Slow start at the gate for Sioux City Explorers
It’s been a slow start to the season for the Sioux City Explorers (independent; American Association), as only 1,177 fans are showing up nightly at Lewis and Clark Park. That number ranks last in the American Association; it’s also about half of what the second-to-last team, the Sioux Falls Pheasants, are drawing per game (2,200) and […]
More delays for new P-Nationals ballpark
More delays for a new Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) ballpark, as owner Art Silber says a 2014 opening is now the most likely outcome. It’s been an interesting year for Silber and crew, as promises to unveil details of a replacement for Pfitzner Stadium have been delayed again and again while the team, […]
Centerpiece of PNC Field renovations: mondo scoreboard
When the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) return to PNC Field next season, fans will be treated to a seriously upgraded multimedia experience. As part of the renovation — set to be unveiled next season — the SWB Yankees (or whatever the team will be called) new scoreboards will be part of the mix. […]
Downtown ballpark planning moving forward in El Paso
The El Paso City Council is set to discuss a proposed downtown ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). A few financing plans for a new El Paso ballpark have been floating around in recent months, ranging from a privately financed facility to one funded from the proceeds of a large […]
Goodbye, SWB Yankees: Name-the-team contest announced
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) moniker will be gone as the end of the season, as the team launches a name-the-team contest for 2013. The entry form for the contest can be found here. The contest coincides with a return of the team to a renovated PNC Field for the 2013 season. “In […]
Wilmington officials: Proposed ballpark lease won’t happen
A proposed lease for a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark hasn’t generated a whole lot of enthusiasm from City Council members, who are balking at some of the provisions. Some of the provisions are actually pretty routine in the construction world, but in the hypersensitive bubble that is Wilmington politics, they come off as onerous or […]
Osprey, Diamondbacks extend PDC
The Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League) and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2016 season. “We have been with the Arizona Diamondbacks since they were granted an expansion franchise and we see no reason to end that relationship now,” said Matt Ellis, Osprey Executive Vice President, via press release. “We feel […]
No beer, no ball: Pecos League and Carlsbad part ways
The inability to sell beer has prompted the independent Pecos League and the city of Carlsbad to part ways in a discussion of a future franchise. The Pecos League’s Andrew Dunn has worked for several years on a Carlsbad franchise, going to the point of naming the league’s 2011 traveling team the Carlsbad Bats and […]
Hawks: We proposed moving to Hillsboro
Though the Yakima Bears ultimately won the right to move to a new Hillsboro (Ore.) ballpark, the Boise Hawks asked for the move and prompted a vote among short-season Northwest League owners. The owners ultimately voted 7-1 to allow the Bears to move to Hillsboro in 2013 (presumably the Hawks were the only vote against), […]
Lakewood lands 2013 Sally League All-Star Game
The Lakewood BlueClaws will be the center of Sally League attention in 2013, hosting the circuit’s All-Star Game. “This is a banner day in BlueClaws history,” said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. “Almost 10 years to the day we hosted the All-Star Game in 2002, we are thrilled to announce that this magnificent event is coming to […]
Settling in: C-Tigers a quiet success in Norwich
Some fans were dismayed when Double-A ball left Norwich, but the community-oriented approach of the Connecticut Tigers (short season A; NY-Penn League) has won over the locals. The approach from C.J. Knudsen and crew is pretty simple: since the C-Tigers season opens in June, the ballpark is host to a slew of college and high-school […]
Morgantown emerging as potential Bucs farm-team home?
With the State College Spikes (short season A; NY-Penn League) dissatisfied with parent Pittsburgh, a proposed Morgantown (W.Va.) team is emerging as a contender to land the Bucs. No less an authority than Chuck Greenberg, chairman and managing partner of the Spikes, says pro baseball could work in a shared facility. While there are some […]
Wilmington to ask voters to approve new-ballpark bonding
With the collapse of a public-private partnership backing a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark, voters will be asked directly this fall whether to back bonds on the project. Developer Flywheel/Trask has withdrawn from the project, which calls for Mandalay Baseball Properties to run a new ballpark for a relocating Atlanta Braves farm team, the Lynchburg Hillcats (High […]