Mallards to host 2012 Northwoods League All-Star Game
We alluded to this yesterday: Besides announcing changes to Warner Park for the upcoming season, the Madison Mallards will be hosting the 2012 Northwoods League All-Star Game. The game will be held on July 24 at 7:35 p.m. “It’s an honor for the Mallards and the city of Madison to host the players and fans […]
Hagerstown Suns sign letter of intent for Winchester move
The ownership of the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) has signed a letter of intent to move the team to a new Winchester (Va.) ballpark for the 2013 season under the terms of a pretty sweet lease proposal. The new ballpark, to be built at Jim Barnett Park, will be designed by HKS. […]
Another sign of spring: changes at Digital Domain Park
With reporting dates fast approaching, we have another sign of the times: the New York Mets released some photos of changes to its spring-training home, Digital Domain Park. The two big changes to Digital Domain Park this spring: the installation of a new high-definition scoreboard in left field and a picnic area/party deck down the […]
Why aren’t more MiLB teams changing hands?
Despite a healthy number of Minor League Baseball teams on the market, we’re not seeing many franchise sales these days. Why are things moving so slowly? We asked around — to owners, potential owners and brokers — to see why potentially attractive franchises openly and discreetly on the market were still for sale. Some of […]
Mallards unveil more Warner Park renovations for 2012
A year after unveiling $2.2 million in upgrades to Warner Park, the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) announced two more big ballpark changes for 2012. The first big change to Warner Park: the addition of a berm in left field, past the administrative offices. The berm will be marketed to families and seat around […]
Hagerstown looking at new ballpark to keep Suns
Hagerstown isn’t giving up the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) without a fight, as city officials tap the expertise of the Maryland Stadium Authority for tips on a new or renovated ballpark. The Suns play at Municipal Stadium, a facility that’s certainly seen better days, but one that’s done OK in the past. […]
Salvi buys North Shore Navigators, shifts team to FCBL
Pat Salvi, owner of two independent-league teams, added the summer-collegiate North Shore Navigators to his portfolio and is switching from the NECBL to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. The Navigators play out of historic Fraser Field in Lynn, Mass., a WPA ballpark formerly housing Eastern League and independent baseball. The team will be owned by […]
Birmingham: Design of new ballpark still evolving
Though final demolition plans for a new Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark site are now set, the final design of Regions Field won’t be presented for approval until April. This means the pretty renderings we’ve been showing from HKS are conceptual at this point. But that’s OK: readers of this site seem to […]
Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field / Florida Gators
Named for Alfred A. McKethan, a wealthy benefactor who contributed $2.4 million toward the construction of the ballpark, Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field has been home to University of Florida baseball since 1988. Year Opened: 1988Capacity: 5,500 (5,100 seats, 400 bleacher seats)Dimensions: 329L, 365LC, 400C, 375RC, 325R Playing Surface: Natural grass Website: www.gatorzone.com/baseball […]
Atlanta Braves have tentative deal to buy Hillcats
As many expected: the Atlanta Braves have a conditional deal to buy the Lynchburg Hillcats (High Class A; Carolina League), in anticipation of moving the team to Wilmington, N.C. The sale was announced today by GM Paul Sunwall. The deal is conditional on a new ballpark being built in Wilmington, N.C., as part of a […]
Blue Jays considering grass field at Rogers Centre
The Toronto Blue Jays are considering a major change to Rogers Centre: replacing the artificial turf with grass. It’s not uncommon anymore to find grass at a retractable-roof ballpark — it’s been done for years in Seattle, Houston and Arizona — but it’s a challenge to add grass to a facility built for artificial turf. […]
New Wilmington ballpark would be part of hotel, marina complex
More details on a proposed downtown Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark: it would be part of a hotel/marina/restaurant complex already under construction on the waterfront. Developer Chuck Schoninger envisions the ballpark, which would house an Atlanta Braves minor-league team, as a core part of a restaurant/marina/hotel complex. Work on the marina portion of the complex is already […]
Your next sign of spring: Pensacola scoreboard goes up
Your next clue that the 2012 season will be here sooner than expected: the scoreboard went up at Blue Wahoos Park, new home of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Class AA; Southern League). Really, we have nothing else to add. The new ballpark, designed by Populous, will open on Pensacola’s waterfront this April 5. The nice […]