Panasonic Partners with New Neighbors Newark Bears to Enhance Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – Panasonic Eco Solutions North America announces that it has installed new, cutting-edge LED videoboards at the Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in partnership with the Newark Bears. The stadium is in the same city soon to be the new home of Panasonic’s North American headquarters – Newark, New Jersey.

New Morgantown Ballpark: Let the Design Begin

The panel charged with designing the new baseball stadium for the West Virginia University Mountaineers and a possible Single-A franchise will meet for the first time today.  Read more here.

RIP: Butte’s Alumni Colisuem

Old Alumni Coliseum was finally demolished to make more room for the burgeoning football program at Montana Tech.  The baseball stadium, which shared the playing surface with the football field, became a huge annoyance for the college after it dropped its baseball program.  The Diggers are now laying down new field turf, which will erase any physical memory of the baseball field.  View demolition photo here.

Click to Enlarge – Alumni Coliseum from BallparkHunter.com 2010

Read more background here.

Ballparks in Film

Baseball America Editor in Chief Will Lingo takes a look at the role ballparks have played in movies released in 2013.  There are some good cameos here, including Chukchansi Park used in the comedy Parental Guidance starring Billy Crystal as the voice of the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League) and several great vintage ballparks featured in the Jackie Robinson movie 42.  Read more here.

Travel Channel Star Talks Ballpark Fare

Pittsburgh Pirates star outfielder (and budding TV host?) Andrew McCutchen talks with noted chef, author and worldwide food taster Anthony Bourdain (Travel Channel: No Reservations) about ballpark beer and food.  Read more and view video here.

Spinners Announce ‘Band of Brothers’ Bobble for July

PRESS RELEASE – One season after dedicating a POW/MIA seat in honor of all those soldiers who never returned home, the Lowell Spinners (Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox) will partner with the WWII Foundation on a night to salute more of our heroes with “Band of Brothers” Bobble Head Giveaway Night Tuesday, July 2.

Richmond Leaders Visit Denver’s LoDo District, Coors Field

As Richmond (VA) city officials continue to evaluate building a new ballpark for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern League), a delegation of 150 area leaders made the trek to Denver (CO) last week to learn about downtown redevelopment by visiting the city’s Lower Downtown District that was revitalized in the mid-90s by Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies.  Read more here.

AWBL Locks In Las Cruces and Bisbee

The start-up indy pro American West Baseball League issued two press releases today announcing finalized deals with Las Cruces (NM) and Bisbee (AZ).  Read announcements here and here.

As the AWBL Turns…

There are no real surprises here, as we have been skeptically monitoring the developing indy pro American West Baseball League and those involved for a long time, but Rodney Johnson, president of the Arizona Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), has posted a story you will likely find very interesting, particularly as it relates to financials and quotes from those no longer involved.  Read more here.

Wahoos to Receive ‘Ballpark of the Year’ Award Monday

PRESS RELEASE – On Monday, April 15th, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos will receive the BaseballParks.com Award for 2012 Ballpark of the Year, on behalf of the City of Pensacola and the Community Maritime Park Associates. The award will be presented during the game Monday night by Joe Mock of Baseball

Barons Open New Downtown Ballpark

A sell-out crowd of 8,505 showed up Wednesday night for the inaugural opening of Regions Field, the new home of the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League).  Read more and view video here.  View photo gallery here.

Bulls Unveil New ‘Bull Durham’ Racing Mascots

The Triple-A Durham Bulls (International League) unveiled on Opening Day a trio of racing mascots in the likeness of the characters played by actors Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon in the movie “Bull Durham.”  Read more and view photo here.

U-Dub Continues Work on Ballpark Renovation

Construction in expected to begin in June on the entry plaza and grandstand for the improved ballpark for the University of Washington Huskies.  The final product, estimated to cost $15-million, will include a new scoreboard, field turf, a raised grass berm, and views of beautiful Lake Washington.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Miami Mayor on Marlins Park: “The residents of Miami were raped. Completely.”

If you have not read S.L Price‘s nine-page article in Sports Illustrated titled, “Art of the Deal Gone Wrong,” profiling Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and his ongoing public relations mess, you can check it out here.  Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and others had a few choice words for the embattled owner and the project.  Enjoy!

Sale of Skylands Park Postponed, Not Dead

The deal to sell Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ) to real estate investment firm 17 Mile is apparently not dead after all.  Mark Roscioli, owner of Ardmore (PA)-based 17 Mile, says the closing has been rescheduled for Friday, March 15.   Read more here.

Chasers Unveil New Web Design, Part of Major Overhaul of MiLB Sites

PRESS RELEASE – The nature of Minor League Baseball implies the Omaha Storm Chasers have a new look on the field every year, but this upcoming season the main way fans interact with the ballclub will have a much different look as well. Today, the Storm Chasers unveiled their new redesigned website featuring simpler navigation, increased multimedia content and easier ways for fans to connect

Prostate Cancer Screening/Foam Finger Giveaway Gets Noticed on Tonight Show

We recall the indy pro St. Paul Saints’ (American Association) Inflatable Bat Night sponsored by Viagra from a decade ago, but we must have missed the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ (International League) Prostate Cancer Awareness Night with a foam finger giveaway from last season that was spoofed on the Tonight Show Monday night.  Read more and view ad here.  View Leno clip here at the 00:59 mark.

Casper Still Eyeing Return of Pro Ball

There is really nothing new to report here, but Casper (WY) is still eying a return of professional baseball after the Rookie-level Casper Ghosts (Pioneer League) departed for Grand Junction (CO) after the 2011 season.  At this juncture, the only potential team out there might be the Rookie-level Helena Brewers (Pioneer League), which play in a smaller market at 60-plus-year-old

Freedom Announce Te’o Girlfriend Bobble

PRESS RELEASE - The Florence Freedom are excited to announce one of giveaways fans can look forward to during the 2013 season at UC Health Stadium.

Kenosha Baseball to Unveil Comprehensive Stadium Renovation Plans Jan. 17

PRESS RELEASE – Kenosha Baseball, the group bringing a Northwoods League baseball franchise to Kenosha’s historic Simmons Field starting in June 2014, will be hosting a “First Pitch” event at the Civil War Museum on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year to all and best wishes for a wonderful and prosperous (particularly at the gate) 2013. Thank you for making Ballpark Business a great success over the past 40 months! Since launching in late August 2009, we have posted nearly 5,500 news stories, and our visitorship nearly doubled this past year over 2011. Thank you for spreading the word! – Ballpark Business

Parental Guidance Movie Provides Winter Baseball Fix

If you are looking for a great family movie for the holidays, we highly recommend Parental Guidance (PG) starring Billy Crystal, who gets fired as the announcer for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League).  While baseball is barely a whimper in the trailer, it plays an important role in the movie.  Read more here.  View trailer here.

Dawgs Hire New Operations Manager

PRESS RELEASE – Okotoks Dawgs of the Western Major Baseball League, announce the recent hiring of Angela Cox as Operations Manager. Angie replaces Jim Amy, who will now focus on Food & Beverage. Angie comes to the Dawgs from the University of Kentucky (Wesleyan) where she served as a recruiting administrator, and most recently from Home Run Sports where she served as a

Pair Invest in AWBL and Acquire Flyers, League Releases Financials

PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, Inc. subsidiary American West Baseball League today announced that Edinson and Edgar Renteria have agreed to invest an undisclosed amount into the American West Baseball League for an ownership interest and also have acquired the territorial rights to Fullerton, Ca., the home of the Fullerton Flyers.

County Considers D-Cubs Parking Proposal

Volusia County (FL) is considering a proposal by the Single-A Daytona Cubs (Florida State League) to charge for parking on public lots around city-owned Jackie Robinson Ballpark.  The city of Daytona Beach is already on board.  The dollars raised would be used to help fund a stadium renovation plan.  Read more here.

Safeco Field Getting Ginormous Video Board

The Seattle Mariners will be installing a massive new video display board at Safeco Field during the offseason.  According to Seattle Times blogger Brier Dudley, “[a]t 201.5 feet by 56.7 feet, the display is nearly a block long and wider than the record-holding jumbo display at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.  It’s ten times the size of the ballpark’s current video screen and has a viewing area of roughly 2,182 42-inch TVs.”  Read more and view renderings here.

Pensacola Blue Wahoos Announce Winter Wonderland

PRESS RELEASE – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos announce the city’s first Blue Wahoos Winter Wonderland. Join us on November 23rd at sundown for a grand Illumination with Mayor Ashton Hayward to get your first glimpse into the winterized stadium. Some of the details are top-secret for now, however Pensacolians should start sharpening their ice skates and practicing holiday

Northwest League Chooses New President

PRESS RELEASE – The Northwest League of Professional Baseball Board of Directors have chosen Michael Ellis, an executive with 20 years of experience in Minor League Baseball, as the next President of the Northwest League, effective January 1st, 2013. Ellis succeeds Bob Richmond, who retires after serving as League President for 30 years.

Greener Pastures Not So Green

A. Barton Hinkle, senior editorial writer and columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, takes a dim and seemingly bitter look at the status of Triple-A ball in Gwinnett County (GA).  As you recall, the Richmond Braves (International League) left Richmond (VA) and The Diamond for brand new $64 million ballpark outside Atlanta (GA).  Things have not turned out as rosy as predicted at Coolray Field.   Read more here.

Baseball Stadium on Salina (KS) Wish List

The North Salina (KS) Community Development Group held a public workshop on Friday, Oct. 26, where participants were asked to “think big” when considering future development ideas for the area.  One of the ideas put forth was a minor league baseball stadium.  Read more here.  Now, we’ve participated in these type of workshops before, and they are a fun and exciting way to begin developing a community’s long-term vision for the future, but ideas are merely sparks to light a fire.

Dallas Baptist University Announces New Baseball Stadium, Unveils HKS Renderings

PRESS RELEASE – The 2013 season will be a season of change for the Dallas Baptist Baseball Program – conference affiliation with the Western Athletic Conference for the 2013 season and the Missouri Valley Conference thereafter, a chance at an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and, now, a new baseball

Outdoor Hockey Debuts at Bowman Field

The Federal Hockey League’s Williamsport Outlaws opened their inaugural outdoor hockey season against the Dayton Demonz Wednesday night in front of more than 3,000 fans at historic Bowman Field, the summer home of the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters (New York-Penn League).  Read more and view news clip here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

New Restaurant Planned Next to New Barons Park

A local investor group has a bought a building that will be renovated for a restaurant in the first confirmed development next to Regions Field, the new stadium under construction for the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League).  Read more here.

Quincy Gems Lose Over $20K, Heat Blamed

The summer collegiate Quincy Gems (Prospect League) reportedly lost over $23,000 during the 2012 season.  The drop in attendance and revenue is being blamed on the hot temperatures this past summer, which negatively impacted food and beers sales and corporate sponsorship nights.  Read more here.  The team averaged 908 per game in 2012.

Greeville Astros Contemplating New Mascots

PRESS RELEASE – The upcoming 2013 season will mark the 10th year for the Greeneville Astros as a member of the Appalachian League, but the club will have a brand new look beginning next season. The Astros are following the lead of their parent club in Houston by changing the club’s logos, uniforms and color schemes beginning next season. The date of the unveiling of these

Parkview Field Making the Grade

Experts can agree or disagree about the economic benefits of building a new sports facility, but everything appears to be paying off for the team and Fort Wayne (IN) taxpayers after opening $30.5 million Parkview Field, home of the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps (Midwest League), in 2009.  Impressively, the TinCaps had record-breaking attendance for the fourth straight season.  Read more here.

Big League Dreams Debt Similar to New Minor League Park Debt

League City (TX) will pay $1.4 million this year to service the debt on nearly $18 million borrowed to build Big League Dreams Sports Park, a $22.6 million amateur baseball/softball complex consisting of six replica MLB fields opened in 2005.  This is the highest payment the city will make, before payments begin

Webcam Installed to Follow Progress of BB&T Ballpark

PRESS RELEASE – On Thursday, through the club’s social media pages, the Charlotte Knights officially launched a ballpark webcam for fans to view the construction progress of BB&T Ballpark, the future home of the Charlotte Knights. Fans of the Knights can view the webcam right from the team’s official website at http://www.charlotteknights.com.

Mike Veeck, 800 Pound Gorilla Set For Sports Business Conference

PRESS RELEASE – The time has arrived once again for the 4th Annual Sports Business Conference. This year’s conference will build upon the tremendous momentum of last year’s conference in Nashville. SBC ’12 will provide attendee with the knowledge and direction necessary to become elite in all facets of

Rebuilding PNC Field: Construction Midpoint

Construction of the rebuilt (new) $43.3 million ballpark for the soon-to-be-rebranded Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (International League) is at its midpoint between the groundbreaking last spring and opening day on April 4, 2013.  Read more and view photo here.