New for 2012: CMC–NorthEast Stadium
The home of the Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League) has a new name, as the team sold naming rights to Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast. The former Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium will be known as CMC–NorthEast Stadium when the Intimidators’ season starts Thursday, April 5. “Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast has had a long and distinguished history of […]
Hebner takes reins of North Shore Navigators
It’s turning into a nice gig for coaches: Richie Hebner is the new coach of the North Shore Navigators (Futures League), as the former major leaguer enters the summer-collegiate field. Hebner, a native of Norwood, Mass., spent 18 seasons in the major leagues from 1968 to 1985 with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, the New York Mets, […]
Today’s A’s/Giants update: nothing new
It’s maybe the most closely watched business issue in MLB these days, but there’s nothing new in the battle between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants over San Jose. The New York Times had a nice report on the state of affairs in the A’s/Giants standoff: the A’s want San Jose, the Giants control […]
New Montgomery County ballpark fate tied to theme-park development
A much-anticipated new ballpark in suburban Houston is on hold while local officials wait to see whether a $500-million theme park will be built. Ventura Sports Group and the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in March 2010 for a new independent-league ballpark in the Houston suburb, to be […]
OKC RedHawks, Gameday enter merchandising deal
The Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) engaged Gameday Merchandising to oversee the team’s merchandising operations under the terms of a multi-year agreement. The Colorado-based company will mainly focus on merchandise operations at RedHawks Field at Bricktown, but both parties will also work together on additional revenue and branding opportunities. “Gameday Merchandising has […]
T-Pods, Curve go bottoms-up with new beer system
The Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Altoona Curve (Class AA; Eastern League) are the latest teams to implement the flashy Bottoms Up beer system and promote its use — surprise! — on Thirsty Thursday. We’ve written about this unique beer dispenser before, when we first learned about it and then during […]
Remembering SPAR Stadium
Today’s ballpark of the past is SPAR Stadium, former home to pro ball in Shreveport, built in 1935 and still a working ballpark thanks to the efforts of the good folks at Galilee Baptist Church. The ballpark was the predecessor to Fair Grounds Field in Shreveport, home to various Southern Association and Texas League teams. […]
Milwaukee, Phoenix extend Maryvale Baseball Park lease for three years
The Milwaukee Brewers and the city of Phoenix are extending the team’s spring-training lease at Maryvale Baseball Park for three years and will negotiate a new, longer agreement. The three-year lease extension calls for $1.5 million in improvements immediately, and the two sides will discuss more improvements in further lease negotiations. The improvements will be […]
Zipping into McCormick Field
It’s a notable promo for 2012: a fan will deliver the game ball at Asheville Tourists (Low Class A; Sally League) games after storming the field via zipline — sponsored, of course. Not the first zipline in baseball — mascot Maynard G. Mallard daily enters the playing field at Warner Park for Madison Mallards (summer […]
Reviving Devereux Meadows
The old Devereux Meadows ballpark site in Raleigh, N.C., home to the Raleigh Capitals and the Raleigh-Durham Triangles (Carolina League), could be revived as a city park. The former home to minor-league baseball in Raleigh — where Carl Yastrzemski, Greg Luzinski and Cliff Johnson targeted a left-field fence some 315 feet out (the same as […]
SWB Yankees sale, PNC Field renovations still pending
Deadlines are slipping for Lackawanna County to sell the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) and use the proceeds to renovate the team’s home, PNC Field. The original plan was to sell the team to a New York Yankees/Mandalay Baseball Properties partnership for $14.6 million, then turn around and use that money as part of […]
The Week That Was: April 1
No April Fools here: attendance expectations in Wilmington, indy-team comings and goings, and the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers are this week’s top stories on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. What should Wilmington expect for new-ballpark attendance? Diamond Sports walks away from North American League management Wild Things to bring new team […]
This year’s big summer concert: Wilco and Andrew Bird
We’ve been bemoaning the lack of any big summer concerts at minor-league ballparks, but we have a good one to report: Wilco and Andrew Bird at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Playing the home of the Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League) makes sense for the Chicago-based Wilco, which has been on continuous tour […]