Paul Foster, one of the four owners of a potential El Paso Triple-A team, says opposition to public funding of a new downtown ballpark was expected and understandable, but a purchase of the team is at hand. Foster, along with his wife Alejandra de la Vega Foster, businessman Woody Hunt and his son, Josh Hunt, are […]
Tag Archives | san diego padres
O’Malley group has inside track to land Padres: report
The O’Malley name could be back in Major League Baseball, as a group led by Peter O’Malley is said to have the inside track on landing the San Diego Padres — provided they can meet the asking price. The San Diego News-Tribune’s Bill Center is reporting John Moores has been meeting with the two finalists […]
Why Peoria loves spring training: $5.2 million
Why the economics of spring training leads cities to strike deals with Major League Baseball clubs: Peoria (Az.) Sports Complex tallied $5.2 million in revenue this past spring. Peoria Stadium is the spring home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, so it’s busy virtually every day of spring training. In a report made […]
Mickelson joins potential Padres ownership group
Golfer and San Diego native/resident Phil Mickelson has joined Peter O’Malley’s group in their pursuit of the San Diego Padres ownership. Mickelson, second only to Tiger Woods in career earnings since 2004, earned about $61 million last year between tournament wins, appearances and sponsorships, per Sports Illustrated. So he brings some serious backing to the […]
Three groups approved to negotiate purchase of Padres
Three groups, including one led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley, have been approved to further negotiate a purchase of the San Diego Padres from John Moores. Moores had a deal to sell the Padres to Jeff Moorad for $530 million, but the deal collapsed after former agent Moorad failed to garner enough […]
Wedge: Let’s look at moving in Safeco Field fences
This wasn’t an issue when the Seattle Mariners won 116 games under Lou Piniella in 2001, but apparently the Safeco Field dimensions are a problem for Eric Wedge in 2012. Talk about moving in the fences came up again this week after two long drives that could have been homers at other parks ended up […]
Marlins: No plans to move in ballpark fences
Though the craze seems to be for MLB teams to move in their fences, Miami Marlins management say they see no need to change the dimensions at newly opened Marlins Park. Over the last 20 years most new ballparks have opened with some fairly spacious outfield dimensions. The thinking was straightforward: fair dimensions mean fair […]
Peoria to spend $48 million on upgrading spring-training complex
Peoria (Az.) will spend $48 million on upgrading the spring-training complex for the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners as part of a lease extension running through 2034. Spring training has become a big business, with demanding — and receiving — first-rate complexes. The Peoria Stadium complex was considered state of the art when it […]
Padres looking at moving in Petco Park fences
Another team looking to pump the ballpark juice: The San Diego Padres are considering whether to move in the fences at Petco Park to make the place more batter-friendly. Right now Petco Park is a spacious ballpark, reaching 400 feet in both power alleys. As a result, pitchers tend to do well at the ballpark: […]
The Week That Was: April 22
Historic ballparks, new-ballpark issues in Wilmington, and Earth Day programs at Major League Baseball ballparks made news this week, as we review the most popular stories on Ballpark Digest, as measured in page views. Emanuel plan for Wrigley renovation: set aside landmark status MLB teams plan Earth Day activities Illinois baseball: Changes for 2012 O’Malleys […]
O’Malleys may make run at Padres
Not a bad consolation prize: Peter O’Malley says he and his family are considering making a bid for the San Diego Padres, put back on the market by John Moores. The O’Malley family has deep roots in baseball: Walter O’Malley moved the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles and built Dodger Stadium; Peter O’Malley ran the […]
Moores puts San Diego Padres back on the market
Following Jeff Moorad’s failed attempt to buy the team, San Diego Padres owner John Moores has hired investment bankers to advise him on another sale of the franchise. Unless something goes dramatically wrong with the sale this time, the delay will end up paying off for Moores: the team is undoubtedly worth more after a […]
Seattle, San Diego extend Peoria Stadium lease
The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres will train at Peoria Sports Complex through 2034 under the terms of a new lease, which calls for ballpark and clubhouse improvements. The lease extension wasn’t a surprise — all three players had indicated a willingness to commit to a deal for months — and neither is the […]