Ballpark Visit ALERT: Victory Field (Indianapolis, IN)

Eric and Wendy Pastore from DigitalBallparks.com visit Victory Field, home of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians (International League).  Read more and view photos here.

City Renews DBAP Lease with Bulls

The Durham (NC) City Council has renewed its agreement with the Triple-A Durham Bulls (International League) to lease and operate Durham Bulls Athletic Park, also known as the DBAP.  The agreement with the Bulls extends until 2033, with two additional five-year options for renewal.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: PNC Field (Moosic, PA)

Brian Merzbach from BallparkReviews.com visits the new PNC Field, home of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (International League).  View photos and review here.

PawSox Radio Broadcaster Named New Play-by-Play Announcer for NFL’s New England Patriots

PRESS RELEASE – The Pawtucket Red Sox are pleased to announce that Bob Socci, one of their radio broadcasters, has been named as the new radio voice of the New England Patriots. Socci, who is in his first season with the PawSox after being hired this past March, will stay with the PawSox for the next few months before taking over Patriots duties on or around July 1.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: PNC Field (Moosic, PA)

The BallparkHunter (your webmaster here!) visited the new PNC Field, home of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (International League), on its inaugural Opening Day on April 4, 2013.  View gallery of 104 photos here.

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

Zoning Approved for More External Advertising at New BB&T Ballpark

The Charlotte (NC) City Council has approved an advertising plan that allows for more murals, graphic panels and sponsor logos on the outside of the new baseball stadium for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League).  Read more here.

IronPigs Home to Feature ‘Urinal (Pee-Controlled) Gaming System’

PRESS RELEASE – Coca-Cola Park will be the first sports venue in the world to feature a brand new revolutionary “Urinal Gaming System”, allowing fans to interact with the world’s only truly hands-free urinal game controller, when the Lehigh Valley IronPigs open their 2013 season this April. The p-controlled video game systems will be featured within all men’s restrooms at Coca-Cola Park and are

RailRiders & My Network TV Ink Five-Year TV Deal

PRESS RELEASE – NEPA’s boys of summer have yet another new home.  In addition to the $43 million reconstructed PNC Field, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) will have 20 of their home games televised throughout the region on WQMY My Network TV in year one of a five-year deal.

Knights, BB&T Reveal BB&T Ballpark Logos

PRESS RELEASE – On Wednesday, March 20, during a press conference held at BB&T Ballpark, the future home of the Charlotte Knights, representatives from the Knights and BB&T unveiled the logos for the team’s new Uptown Charlotte ballpark. The design was created by local firm Luquire George Andrews.

Bisons Announce Front Office Promotions, Additions

PRESS RELEASE – The Buffalo Bisons are proud to announce the following new hires as well as promotions within the Bisons front office staff for the 2013 season.

IronPigs Introduce New Sunday Retro Jerseys

PRESS RELEASE – The IronPigs will don a powder blue and burgundy retro mesh jersey during Sunday home games this season, paying homage to the Phillies’ tradition-rich teams of the 1970s and 1980s and marking the first significant uniform change since the IronPigs debuted in 2008.

Ballpark Milestone: First Steel Beams Installed in Charlotte

Construction crews have installed the first steel beams at the site of the new $54-million, 10,000-seat ballpark in uptown Charlotte for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League).  The stadium is expected to be substantially complete by the end of the year.  Read more and view photo here.

Alliance Bank Stadium to Become NBT Bank Stadium?

Alliance Banks announced in October that it has been acquired by Norwich (CT)-based NBT Bank.  Along with changing the branding on all the bank’s branches, Onondaga County (NY) officials are expected to announce on Wednesday a name change for Alliance Bank Stadium, home to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs (International League).  Read more here.

Bisons Announce 48-Game TV Schedule

PRESS RELEASE – The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, today announced their 2013 television schedule that will include the live broadcast of 48 games to be shown on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel 713 in Buffalo. The schedule begins with on Opening Day, Thursday April 4, as the Bisons host the Rochester Red Wings (2:05 p.m.).

Charlotte Knights Tap Technology Firm to Enhance Visual Experience at New Park

PRESS RELEASE – The Charlotte Knights have hired TSE Services to consult new technologies being incorporated into BB&T Ballpark, scheduled to open Spring 2014 in uptown Charlotte, NC. With their vast experience and expertise integrating audio and visual technology throughout the country, TSE will be responsible for the oversight and purchasing of nine state-of-the-art LED displays, along

New Charlotte Knights Stadium to Officially Open in 406 Days

Chris Semmens, vice president of sales for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League), announced April 10, 2014, as the grand opening date for the team’s new stadium during a Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Metro Chapter event in Uptown on Wednesday.  Read more here.  View gallery of 38 renderings and photos here.

RailRiders Ask Kids to Name Two New Mascots

PRESS RELEASE – CHAMP is about to get some new friends.  The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are preparing to announce two mascots to join CHAMP for the 2013 season.  The club needs help in naming CHAMP’s pals, and the RailRiders are asking local elementary schools for their best ideas on the nomenclature of NEPA’s latest and greatest costumed buddies.

Rochester Loses $48K with Batavia Under Its Wings

The Triple-A Rochester Red Wings (International League) made $95,000 from their own operations and allowing the Empire State Yankees (now Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders) play 40 games at Frontier Field in 2012.  But the Wings lost $143,000 operating the Single-A Batavia Muckdogs (New York-Penn League), for a net loss of $48,000.  On a positive note, the Wing are sitting on

Old Bush Stadium Seats for Sale

The nonprofit People for Urban Progress is selling “as is” and refurbished fold-down seats it salvaged from old Bush Stadium, the former home of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians (International League).  This is the same group that continues to install restored stadium seats at bus stops (PUPstops) around Indianapolis.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Click here for stadium redevelopment project by Core Redevelopment

A Motor Speedway for Knights Stadium?

As a six-member York County (SC) committee explores the use and development options for the 33-acre site on which Knights Stadium, the soon-to-be-former home of the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League), now sits, a group called STP Group hopes to make a pitch to turn the ballpark into an auto racetrack.  Read more here.  View website here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Rebranded RailRiders Announce Promos for Inaugural Season at New PNC Field

PRESS RELEASE – Have you ever seen a monkey dressed like a cowboy riding a dog like a horse while herding farm animals? You will this summer at PNC Field at the June 22 night game when the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo invades NEPA on Country Night. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders proudly announce their full promotional calendar for 2013. Click here to view the schedule.

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.

Knights to Don Throwback Jerseys for ‘Flashback Fridays’

PRESS RELEASE – The 1990’s are coming back to Knights Stadium every Friday in 2013 as the Charlotte Knights will wear 1990 throwback jerseys during each of the club’s 10 Friday night home games this season. The jerseys, which were worn by the inaugural Knights Stadium Team in 1990, will now be worn by the current Knights team during the new “Flashback Fridays” series, which is

Fans Tour PNC Field

Fans of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (International League) braved the snow and cold this weekend to get their first glimpse of the new PNC Field during Saturday’s open house.  Read more and view video and photos here.

Bisons Unveil New Uniforms, 2013 Promotions

PRESS RELEASE – The Buffalo Bisons will have an exciting new look when they begin a new era in Buffalo baseball on Opening Day, April 4, 2013 at Coca-Cola Field. Today, the team unveiled their new home, road and alternate uniforms that combine performance technology from Russell Athletic with a design that honors both the team’s past and its future.

RailRiders to Host Public Open House at New PNC Field

PRESS RELEASE – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will be holding an Open House on Saturday, Jan. 26. Fans are invited to come out and check the progress of PNC Field. The event, which is free and open to the public, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Charlotte Knights Bolster Front Office

PRESS RELEASE – As the Charlotte Knights prepare for the final season at Knights Stadium in 2013, and a move to Uptown Charlotte for 2014, the team has bolstered its front office staff with the addition of Sean Owens, Director of Ticket Sales and Hospitality, Margie Burleson, Special Events/Sales Executive, Mark Krizanik, Account Executive, and Audrey Stanek, Manager, Sponsorship

Jerry Reese Legal Battles Over

Jerry Reese, who has brought multiple failed lawsuits to stop the construction of a new uptown Charlotte ballpark for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League), has agreed to pull the plug on his crusade to kill the project, after a judge threatened to impose sanctions against him.  Reese will now focus his efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the Carolinas in communities outside of

In Memoriam: Lucien ‘The Voice of The Ballpark’ Huot

Lucien Huot, known as “The Voice of The Ballpark,” passed away on New Year’s Day at 82.  Huot was instrumental in revitalizing The Ballpark and bringing baseball back to Old Orchard Beach (ME).

Frontier Field Under New Management

LeBeau Inc.’s contract to manage Frontier Field, home of the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings (International League), expired at the end of 2012 and will not be renewed.  Going forward, Monroe County, which owns the stadium, and the Red Wings will partner to manage the facility.  Read more here.

Bisons to Unveil New Uniforms Jan. 18

PRESS RELEASE – The Hot Stoves of baseball have never blazed like this. The off-season has been quite busy for the Buffalo Bisons and their new parent club, the Toronto Blue Jays. A great new partnership has been punctuated by an exciting new logo for the Herd, the return of a championship manager in Marty Brown and the fantastic acquisitions that have made the Jays a serious

Disappointed Hyder Leaves Broadcast Booth to Write Book

Broadcaster Steve Hyder has resigned his No. 2 post in the broadcast booth for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox (International League) to write a book about his tenure with the team.  He desired to be the Paw Sox’s lead play-by-play guy after Dan Hoard left the club for a job with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals last year, but the team hired someone else.  Hyder says he was “insulted” by the

Knights Announce Front Office Changes

PRESS RELEASE – Earlier today at press conference held at the BB&T Ballpark site, the Charlotte Knights announced that Dan Rajkowski, the team’s Vice President/General Manager since 2006, was elevated to the club’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. In conjunction with that announcement, the Knights announced the hiring of Scott Brown as the team’s new General Manager of Baseball

Charlotte Ballpark Update

Construction is well underway on BB&T Ballpark, the new uptown Charlotte (NC) home for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League), which is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2014 season.  According to team GM Dan Rajkowski, construction crews have begun pouring concrete and laying down foundation for the stadium.  Read more and view photo here.

Knights Release New Ballpark Renderings

The Triple-A Charlotte Knights (International League) have released two new renderings of their new ballpark currently under construction in uptown Charlotte.  Read more here.

Bisons Unveil New Primary Logo

PRESS RELEASE – With the start of a new era of Bisons baseball in downtown Buffalo, the team today unveiled an exciting new primary team logo, designed by ADPRO Sports of Buffalo, that will carry the club into the next 25-years at Coca-Cola Field.

It’s the SWB ‘RailRiders’

PRESS RELEASE – The curtain has been pulled back, and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) have arrived. Northeast Pennsylvania’s hometown team unveiled its new identity at the hotly-anticipated “Big Reveal” on Wednesday at Genetti Manor in Dickson City. Amid a carnival atmosphere populated by an overflowing throng of faithful fans and area media

Media Given Tour of New PNC Field, Videos Posted

The soon-to-be-renamed Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (International League) offered the local media their first tour of the new PNC Field currently under (re)construction in Moosic (PA).  According to project superintendent John Baer, the 10,000-seat ballpark will be ready in time for the team’s home opener on April 4.  Read more and watch videos here and here.

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.