Biloxi Ballpark Site Called the Best

Tim Bennett, owner of Overtime Sports charged with bringing pro ball to Biloxi (MS), considers the site chosen for the new minor league stadium on U.S. 90, across from the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, among the best in the country.  Read more here.

Astros Buying Hooks

In addition to bringing Reid Ryan aboard, the Houston Astros have announced that they’ve agreed to a letter of intent with Ryan-Sanders baseball to purchase the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks (Texas League).  Read more here.

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.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Regions Field (Birmingham, AL)

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com recently visited Regions Field, the new home for the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League).  Mr. Mock delivers an impressive 5,000-word ballpark review covering the facility’s development, design and construction, and the overall fan experience.  Read more and view photos here.  Read about Mock’s visit on AL.com.

Midland Looking for New Ballpark Naming Rights Partner

The city of Midland (TX) is looking for a new company to buy the naming rights to Citibank Ballpark, home of of the Double-A Midland RockHounds (Texas League).  Citibank, the current naming rights partner, reportedly paid its last payment of $90,000 to the city earlier this year.  The city expects to issue a request for proposal (RFP) soliciting bids for the sponsorship in the next few

Hockey Night Tonight in Harrisburg

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators (Eastern League) will be sporting Hershey Bears-themed hockey jerseys for Hockey Night tonight at Metro Bank Park.  The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.  As a giveaway, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive commemorative hockey puck.  What?  No chocolate?

Sea Dogs Celebrate 20th Anniversary Tonight

The Double-A Portland Sea Dogs (Eastern League) will celebrate their 20th season of play at Hadlock Field on Thursday, April 18th (the date of the Sea Dogs first home game in 1994) at 6:00 p.m.  To celebrate the milestone, 11 former players are expected to be in attendance, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a 20th anniversary pennant.  View press release here.  A reporter shares memories from 1994-2001 here.  Watch video here.

Ottawa Looks to Landsdowne Project as Model

As talks continue to bring a Double-A Eastern League team to Ottawa, the city and investors  are contemplating a Landsdowne-style property-development deal to help fund the high cost of renovating Ottawa Stadium.  Read more here

No Hope for Huntsville?

While Birmingham (AL) basks in the glory of a brand new ballpark, Huntsville (AL) slogs along with 1980s  relic Joe Davis Memorial Stadium, home of the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  The facility (being careful not to call it a ballpark) sits in Huntsville Councilman Bill Kling‘s district, and he appears to have no stomach for replacing it.  Without major improvements to The Joe

Squirrels Team with Soup Nazi, FeedMore for Canned Soup Drive

PRESS RELEASE – The Richmond Flying Squirrels, Double-A affiliate of the 2012 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, are pleased to announce that Larry “The Soup Nazi” Thomas from the popular television show Seinfeld, will be appearing at The Diamond on Friday, April 19th presented by Verizon Wireless.

Blue Wahoos Presented with Ballpark of the Year Award

BaseballParks.com webmaster and USA Today Sports Weekly writer Joe Mock was at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Monday night to present the owners of the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Southern League) with a plaque for winning Baseballparks.com’s 2012 Ballpark of the Year.  Pensacola Mayor

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

Not to Be Outdone by the IronPigs, Senators Have Urinal Fun Taking on Rivals

The urinals at the home of the Double-A Harrisburg Senators (Eastern League) may not provide high-tech video game entertainment for fans like they do at the home of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (International League), but blasting low-tech urinal cakes sporting the brands of your enemies can provide seconds of restroom entertainment too while energizing support

Regions Field Opening Just One Day Away

Construction crews are working around the clock to put the final touches on Regions Field, home of the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League), before the stadium’s inaugural opening on Wednesday.  Read more here.  View photo gallery here.

SeaWolves Unveil New Features for 2013 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The Erie SeaWolves, Double-A Affiliate of the American League Champion Detroit Tigers, will unveil a series of new and exciting features for the 2013 season, which begins on Thursday, April 4 when the team hosts the Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates).

Live Ostriches Taking Up Residence at FirstEnergy Stadium, ‘Name the Ostriches’ Contest on Deck

PRESS RELEASE – While FirstEnergy Stadium won’t be for the birds in 2013, the classic ballpark will be home to two living ostriches this summer as part of an exciting, unique partnership between the Reading Fightin Phils and the Berks County and Pennsylvania agriculture community.

Curve Renew PDC With Pirates, Franchise Awarded 2014 Eastern League All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE – The Pittsburgh Pirates and Altoona Curve have extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) through the 2018 season, the two sides announced today prior to the Pirates-Curve Exhibition Game in Altoona.  The announcement was made by Curve owner Bob Lozinak, Curve General Manager Rob Egan, Pirates President

Aeros Partner with Ohio Center of Broadcasting

PRESS RELEASE – The Akron Aeros and the Ohio Center of Broadcasting (OCB) today announced a partnership arrangement, which includes more than $10,000 worth of donated broadcasting equipment to the OCB, and educational and training opportunities for the students.

UAB Blazers Could Be Playing Games at New Regions Field

The Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) are in talks with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) about hosting Blazers home game at the new Regions Field.  Read more here.

New Videoboard to Enhance Fan Experience

A giant new videoboard is now in place at Hank Aaron Stadium, as the Double-A Mobile BayBears (Southern league) prepare for their home opener against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on April 10.  The old videoboard had donned the outfield since the ballpark opened in 1997.  Read more and view photos here.

Regional Cooperation for New Richmond Ballpark in Jeopardy?

Irked by the failure of a legislative compromise to require equal representation of jurisdictions on the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA), Chesterfield County (VA) said Tuesday that it wants to withdraw from regional ownership and operation of The Diamond, home of the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels (Eastern League), after the upcoming baseball season and

Aeros Release Jam-Packed 2013 Promotional Calendar

PRESS RELEASE – The Akron Aeros announced its promotional calendar for the 2013 season. The schedule features promotions during all 71 home games at Canal Park and includes premium fan giveaways, weekly theme nights, celebrity appearances, and the always-popular fireworks shows every Friday all season and every Saturday beginning in June. The 2013 Opening Day is Thursday

Another Run at Double-A Ball in Ottawa?

The Ottawa newspaper is reporting that Mandalay Baseball Properties and Professional Sports Catering are jointly working with Ottawa mayor Jim Watson’s office on a deal to completely renovate and operate Ottawa Stadium while bringing an existing Double-A Eastern League franchise to the capital city.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

RoughRiders Make Addition to Broadcast Booth

PRESS RELEASE – The Frisco RoughRiders are excited to announce that Nathan Barnett will join the organization’s broadcast team for the 2013 season. Barnett will work alongside “Voice of the RoughRiders” Alex Vispoli in delivering the play-by-play for home games and will be instrumental in the team’s pre- and post-game coverage for every contest. He will also assist with the team’s

Reading Fightin Phils Offer Five Beer Tasting Festivals

PRESS RELEASE – Across all 71 regular season home games, the Reading Fightin Phils buffet areas offer a handful of specialty nights, catered to fans of a variety of interests.  New for 2013, the Reading Fightin Phils 10th Annual Beer Tasting Festival will now be held at Bunbino’s Tailgate at the Coors Light Deck in left field.

Barons Expand Front Office Staff for 2013 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The Barons have announced eight new additions to their Front Office staff for the 2013 season: Don Leo, Corporate Sales Manager, Brett Oates, Group Sales Manager, Steve Bayko, Community Group Ticket Representative, Sydney Weldon, Corporate Event Planner, Joseph Cooper, Director of Retail Sales, Randy Prince, Chief Financial Officer, George

Generals Turn On New Lights

The Double-A Jackson Generals (Southern League) have installed and turned on the new lights at Generals Park to make sure they are primed and emitted the right amount of brightness.  Work continues on a new ticket window at the front of the stadium.  Read more here.

Voice of Corvallis Knights Takes Job with Blue Wahoos

PRESS RELEASE – There’s a certain irony to a Virginia Tech graduate joining a franchise called the Wahoos, a nickname often used by sports teams from the arch-rival University of Virginia. But life often works in mysterious ways. And if that entails a die-hard Hokie becoming a Wahoo to join

Jacksonville Suns Announce Installation of New Videoboard

PRESS RELEASE – The Jacksonville Suns announced today that installation of a new scoreboard and videoboard is underway at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Two digital video screens will also be installed into the outfield wall. The project is scheduled to be completed prior to the Florida vs. Florida State Baseball game on March 26^th and will be fully functional by Suns Opening Night on

Council to Consider Funding Hoover Met Improvements

The Hoover (AL) City Council on Monday will consider a proposal to spend $600,000 on repairs, maintenance and new signs for Hoover Metropolitan Stadium , the former home of the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League).  Read more here.

BayBears Open Hank’s Home to Weary Carnival Cruise Travelers

PRESS RELEASE – The Mobile BayBears would like to give all passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph cruise ship the opportunity to visit the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum for free on Thursday and Friday February 14th and 15th.

Win FirstEnergy Stadium for a Day

PRESS RELEASE – The Reading Fightin Phils, Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, are offering fans the opportunity of a lifetime, which coincides with the first day of single-game ticket sales this Wednesday, February 13.

Dr. Pepper Ballpark Investing to Host More Events

The operators of Dr. Pepper Ballpark, home of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders (Texas League), plans to spend $1 million in upgrading the facility’s food services, as part of a push to become an events destination for non-baseball game days.  A new website has even been launched to drive this effort.

Diablos Broadcaster Heads to Jacksonville

PRESS RELEASE – The voice of the Diablos in 2012, Play-by-Play Broadcaster Matt Leland, will be heading east to Jacksonville, FL for 2013 to be one of two Play-by-Play Broadcasters for the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins.

Missions Relaunch Website

PRESS RELEASE – Welcome to the new SAMISSION.COM! We’ve relaunched the home of the San Antonio Missions for 2013, and we want to introduce our fans to our new look. You’ll still be able to find everything you need to follow the Missions but you’ll have even more ways to feel a part of the team.

Barons to Honor 1948 Black Barons at 18th Rickwood Classic

PRESS RELEASE – The Birmingham Barons and Friends of Rickwood announced details Thursday for the 18th Annual Rickwood Classic presented by State Farm Insurance. Set for Wednesday, May 29, the classic will celebrate the legendary 1948 Birmingham Black Barons. The 12:30 p.m. contest will showcase the Birmingham Barons against the Tennessee Smokies

Matt Dudas Joins Travs Broadcasts

PRESS RELEASE – The Arkansas Travelers announce the hiring of Matt Dudas as a radio broadcaster for the 2013 season, joining veteran play-by-play broadcaster Phil Elson on Sports Animal 920 KARN-AM. Matt will deliver three innings of play-by-play and serve as a color commentator for 70 home games and will be a major presence on expanded pre- and post-game shows for all 140 Travs

Fightin Phils Reveal Parts One and Two of ‘Top 25 Promotions’ Series

PRESS RELEASE – 2013 is expected to be one of the most anticipated seasons in the 47-year history of the Reading Fightin Phils. Not only will the season be headlined by the debut of the recently-rebranded Fightin Phils and FirstEnergy Stadium’s $1 million video board project, it will also feature both innovative and classic promotions.

Thunder Announce First Round of 2013 Promotions

PRESS RELEASE – With promotional giveaways featuring the likeness of alums Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Youkilis and Robinson Cano, the 2013 Trenton Thunder Promotional Schedule will celebrate the team’s 20th season in New Jersey’s capitol city.

Giant Sinkhole Won’t Sink Birmingham Ballpark Deadline

A massive 100-feet-deep sinkhole developed at the site of the new $60 million stadium being built for the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League), but “emergency” action taken to fix the problem and necessarily reroute a sewer line will keep ballpark construction on track for Opening Day in April.  Read more here.