trois-Rivières-based design agency Agence Absolu. The designs, which include the team’s principal mark as well as secondary logos and wordmarks, incorporate the […]
Hudson Valley introduces new branding, uniforms
The Hudson Valley Renegades (short season A; NY-Penn League) will have a new look for the 2013 season, as the team introduced a facelift of the team logo, new colors and new uniforms. During a private press conference held in the clubhouse Wednesday afternoon, the organization debuted the new look, including the new color scheme […]
Oppermann lands in Reading; Seltzer to 76ers
Some changes in the broadcast booth for the Reading Phillies (Class AA; Eastern League): play-by-play voice Anthony Oppermann is returning, while Brian Seltzer is leaving the team to join Philadelphia’s 97.5 The Fanatic as Sixers Post-Game Show host. “We wish Brian well in his future endeavors with the Sixers and welcome Anthony back with open […]
Concrete going down in Charlotte ballpark
Later today we’ll see a major milestone in the construction of BB&T Ballpark, future home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League): the first concrete is going down. The Knights are moving to the new Uptown ballpark in 2014. Image from the webcam installed at the construction site. Click here to check in on […]
Poll: St. Pete voters opposed to public financing of new Rays ballpark
We’re not sure this will change the dynamics of the discussions, but it’s worth noting: a poll of St. Petersburg voters showed heavy opposition to any public financing of a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark. The poll, from StPetePolls.com, called 1,424 registered voters on Nov. 12 to gauge attitudes on a variety of issues in […]
Fate of Lynchburg Hillcats still cloudy
Though Wilmington voters rejected a new-ballpark plan that would have brought the Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League) to North Carolina, the team’s long-term future at Calvin Falwell Field is far from assured. There may have been some premature celebration among Hillcats fans when the ballpark referendum went down in Wilmington. Two things are […]
Washoe County balking at Aces ballpark subsidy
The effort to bring lots of public money to paying down Aces Ballpark, home of the Reno Aces (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), hit a snag after Washoe County officials put the brakes temporarily on a request for $15 million. The Reno City Council has already committed $30 million over 30 years (out of general […]
Dehler makes good on naming-rights payment for Mustangs ballpark
Jon Dehler, who purchased naming rights for Dehler Park, home of the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League), is current after making a $50,000 payment last week. We’re not so sure this was very newsworthy, but the local paper aggressively covered a situation where Dehler was late on an annual $100,000 payment — kinda. He made […]