The battle against MLB’s plans to contract 42 MiLB franchises sees a new set of participants with the establishment of a task force made up of 30-plus U.S. mayors, many of whom from cities not in danger of losing their minor-league teams. (more…)
Tag Archives | steve benjamin
Fireflies to Set Columbia Attendance Record
After setting a single-game attendance mark on Monday, the Columbia Fireflies (Low A; Sally League) will break another record on Tuesday, when they claim Columbia’s single-season attendance record. (more…)
Fireflies to Host Purple Game, Purple Game
To pay tribute to Prince, the Columbia Fireflies (Low A; Sally League) will host “Purple Game, Purple Game” at Spirit Communications Park on June 9. In addition to a specialty jersey (shown above), the Fireflies will stage a few other promotions to honor the late music icon. (more…)
New for 2016: Columbia Fireflies
The Columbia Fireflies are the newest team in Minor League Baseball, as the Low A South Atlantic League team moving from Savannah will play beginning next season in Spirit Communications Park. (more…)
Ballpark Preview: Spirit Communications Park
Tuesday saw the groundbreaking of a new Columbia (S.C.) ballpark, Spirit Communications Park. The $37-million project ($30 million from the city, $7 million from team owner Hardball Capital) is set to open for the 2016 season. (more…)
Columbia approves new ballpark
It went down exactly as Mayor Steve Benjamin promised: the Columbia (S.C.) City Council voted to move forward with a funding plan for a new ballpark on a 4-3 vote. The deal with Hardball Capital’s Jason Freier commits the city to borrowing $29 million for the ballpark construction and infrastructure costs. Hardball Capital will pay […]
Price of new Columbia ballpark project goes up $2M; vote due tonight
Despite the total of city borrowing for a new Columbia (S.C.) ballpark going up by $2 million, the City Council is expected to approve a $31 million borrowing plan tonight. The original price of the ballpark and associated work was $29 million, but that figure was bumped with the addition of a mile-long pedestrian pathway […]
Columbia mayor: We have votes to fund new ballpark
Columbia (S.C.) Mayor Steve Benjamin says the votes are there to pass a new-ballpark funding plan, with final approval expected at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Veteran MiLB owner and operator Jason Freier has been working with Columbia on the ballpark plan, which calls for $29 million in bonding from the city and a new ballpark […]
Columbia lease negotiations underway; opposition arises
The city of Columbia (S.C.) is negotiating a lease for a new ballpark with Hardball Capital’s Jason Freier, with an opposition group arguing against any public spending on a facility. The lease, which could be ready for City Council approval in two weeks, will cover all aspects of ballpark operations, including non-game events year-round. The […]
Freier: We could open new Columbia ballpark in 2015
An aggressive construction schedule and quick city approval of a financing plan could lead to an April 2015 opening of a new Columbia (S.C.) ballpark, according to veteran MiLB operator Jason Freier. Freier, who owns the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Low Class A; Midwest League) and the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low Class A; Sally League) and […]
New ballpark feasible for Columbia: study
Columbia (S.C.) is the second-largest U.S. market without pro sports and could support a return of Minor League Baseball, but questions remain about a funding source for a proposed $41.8-million ballpark. A report prepared by Brailsford & Dunlavey indicates the market is robust enough to support minor-league baseball, despite some potential competition with the USC […]
Mayor: I’ll bring MiLB back to Columbia
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin says he plans to begin discussions with Minor League Baseball this fall to bring a team back to the South Carolina city. We’ve reported on some preliminary talks between the city and MiLB facilitated by the Columbia Blowfish (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) ownership, which also owns the Mobile BayBears (Class […]