With the Amarillo Dillas (independent; United League Baseball) gone, naming rights to the former Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa — Potter County Memorial Stadium for now — will be sold by Southern Independent Baseball, the ballpark’s new tenant. The deal struck by the Dillas, according to former GM Mark Lee, covered more than just the […]
Tag Archives | united league baseball
It’s official: North American League unveiled
All the speculation over a mega-independent league over the last few weeks ended up true, as principals with three indy leagues announced the formation of the North American League tonight. The announcement, alas, was a little short on specifics, and we suspect there’s more fine-tuning coming down the pike. For starters, the press release says […]
Joliet city officials to lobby at Frontier League meetings
Joliet city officials feel so strongly about the Joliet JackHammers entering the Frontier League that they plan to attend league meetings next Monday to make their case, throwing an another roadblock to all four Northern League teams entering en masse into a new indy league effort. It was assumed that Joliet would be part of […]
Joliet throws monkey wrench in league mergers
Tom Thanas, the Joliet City Manager overseeing the sale of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), says that the team would not be playing in a new North American League, saying that the city would not allow a move; instead, he and city officials would dictate participation in the competing Frontier League. Thanas is involved […]
New for 2011: North American League
There’s a name on the table for the combined Northern League, Golden Baseball League and United League Baseball: North American League, as reps from the three independent circuits continue negotiations on a game plan for the 2011 season. To say that baseball in many of these cities relies on the formation of this new league […]
Seals: Canaries in the coal mine?
Many in baseball were stunned when respected operators Darren and Russ Parker pulled the plug on the Victoria Seals (independent; Golden Baseball League) for the 2011 season, citing issues with the city and concerns about the future of the GBL. Was the decision a harbinger of what’s to come with independent baseball? When the Parkers, […]
Three indy leagues joining forces for 2011?
Multiple sources have confirmed talks regarding a merger of sorts between teams in the Northern League, the Golden Baseball League and United League Baseball for the 2011 season, giving these beleaguered circuits a boost as they continue a challenging offseason. It’s no secret that the three leagues have faced some tough times this offseason: four […]
Four bids submitted for Amarillo ballpark lease
Four bids were received by Potter County for a lease at Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa (Potter County Stadium), with some familiar faces in the mix — like the Amarillo Dillas and the American Association — as well as some unfamiliar players. The Amarillo Dillas bid did strike us as odd. This whole mess was […]
Amarillo can support downtown ballpark: CSL
A new downtown Amarillo ballpark is financially feasible and capable of hosting events other than professional baseball throughout the year, according to a study presented to the City Council by Conventions Sports & Leisure. The report estimated that a market the size of Amarillo could support an independent-league team and draw between 3,700 and 4,200 […]
Amarillo mulls downtown ballpark
Amarillo (Texas) is laying the groundwork for a new ballpark, as a downtown organization is working with the city on generating proposals for a private/public partnership on a new baseball facility; meanwhile, Potter County is still seeking a tenant for its ballpark. The organization, Downtown Amarillo, recently presented the city with a game plan to […]
Dillas officially evicted; Amarillo to seek new tenant for ballpark
The decision by Potter County Commissioners to end the lease for the Amarillo Dillas (independent; United League Baseball) may have terminated the current version of the team over unpaid rent, but the independent American Association is preparing a bid for the market. The meeting of the Potter County Commissioners was pretty much a formality: Reunion […]
The Week That Was: October 2
Here are the most popular stories published in Ballpark Digest this past week, as measured by page views. The big stories this week: new ballparks in Potomac and Westfield; a baseball institution drops baseball; and the continuing follies in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre over a new ballpark. Westfield approves site for sports complex, complete with new ballpark P-Nats, […]
ULB misses final Dillas payment; team could be evicted today
In potentially a sad ending for a community that’s supported baseball, United League Baseball missed yesterday’s deadline for a final $50,000 to cover back rent at the Amarillo Dilla Villa, and the Amarillo Dillas could be evicted as early as this morning. The independent league had a 2010 lease for the Dilla Villa that called […]