Cubs: We’ll drop Boise affiliation without new ballpark
As Boise discusses a new downtown ballpark, the Chicago Cubs became a player in the ballpark debate by proclaiming the team would walk away from Idaho if a new facility isn’t in the works by September. During a public forum last week Bill Buckner, a resident of Boise now working for the Cubs, said his […]
Tigers upgrading Comerica Park videoboard for 2012
The Detroit Tigers are spending a lot of money this offseason: Besides signing Prince Fielder, the team is also spending millions on one of the largest high-definition LED video displays in Major League Baseball. Incorporated into the existing left-field structure, Daktronics will install a new state-of-the-art light emitting diode (LED) video display. Measuring approximately 48 […]
Al Lang Field: Fresh spring life for an old ballpark
No reason not to head to Al Lang Field in the coming month. Beginning today and continuing through March 18, there will be a host of college, independent, international and MLB split-squad teams playing at one of the more scenic ballparks in Florida. The games will be played under three different programs: the annual Big […]
Twins: We like Target Field fences where they are
Though other teams are moving in their ballpark fences to pump up the offense, the Minnesota Twins braintrust says they’ll keep the spacious dimensions at Target Field — for now. Target Field is known as a pitchers’ ballpark, partly thanks to the spacious dimensions and partly thanks to the high fences. (In right field, for […]
Arizona Wildcats launching Hi Corbett Field era tonight
The University of Arizona Wildcats will be opening the next chapter in program history tonight with a return to venerable Hi Corbett Field. The University entered into a lease for the ballpark this offseason. The ballpark opened in 1927 and served as a spring-training home to the Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies, as well as […]
Team USA to tour CPL ballparks this summer
Should be a good series: the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will be taking on four summer-collegiate Coastal Plain League teams during the 2012 season. Team USA, led by Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano, will start a three-day CPL trip on June 25 in Fayetteville, N.C., to face the Fayetteville SwampDogs. The ‘Dogs are no […]
Ottawa committee approves $5.7M in ballpark improvements
We’re another step closer to affiliated ball returning to Ottawa, as a city finance committee today approved $5.7 million in spending on renovations to Ottawa Stadium for the 2013 season. The full Ottawa City Council is expected to approve the spending plan next Wednesday. Beacon Sports, a Boston-based finance firm, has been negotiating with the […]
New for 2013: Bart Kaufman Field
The Indiana University has a name for its new ballpark: Bart Kaufman Field, named after a major donor to the $19.8-million baseball/softball project. Kaufman is a former IU baseball student-athlete and chairman and CEO of Indianapolis-area Kaufman Financial Corp. “Indiana University is deeply grateful to alumnus Bart Kaufman for his generosity toward the development of […]
Lane Field to be commemorated in new hotel complex
Lane Field, the former home of the minor-league San Diego Padres, would be memorialized under the terms of a hotel-development project on the old ballpark site. Lane Field was home to the Pacific Coast League Padres from 1936 to 1957, before it was replaced by Westgate Park. It occupied a pretty scenic waterfront location on […]
Suns: Nationals forcing us to move from Hagerstown
The Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) say they’re leaving Municipal Stadium because of pressure from parent Washington Nationals; meanwhile, Winchester residents aren’t thrilled about new-ballpark plans. While it’s been no secret the Suns have been in play for several months now, majority owner Bruce Quinn says his group needs a new home for […]
Summer ballpark concerts: Roger Waters, Madonna, The Boss
It’s shaping up to be an active summer on the ballpark concert front, with Roger Waters, Madonna, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw slated to play at MLB facilities — with rumors of Bruce Springsteen gigs as well. The most extensive ballpark tour this summer will be undertaken by Roger Waters, who is staging Pink Floyd’s […]
TD Ameritrade Park to host hockey games next winter
TD Ameritrade Park, home of the College World Series, will be hosting at least two college and developmental junior hockey games next winter. At a press conference today, the Omaha Sports Commission and the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) — which runs the ballpark — are expected to announce two high-profile games at the […]
Illinois to Zion: Exactly where did the ballpark money go?
The State of Illinois is seeking information from Zion about whether money earmarked toward a new Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League) ballpark was properly spent. It’s yet another turn in the odd ballpark odyssey that saw the Fielders and Zion scrap through most of 2011 over whether a temporary ballpark met the terms […]