With the team’s first appearance in the playoffs, experts say the Washington Nationals may be able to cash in with a naming-rights deal for Nationals Park. The Nationals can sell naming rights to the ballpark, but so far a deal has proven to be elusive. In some ways a deal has been a victim of […]
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Metro to extend Nationals Park service during playoffs
Thanks to sponsorship from Living Social, Metro train service to Nationals Park will be extended when the Washington Nationals host playoff games. Because of commercials and other breaks, playoff games tend to go long. During the regular service the last train at the Navy Yard station leaves at 11:20 p.m. — a time that’s usually late […]
The Week That Was: September 9
Affiliation shifts, spring training, attendance stats and Ballpark Digest awards all made news this past week. The most popular stories on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Nats, Lee County to continue discussions on spring training 2012 Organization of the Year: Pensacola Blue Wahoos All signs point to Kernels seeking new affiliate Worker dies […]
Nats, Lee County to continue discussions on spring training
Lee County and the Washington Nationals will continue to discuss a move of the team to City of Palms Park for spring training, as officials look at whether the county can afford requested upgrades. The Nats have already presented a wish list of changes they’d like to see at City of Palms Park, and many […]
Nats: We’re still interested in Fort Myers — if spring complex is upgraded
Washington Nationals front-office personnel told Lee County reps the team was interested in moving spring-training operations to City of Palms Park — if the ballpark was upgraded, to the tune of $45 million or more. With the Nats unwilling to commit to Viera’s Space Coast Stadium and openly seeking a new spring home, a move […]
Pro baseball an endangered species in Viera?
Pro baseball has never been an overwhelming success in Viera, and now it looks like there’s a serious chance the Florida city may lose both spring training and Class A ball at Space Coast Stadium. Currently Space Coast Stadium hosts Washington Nationals spring training and the Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League). It’s no secret the […]
New Nats ballpark a financial hit for District
After a contentious fight to bring in the Washington Nationals, it looks like Nationals Park advocates were right: the ballpark’s economic impact is generating a profit for the District of Columbia. Never mind the economic impact in the area around the ballpark — it’s been slow to come, but it is indeed coming. The bottom […]
Election loss could impact future of Twins, Nats in Fort Myers
The defeat of Ray Judah, a big supporter of spring training in Fort Myers, could impact the future of Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals spring training in Lee County. Judah was running for reelection on the Lee County Board of Commissioners, but came in third in Tuesday’s Republican primary behind a candidate who strongly criticized […]
The Week That Was: August 12
New homes for the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays, 8-bit follies, a laser pointer at Busch Stadium and new-ballpark efforts in Wilmington and Hillsboro. The most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, measured by page views. MLB committee meets with Oakland, San Jose officials about future of A’s Fan arrested at […]
Lee County to Nats: We really, really love you
Lee County still wants to see the Washington Nationals as a tenant at City of Palms Park, but with little money for upgrades, county and Fort Myers officials are embarking on a new strategy: convince the Nats front office they are loved. It’s a common strategy: when you don’t have the money to address a […]
MLB: Attendance could hit 80M this season
Attendance at Major League Baseball games is up some 8.1 percent this season, and there’s an outside chance the sport could set an all-time record for attendance. Right now MLB teams are on a pace to draw the most fans since 2008, with the chance of reaching 80 million for the first time in history. […]
Lee County: Twins spring-training improvements hinge on state grant
Any improvements to spring-training facilities for the Minnesota Twins will need to be funded largely by state funds and the Twins, as Lee County officials say they won’t raise taxes to cover new funding. After spending months saying they’d take care of the Twins after spending $80 million on a new spring facility for the […]
Ballparks and economic development: Still a contentious issue
Are we seeing more evidence that ballpark construction is indeed an economic catalyst? Two recent case studies in Toledo and Washington provide some compelling arguments for the proposition. Today The Atlantic looks at Fifth Third Field, the home of the Toledo Mud Hens (Class AAA; International League), and how it’s providing some $50 million in […]