Future of North American League in…Japan?
With a two-game series against Ishikawa Million Stars drawing well at Iron Maehara Stadium, Na Koa Ikaika Maui (independent; North American League) owner Bob Young is looking at another indy setup that calls for less travel and more Japanese competition. Na Koa Ikaika draw more than 2,500 fans for the two-game series against the Million […]
Rip Tide: ATVs and the perils of mascotdom
It could have been a lot worse, but in the end no one was hurt when Rip Tide, mascot for the Norfolk Tides (Class AAA; International League), took a nasty spill on an ATV during Sunday’s game against Lehigh Valley. After wiping out, Rip Tide tried to get the ATV running again, to no avail. […]
St. Paul expected to approve Saints ballpark plan Wednesday
The St. Paul City Council is expected to approve a funding plan for a new Lowertown St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark despite half of the money for the facility still up in the air. The cost of the project is $54 million. The financing plan calls for St. Paul to issue $8.5 million […]
P-Nats ballpark plan to be unveiled tomorrow
A new-ballpark plan for the Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) is set to be unveiled tomorrow, as the Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center development will be named as the location. A press conference has been scheduled by Prince William County, the P-Nats and the state department of transportation to announce the ballpark deal as […]
“Business is better now than when Tiger Stadium was around”
If only Tiger Stadium could have been saved, it would have been part of a renaissance of the Corktown area of Detroit, where gentrification is in full force. When the Detroit Tigers moved to Comerica Park and abandoned Tiger Stadium, the future of Corktown was written off by many in the greater Detroit area. Without […]
Can Bud Selig warm relationship between Cubs, politicians?
We’re not entirely sure Bud Selig will be able to patch things up between the Ricketts and Chicago politicians, but he reportedly will take a crack at lobbying for public money toward Wrigley Field renovations — holding an All-Star Game as an enticement. The Chicago Cubs ownership, led by Tom Ricketts, wants to spend $500 […]
Experience establishes Silver Knights in Nashua market
The Nashua Silver Knights (summer collegiate; Futures Collegiate Baseball League) are seeing an uptick at the box office this season, as a second season at historic Holman Stadium is reassuring fans the team is there to stay. Baseball has had a bumpy history at Holman Stadium in recent years; indy baseball failed to gain a […]
Hoteliers: We’re don’t want to pay for new El Paso ballpark
Hotel and motel owners are opposing a hike in the local hotel tax to help pay for a new downtown El Paso ballpark housing a Pacific Coast League team, but it’s not clear whether they have the political muscle to kill the proposal. Taxing visitors via hotel and car taxes is always a popular way […]
Could Blue Jays provide shot in the arm for Bisons?
Attendance at Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League) games is down some 1,600 fans per game in two years. Could a new affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays give the franchise some needed life? Buffalo, in the past, has been a great baseball town, with the team ending the 1990s with 9,000 or so season-ticket […]
Newly available land parcel could bring downtown Tampa ballpark — maybe
It’s not as though there are plenty of downtown Tampa land parcels suitable for a new ballpark, but the potential move of a large flour mill could get things rolling for a new Tampa Bay Rays facility. A mill owned and operated by ConAgra is a major presence in downtown Tampa in many ways: besides […]
No expansion on tap for American Association: Wolff
There are no plans for expansion in the independent American Association, reports commissioner Miles Wolff, as the league continues its focus on large markets and stable ownership groups. Visiting Fargo’s Newman Outdoor Field, Wolff addressed the issue of western Canadian teams joining the indy circuit — not likely, given the remote nature of Edmonton and […]
European football hits American ballparks this summer
Ballparks in major cities are serving another sporting purpose this summer: hosting international soccer matches. In the past it wasn’t unusual for ballparks to host non-baseball sporting events, especially college and pro football. But soccer is a new player in the ballpark world. For a baseball team, converting the field for use as a soccer […]
The Week That Was: July 15
Tampa Bay attendance woes, MLB TV contracts, a new El Paso ballpark and spring training made news this week. The most popular stories of the past seven days on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Selig: Rays attendance is “inexcusable” NBC vying for piece of MLB media-rights pie? El Paso: Let’s sell Cohen Stadium […]