McCourt’s profit on Dodgers ownership: a cool billion
After the dust settles on the $2-billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium, it looks like Frank McCourt could walk away from the deal with a cool billion-dollar profit. The math is pretty simple. Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC is paying $1.6 billion for the franchise and the ballpark and paying $400 million […]
Flying Squirrels present new-ballpark prototype
During a public discussion of the future of baseball in the city, the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) unveiled their concept for a new ballpark to be built next to The Diamond. The Flying Squirrels are pitching a 6,000-seat ballpark with room for 3,000 more on plenty of berm seating (something totally missing […]
Saints ballpark bill suffers setback in Senate
Proposed state funding for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark suffered a setback in a Minnesota Senate bonding proposal, where the project was totally zeroed out. The Senate Republicans unveiled a $496-million bonding bill today, and the proposal was pretty naked in its politics: the mostly rural caucus failed to include funding […]
Reax to Dodgers sale to Magic Johnson group
The $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium to a group that includes Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten is causing shockwaves in the baseball community. Here’s a roundup of notable reactions. The Dodgers, Dodger Stadium and the land surrounding the ballpark will be purchased from Frank McCourt by Guggenheim Baseball Management […]
Winchester ballpark back on city agenda
A new ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) in Winchester, Va., is alive after city officials meet in executive session with Bruce Quinn to discuss alternative sites. The move last night by the Winchester City Council was a surprise: the executive session wasn’t on the agenda and certainly not publicized. But […]
Kasten, Johnson group to buy Dodgers, Dodger Stadium for $2 billion
In a stunning financial transaction, an investment group led by Earvin Johnson and Stan Kasten, funded by Guggenheim Partners, have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium for $2 billion. The deal was finalized just hours after Major League Baseball owners approved three potential buyers of the team and the storied ballpark. […]
Reese returns with another anti-Knights lawsuit
Jerry Reese, who single-handedly delayed an Uptown ballpark for the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) with five tossed lawsuits, is back with yet another lawsuit. Reese, a local attorney who opposed a new Knights ballpark because he thinks Major League Baseball should instead set up shop in Charlotte, alleges in the new lawsuit that […]
New Intimidators lease: $1, plus ballpark maintenance
The Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League) are set to sign a new lease for Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium for $1 per year, with the team picking up maintenance costs. The five-year lease calls for the city to pick up maintenance costs for the first three years, shifting to Smith Family Baseball for the final […]
Diamond Sports walks away from North American League management
Diamond Sports and Entertainment, which founded the independent Golden Baseball League and formed the North American League via merger, has walked away from the circuit as league management. Kevin Outcalt, the league commissioner who was part of the original Golden Baseball League, left the organization on March 7, according to a press release issued by […]
St. Paul close to acquiring land for new Saints ballpark
The city of St. Paul is on the verge of buying the land for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark in Lowertown, removing one big roadblock to obtaining state funding. The Saints and the city have proposed a $54-million, 7,000-seat ballpark in downtown St. Paul at the Diamond Products site, off Broadway […]
Dodgers sale enters final stretch
Major League Baseball owners approved three groups bidding for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium, with owner Frank McCourt hoping for a billion-plus sale price. It’s been a couple of busy months for McCourt’s legal team, as he works to sell the Dodger assets before the end of the month. During the process several […]
Oscar Tavares becomes Internet meme — but not under his name
Oscar Tavares, a star last season with the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League), inadvertently became an Internet meme over the weekend because of how he was labeled during a St. Louis Cardinals spring-training game broadcast. Tavares, who had a strong season for the River Bandits in 2011 (.386, 8 home runs […]
Fisher Cats Foundation closing in on $2M milestone
Nice work by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) and its Fisher Cats Foundation, which is closing in on $2 million in giving since the foundation’s inception in 2006. The team and Foundation have now provided more than $1.87 million in monetary and in-kind donations to over 2,500 non-profit and charitable organizations. […]