With summer-collegiate seasons finished, teams are looking toward 2014 — including the expansion Yakima team slated to play at Yakima County Stadium. The big reason why there was no baseball played this season at Yakima County Stadium: the former Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League) still had a lease on the facility and paid […]
Tag Archives | yakima bears
Hops to open new ballpark tonight
It’s the last new-ballpark opening of the 2013 season, as the Hillsboro Hops (short season A; Northwest League) are set to launch Hillsboro Ballpark tonight. It’s been a long journey for the Hops, who have been playing as the Yakima Bears for many years. The Bears ownership worked for years on a new-ballpark solution in […]
WCL expands to Yakima for 2014, subject to ballpark lease
The summer-collegiate West Coast League is working on a lease for Yakima County Stadium, beginning in 2014, as a group led by Walla Walla Sweets ownership has been announced. Yakima County Stadium was formerly home to the Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League). The team ended operations in Yakima last year after several years […]
Hops hold topping-out ceremony for new ballpark
It might have been a cloudy day, but spirits were high on Feb. 22 when the Hillsboro Hops (short season A; Northwest League) and the city of Hillsboro held a topping-out ceremony for the team’s new ballpark. On hand for the ceremony: Hops ownership and management, city officials, and rep from the SRG Partnership design […]
West Coast League at 11 for 2013
The summer-collegiate West Coast League will be at 11 teams for 2013 after adding Medford (Ore.) and Victoria (B.C.) to the circuit; as expected, Yakima is not in the mix. Adding two pretty good markets in Medford and Victoria is a big accomplishment for the circuit; those are two solid markets in two solid ballparks. […]
New for 2013: Hillsboro Hops
The name of the newest team in the short-season A Northwest League has been unveiled: the Hillsboro Hops. The name of the former Yakima Bears was announced today. “The name ‘Hops’ recognizes Hillsboro’s proud agricultural heritage and the fact that Oregon is the second largest hop producing state in the United States,” said K.L. Wombacher, […]
Concerns raised over Hillsboro ballpark financing — but are they warranted?
More concerns are arising over Hillsboro’s decision to possibly back funding of a new ballpark with general funds, but given the size of the Oregon city, we’re not so sure the concern is warranted. Usually cities back bonds with dedicated revenue streams, like property taxes, sales-tax revenues or rental-car-tax proceeds. The advantage: bonds backed by […]
No team name in Hillsboro yet
Construction of a new Hillsboro (Ore.) ballpark will begin tomorrow after a groundbreaking ceremony, but there will no name announced for the relocating Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League). The issue: MiLB still needs to sign off on a roster of finalists. The Bears are moving to a new $15.2-million, 4,500-seat ballpark at the Gordon Faber […]
Hillsboro looking at riskier financing for new ballpark
Hillsboro (Ore.) officials are looking at using general city funds, instead of a standard municipal bond, to fund a new ballpark for the relocating Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League). Engaged in a race with Milwaukie to bring Minor League Baseball back to the greater Portland area, Hillsboro officials made an offer to the Bears ownership […]
Hillsboro ballpark groundbreaking set for Sept. 21
The groundbreaking for a new Hillsboro (Ore.) ballpark for the relocating Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League) is set for Sept. 21, as well as an announcement of the new team name. The 4,500-seat ballpark at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex is set to open for the 2013 season. Team owners and other city officials […]
Hillsboro approves naming-rights deal with Bears
No surprise: the Hillsboro (Ore.) City Council unanimously approved a naming-rights deal with the relocating Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League), where the team has 60 days to launch marketing. The proposal, negotiated separately from the lease that is bringing the Bears to the Portland suburb next season, calls for the team ownership to sell naming […]
Hillsboro set to approve naming-rights deal
A proposed naming-rights contract with the relocating Yakima Bears (short season A; Northwest League) could yield Hillsboro at least $150,000 annually, if appoved by the city council tonight. The proposal, negotiated separately from the lease that is bringing the Bears to the Portland suburb next season, calls for the team ownership to sell naming rights […]
Milwaukie: Efforts to bring Northwest League team to new ballpark are done
The inability of the short-season Northwest League to commit a team to a new ballpark has led Milwaukie (Ore.) officials to drop work on funding for such a new facility. The league and the city were facing a July 31 deadline for a team. Last week the league informed the city that a team commitment […]