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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 Approves Funding for Hoover Met Improvements

The Hoover (AL) City Council on Monday voted to approve spending up to $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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Barons Unveil Logo for New Regions Field

PRESS RELEASE – Leaders from the Birmingham Barons and Regions Bank have unveiled the logo for the city’s new, downtown baseball facility – Regions Field. The design, by local firm Luckie & Co., will be used throughout the new state-of-the-art facility and ties the tradition and history of baseball in the Birmingham to the modern facility

Countdown to April 10 Begins: Construction Crews Ready New Ballpark for First Pitch

It’s a mere 78 days until the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) hold their home opener at the new Regions Field, but officials say the stadium will be completed on time.  View construction photo gallery here.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe DeLeonard for the story link.

Council Delays Consideration of Extra $3M for Ballpark

The Birmingham (AL) City Council has delayed consideration of Mayor William Bell‘s request for an additional $3 million for the new $64 million ballpark for the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League).  The council is seeking more specifics on the $3 million, which city officials have said will pay for furniture, fixtures and equipment, including a possible ice cream shop and beer garden.  Read more here.

Mayor Again Seeks Extra $3M for New Ballpark

Birmingham (AL) Mayor William Bell is again asking a skeptical City Council to spend another $3 million on the new $64 million downtown baseball stadium for the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) to pay for extra amenities, including furniture, artwork and a possible beer garden and ice cream shop.  The proposal was shelved last month but is scheduled to be addressed

New Birmingham Ballpark Spurs Development

The new downtown ballpark under construction for the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) is already energizing development in the area, as a deal to locate a new 220-unit apartment complex by the ballpark is close to being finalized.  Read more here.

Barons to Pony Up $300K to End Lease Early at Hoover Met

The Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) have agreed to pay Hoover (AL) $300,000 to end their lease at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (formerly Regions Park) three-years early, as the team prepares to relocate to a new ballpark in downtown Birmingham (AL).  Read more here.

Hoover Met Again, Young Leaves Barons for New (Sort Of) Stadium Management Gig

The city of Hoover (AL) has decided to change the name of Regions Park back to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, now that the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) are moving to new digs in downtown Birmingham (AL).  Read more here.  Meanwhile, James Young has left his role as director of stadium operations for the Barons to serve as a facility manager for the Hoover Met.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe DeLeonard for the links.

Pringles Park No More

The Double-A Jackson Generals (Southern League) and the Kellogg Company have been unable to reach an agreement on extending the naming-rights contract for Pringles Park, now known temporarily as Generals Park.  According to an e-mail from a Kellogg spokesman, it appears the Generals were attempting to increase the price tag over the previous contract.  Despite an increase in

Blue Wahoos Open Inaugural Winter Wonderland

The Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Southern League) have opened their first-ever Winter Wonderland at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.  Read more here.  View Facebook photos here.

Filling the Void at Regions Park

Now that the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) are headed to a fancy new ballpark in downtown Birmingham (AL), the city of nearby Hoover is moving forward to hire two individuals to manage events at Regions Park.  While the indy pro American Association has explored bringing a new team to the stadium, there doesn’t seem to be any urgency on the part of the city to replace the Barons.

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

Improvements to Pringles Park on Docket

The Jackson (TN) City Council will consider tonight a request from the Double-A Jackson Generals (Southern League) for $200,000 in improvements to Pringles Park, including expanding the box office and concession stand areas, and improving the lighting to meet MiLB standards.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the Generals continue negotiations with Kellogg’s for renewing the ballpark’s naming rights.  Read more here.

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.

Fans Feast on Chili, College Football

An estimated 1,500 chili-lovin’ football fans showed up at Riverwalk Stadium, home of the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits (Southern League), on Saturday for the Lions Club’s annual Capital City Chili Cook-off.  Fans gobbled up delicous chili while watching the Auburn versus Vanderbilt game on the big screen.  Read more here.

Work Begins for BayBears New GM

The Double-A Mobile BayBears (Southern League) announced Heath Bennett as the team’s new general manager a few weeks ago, but he was formally introduced to fans on Friday at Hank Aaron Stadium.  Of course, his focus will be on increasing the team’s attendance, which topped out at 2,112 fans per game in 2012.   Read more here.

Wahoos’ Baldwin, Suns’ Squyres Honored

The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs has announced Pensacola Blue Wahoos President Bruce Baldwin as the 2012 Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year and Jacksonville Suns Director of Group Sales January Squyres as the league’s Woman of Excellence. Votes for both awards were received from league general managers.

BayBears Announce New GM

PRESS RELEASE – The Defending Southern League Champion Mobile BayBears Professional Baseball Club are proud to announce the hiring of Heath Bennett as the team’s new general manager.

Wahoos Close Out Season with 40th Sell Out, Win League Attendance title

PRESS RELEASE – Smokies catcher Anthony Recker drove home four runs, including a three-run blast to left in the seventh inning, as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell to Tennessee 8-1 to close out their inaugural season in front of the 40th sellout crowd of the year on Monday afternoon at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

Barons Say Goodbye to Hoover, Team Seeks Long-Term Commitment From Fans in New Park

As the Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) prepare to move  into their new $64 million downtown Birmingham (AL) ballpark next season, Jon Solomon from the Birmingham News takes a look at the team’s 25 years at Hoover Stadium.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the Barons requiring a three-year commitment from season tickets holders

Biscuits Giving Away Monty Bobble Bank Friday

PRESS RELEASE – Tomorrow the Biscuits will be having ‘Monty the Biscuit‘ Bobble Bank Giveaway night at Riverwalk Stadium presented by Auburn University at Montgomery.

Pensacola Bayfront Stadium Named Baseballparks.com’s Ballpark of the Year

PRESS RELEASE – The 2012 season for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos has been unbelievably eventful. This is the first year of affiliated Minor League baseball in the city, so the team was brand new. One of the sport’s most electric players, base-stealing phenom Billy Hamilton, is playing for the Blue Wahoos. The team has drawn a remarkable 300,000 fans this year. Even a hurricane

Mudcats to Mudcats: A Seamless Transition

Despite the tough weather conditions causing a dip in attendance this season, it appears to have been a smooth transition from Double-A Southern League ball to Single-A Carolina League ball for the Carolina Mudcats at Five County Stadium.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.