A 25-year lease for Canal Park that calls for $3.5 million in ballpark improvements was approved by the City Council after Ken Babby officially took control of the Akron Aeros (Class AA; Eastern League) yesterday. The lease calls for a new scoreboard and the addition of new group and picnic areas. The city will float […]
Tag Archives | renovations
Construction to begin this month on Fox Cities Stadium improvements
A renovation of Fox Citiies Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low Class A; Midwest League), will begin soon in anticipation of the 2013 season. The improvements were slated to begin now, but have been delayed by the team’s participation in the Midwest League playoffs. Six suites, a banquet area and club seating would […]
McKechnie Field renovations expanded
The price tag for renovations at McKechnie Field, the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, has grown by $2.5 million or so after the team added some new improvements to the mix. However, Bradenton’s contribution to the project — $7.5 million — remains the same. The team has indicated it will pick up the additional […]
LA brings in Janet Marie Smith to oversee Dodger Stadium renovations
Janet Marie Smith, perhaps the most successful ballpark executive in the last 20 years, will attempt to work her magic at Dodger Stadium, as the team names her Senior VP of Planning and Development. The most important task for her: overseeing renovations to Dodger Stadium, a project promised by the new Los Angeles Dodgers ownership even before […]
Diamondbacks: We want more control over future of Chase Field
The Arizona Diamondbacks could gain greater control of Chase Field if the ballpark is transferred from the Maricopa County Stadium District to the city of Phoenix, as the team looks at major renovations down the road. The issue: the ballpark, funded with a special Maricopa County tax that expired in 1997, is controlled by the […]
Can Bud Selig warm relationship between Cubs, politicians?
We’re not entirely sure Bud Selig will be able to patch things up between the Ricketts and Chicago politicians, but he reportedly will take a crack at lobbying for public money toward Wrigley Field renovations — holding an All-Star Game as an enticement. The Chicago Cubs ownership, led by Tom Ricketts, wants to spend $500 […]
Twins, Lee County negotiating over player dorms, naming rights at spring-training complex
A renovation of Hammond Stadium and the Lee County Sports Complex, spring home of the Minnesota Twins, may or may not feature player dorms and naming rights, as the two sides negotiate a new lease covering some $30 million in improvements. It’s an unusual situation. In order to qualify for $15 million in state funds […]
Demolition ending on SWB ballpark; next up is construction
The demoliton of the second level of PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), is drawing to a close, with framing for the new suites level set for August. The ballpark is being fundamentally transformed this year: the old steep second deck is almost done, to be replaced by a more […]
Kasten: Dodger Stadium renovations could hit nine figures
Saying the renovations could end up costing hundreds of millions, Stan Kasten outlined some of the physical improvements new owners have planned for Dodger Stadium. While Dodger Stadium is a crown jewel of Major League Baseball ballparks — now the third oldest, after Fenway Park and Wrigley Field — it’s also been steadily neglected since it was […]
Ricketts family political activity threatens to scuttle Cubs reno plans
The political activities of Joe Ricketts, part of the Chicago Cubs ownership and father of Tom Ricketts, could, but probably won’t, kill city efforts to help the Cubs renovate Wrigley Field. Ricketts, who made billions after founding TD Ameritrade, has emerged as a major player in conservative politics, establishing a Super PAC seeking to limit […]
Mallards pitch Kenosha on Simmons Field renovations
Kenosha’s Simmons Field could receive a facelift to the tune of a million dollars, as the owners of the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) cast about for more Wisconsin markets. Simmons Field was formerly home to the Kenosha Twins (Low Class A; Midwest League), the Kenosha Kroakers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) and the short-lived Kenosha […]
Chicago politics at play: Tunney vs. the Cubs
They play rough in Chicago politics, as Tom Ricketts is finding out: Wrigley Field reno opponent Ald. Tom Tunney has received over $171,000 in campaign contribution from those opposing ballpark expansions. That’s a lot of money, even by big-city standards. The money is from the likes of Cubby Bear Lounge owner George Loukas (who also has […]
Group takes another run at saving Eugene’s Civic Stadium
A group seeking to preserve Civic Stadium, the former home to PCL and NWL baseball in Eugene, Oregon, has a new game plan to save the WPA-era facility. The local school district owns the ballpark and has been seeking a use for it ever since the Eugene Emeralds (short season A; Northwest League) moved to […]