Could this be the year for a new Rays ballpark?
With ownership, MLB management and local business leaders increasingly frustrated over Tropicana Field, 2012 could be the year when we see agreement on a new Tampa Bay Rays home. The new year appears to be starting on a good note for the Rays: Owner Stuart Sternberg is set to meet on Jan. 17 with St. […]
Looking back at Cap City Stadium
With the city expected to tear down Capital City Stadium, home of the Columbia Blowfish (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League), after this season, locals share their memories of the historic facility. In many ways the history of Capital City Stadium is the history of professional and summer-collegiate baseball in this country. Built by Hall of […]
Oakland contemplates foreign investments to help fund A’s ballpark
With no redevelopment money available for a new ballpark, Oakland officials are floating a plan to use foreign investments to pay for new sporting facilities — including a new Athletics ballpark. It’s a wonky plan, to be sure. The federal EB-5 program basically allows foreign investors and their famlies to buy a green card if […]
Milwaukie ballpark planning moves forward; forum scheduled for Monday
After three public forums to determine public interest in a new ballpark for a short-season Northwest League team, Milwaukie (Ore.) officials are ready to hear a progress report and decide whether to move forward. 360 Architecture, which has been working on a feasibility plan for the proposed ballpark, will present information on the ballpark orientation, […]
Malden to hear ballpark pitch next week
Alexander Bok plans to pitch Malden officials next week on a proposed $45-million ballpark on the city’s central National Grid site — but there will be plenty of questions about whether this is the best use for a prime open tract. The 6.4-acre parcel will be open once National Grid moves its operations from the […]
New Sugar Land ballpark burglarized
Constellation Field, the new home of the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League), was burglarized this week — and a lesson from the incident can be drawn by every ballpark pro. The burglars were after a single thing: copper tubing, located in a storage room. In fact, it was a pretty major hit: the thieves […]
Wilmington ballpark dead on arrival?
Any potential for a new Wilmington (N.C.) ballpark is apparently dead in the water, as a political squabble between the city and New Hanover County over a totally unrelated item leads county officials to walk away from talks. It’s quite surreal, actually. City and county officials disagreed over whether the city should annex a new […]
Torre quits MLB post to pursue Dodgers
You can add Joe Torre’s name to a list of Los Angeles Dodgers suitors, as he joins Rick Caruso in one of the 16 groups seeking to buy the troubled franchise and Dodger Stadium. Formerly manager of the Dodgers. Torre had been MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations since last February, overseeing things like […]
Fielders: We have new plan for Zion ballpark
The Lake County Fielders ownership is pitching a new ballpark as part of a $70-million sports complex and apparently is working with a developer — but it doesn’t sound like Zion officials are listening. Elizabeth Ochoa of Ochoa Enterprises, a Chicago-area developer, showed up at last night’s Zion City Council meeting, supposedly to present a […]
Bell files bankruptcy, preventing LaGrave Field foreclosure
With Amergy Bank threatening to foreclose on LaGrave Field, owner Carl Bell yesterday filed for bankruptcy protection, allowing him to keep control of the historic ballpark. After the independent American Association pulled the team’s membership because Bell couldn’t put up a letter of credit for the 2012 season, he turned his sights to the independent […]
Bullfrogs sign new five-year lease for Joannes Stadium
The Green Bay Bullfrogs (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) signed a new five-year lease for Joannes Stadium, with one important out: the team can leave if a new downtown ballpark emerges. The team has been working on a new-ballpark plan for several years now. While the plan is undeniably cool — a new ballpark combined with […]
Jackson commits $430K to Pringles Park improvements
The Jackson City Council authorized $433,610 for scoreboard and suite improvements to Pringles Park, the home of the Jackson Generals (Class AA; Southern League). Pringles Park, built in 1997, hasn’t been seriously updated since the ballpark opened. That means the suites are in rough shape and the scoreboard close to nonfunctional. The new spending from […]
Entertainment district planned for Barons ballpark site
City officials say they’re working hard on deals with developers for an entertainment/residential district next to a new downtown Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark. The Parkside District, comprising entertainment, retail and office space, was envisioned by Mayor William Bell and other city officials as being a key part of the $64-million ballpark project; […]