Field of Dreams Dreaming of MLB’s Return After 2020

When the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox finish their special game at the Field of Dreams movie site on Aug. 13, the two teams will pack their bags and head out of Iowa.  But the hope is that MLB will be back at the iconic site again.  Read more here

Grass Installation Marks Major Milestone in Kannapolis Ballpark Project

On Friday, crews laid the final rolls of sod transforming the Kannapolis Sports and Entertainment Venue (SEV) from a construction zone into a green oasis where the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-A, South Atlantic League) will play their first game on April 16, 2020.  Read press release here.

Sports Turf Managers Association, Minor League Baseball Announce 2019 ‘Sports Field Managers of the Year’

Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) award the 2019 ‘Sports Field Managers of the Year’ sponsored by STMA and Echo Tools.

After Success of First Big Concert at Ballpark, Efforts Underway to Improve Future Events

The recent Mumford and Sons show in Missoula (MT) saw a huge turnout at Ogren Park in the Old Saw Mill District.  Despite damage to the field that caused the Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League) to miss six home games, officials are now working to improve on what they see as a successful production to make upcoming shows even better.  Read more here.

MLB Bringing Ballpark in a Box to London Stadium

In a span of 21 days, Major League Baseball will convert a professional soccer pitch in the heart of London into a state-of-the-art baseball stadium worthy of the most storied rivalry in baseball between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees for their upcoming June series.  Read more here.

Transforming Lugnuts’ Home from Baseball to Soccer is No Easy Task – VIDEO

It’s a long and tedious process turning a baseball diamond into a soccer field.  It’s a process that the grounds crew for the Lansing Lugnuts (Single-A, Midwest League and Ignite soccer team haven’t done often.  Friday night’s installment was only their second go-around, and it’s been a learning experience.  Read more and watch news report here.

New Las Vegas Ballpark Now Has Grass

Grass was laid down at the Las Vegas Ballpark Thursday, just weeks before the Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) are scheduled to start playing there.  Opening day is April 9 when the Aviators will play Sacramento at 7:05 p.m.  Read more here.

Living Wall Coming to Target Field

Bringing a unique element to an essential ballpark staple, the Minnesota Twins today unveiled plans for a new, “living wall” system for the Target Field batter’s eye. The batter’s eye design, which is the first of its kind in Major League Baseball, will enhance the aesthetics of the center field hitter’s backdrop, without compromising playability. Read more here.

A first of its kind in MLB, our batter's eye will get a facelift this season! 🌱More info: https://t.co/UE0zhYMnw9 #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/lVAqRLMFjI

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 7, 2019

Sports Turf Managers Association Names Sixth Annual ‘Mowing Patterns Contest’ Winner

PRESS RELEASE – – Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – the organization for 2,700 men and women professionals overseeing sports fields worldwide and critical to athlete safety – names Kyle Calhoon, Sports Turf Manager at the Hartford Yard Goats (Hartford, Conn.), its sixth annual “Mowing Patterns Contest” winner.

Revolutionary Changes Underway at York Ballpark

Major changes are underway at York’s (PA) minor league ballpark this offseason, paving the way for a 2019 season that the York Revolution (Independent Professional, Atlantic League) expect will drive increased attendance.  Read more here.  The new 1741 Club should be a big hit.

Monster Trucks and Bullriders Coming to OKC Dodgers Ballpark

Monster trucks and bullriders are taking over Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home of the the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League). Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, the Dodgers will haul in mounds of dirt, leveling the pitcher’s mound. The stadium’s playing surface will be replaced for the first time since the ballpark opened in 1998, allowing a rare opportunity to host such an event.  Read more  here.

Mobile Pitching Mound Makes Soccer Possible at Cheney Stadium

Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League), will host the Seattle Sounders FC 2 (United Soccer League) for 17 games this season, starting Friday, March 16.  A mobile pitching mound makes hosting soccer possible.  Read more and watch video here.

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio Working to Reverse Trend of Declining Black Participation in Baseball

The league that integrated professional sports is now bleeding black players and black fans.  A project on the East Side of San Antonio (TX), partially funded by Major League Baseball, hopes to fight the trend locally.  Read more here.

Field of Dreams Vandalism Fundraising Update

On the morning of Jan 23, 2018, it was discovered that the Field of Dreams Movie Site ball diamond in Dyersville (IA) was destroyed by truck tire damage.  Many areas of the turf had been ripped up with potential damage to the refurbished irrigation system.  The GoFundMe site that was launched to help fund repairs has already raised $18,176.  Read more here.

Globe Life Field: Grass or Artificial Turf?

One of the final major steps in the construction of the $1.1-billion Globe Life Field is the one causing the most consternation, albeit some 28 months before the Texas Rangers’ new ballpark will open for business in 2020 — Grass or artificial turf?  Read more here.

Victoria’s Riverside Stadium Gets New Turf

Workers from Hellas Construction install artificial turf on the infield at Riverside Stadium in Victoria (TX), home of the University of Houston-Victoria baseball team and the Victoria Generals (Summer Collegiate, Texas Collegiate League). The old turf was ruined when the Guadalupe River flooded after Hurricane Harvey.  Read more here.

Fenway Transforms for ‘Fenway Gridiron Series’ Starting Friday

Fenway Sports Management is preparing America’s oldest Major League ballpark for the three-game “Fenway Gridiron Series.”  Inside the Pesky and Fisk foul poles with the Green Monster as a backdrop, hash marks and a pair of field goal posts now stand in place where the Boston Red Sox have called home since 1912.  Read more here.  View Fenway football photo gallery here.

AquaSox Field Getting Synthetic Turf

Starting this week, crews will begin replacing the natural infield, outfield and warning track at Memorial Stadium, home of the Everett AquaSox (Single-A, Northwest League), with synthetic turf.  Read more here.

STMA, MiLB Announce 2017 ‘Sports Turf Managers of the Year’

PRESS RELEASE – – Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) award the 2017 ‘Sports Turf Managers of the Year’ sponsored by STMA and John Deere.

Artificial Turf Coming to Everett Ballpark

Work is scheduled to begin within the next two weeks to convert the playing surface at Everett Memorial Stadium, home of the Everett AquaSox (Single-A, Northwest League), from grass to artificial turf.  Read more here.

Mariners Getting New Turf

The playing surface at Safeco Field is being completely replaced.  The offseason project is the first replacement of the ballpark’s original surface, installed in the spring of 1999.  Read more here.

Sod Goes Down at New Rosemont Ballpark

Roger Bossard, the head Chicago White Sox groundskeeper who’s become known as “The Sodfather,” helped lay down the first pieces of sod Tuesday at the new Chicago Dogs (Independent Professional, American Association) stadium under construction in Rosemont (IL).  Read more and watch video here.

Spinners Lighting the Way at LeLacheur

The Lowell Spinners (Single-A, New York-Penn League) have announced that they are the first short-season team in the country to install LED field lights.  The brand new, energy-efficient lighting system provides LeLacheur Park with a more advanced and efficient lighting system than any other club at this level across the nation.  Read more here.

Golf Returning to Petco Park

Callaway is bringing a nine-hole golf experience back to the San Diego Padres’ stadium for the third year in a row, with the Links at Petco Park running from the 5th to the 10th of October.  Read more and view photo here.

Soil Science Drives Western Pennsylvania Dirt Company’s Success at MLB Level

DuraEdge based in Grove City (PA), counts 22 of MLB’s 30 stadiums among its clients, including iconic ballparks such as PNC Park, AT&T Park and Wrigley Field.  Read more here.

Mock Reports on MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport

Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com is in Williamsport (PA) to report on the MLB Little League Classic for USA Today.  Mock takes a look at how MLB readied 91-year-old BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters (Single-A, New York-Penn League), for the big league event.  Read more here.  View gallery of MLB Players Weekend custom caps and jerseys here.

STMA Members Prepare Field at Historic Bowman for MLB’s 2017 ‘Little League Classic’ on Aug. 20

PRESS RELEASE – Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – the professional organization for 2,600 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide – celebrates its members for their involvement in the renovation and maintenance of BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa.

Taking Page from Boise State Football Playbook, NJ College Bringing First Blue Baseball Field

Next spring, the Centenary University Cyclones will touch down on a new home field, one that will be unique among baseball diamonds.  The Hackettstown (NJ) institution is building what it says is the world’s first blue baseball field, with the artificial turf matching the school’s colors.  Read more and view design here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Joplin in Preliminary Talks with Frontier League

City officials are keeping Joplin (MO) ready for a pitch from professional baseball even though the Joplin Blasters (Independent Professional, American Association) struck out.  Mayor Mike Seibert this week mentioned the Frontier League (Independent Professional) in a City Council discussion about whether to install artificial turf on the infield of Joe Becker Stadium.  Read more here.

Introducing: The “New” Bethpage Ballpark

PRESS RELEASE – On Wednesday evening, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the Long Island Ducks and representatives from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works unveiled the team’s brand new LED field lighting system. Following the ceremonies, the Ducks took the field under the new lights for the very first time for the team’s final workout prior to the start of the 2017 season.

Homer Stryker Field Flooded

Homer Stryker Field, home of the Kalamazoo Growlers (Summer Collegiate, Northwoods League), is significantly flooded due to the rising waters of the Kalamazoo River.  Fortunately, the Growlers don’t open their season until Tuesday, May 30.  Read more and view video and aerial photo here.

Gophers Prep for First Indoor Baseball Game at U.S. Bank Stadium

Even on the eve of the first indoor baseball at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, longtime University of Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball coach John Anderson wasn’t completely sure what his team’s grand new temporary home would look like.  Read more and view photo here.

Minnesota Vikings Image

Miners Announce “The Links At Rent One Park”

PRESS RELEASE – For anyone who has ever dreamed of hitting a golf ball in a baseball stadium, now is your chance! The Southern Illinois Miners announce that they will turn Rent One Park into a nine-hole golf experience, “The Links at Rent One Park,” from April 20-24. VisitSI will be the legacy sponsor along with hospitality sponsor Peoples National Bank.

New Turf Looking Good in Johnson City

Boyd Sports has completed its $250,000 installation of new synthetic turf on TVA Credit Union Ballpark’s infield and other areas well ahead of the Johnson City Cardinals’ (Rookie, Appalachian League) season.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Ducks Complete Ballpark Field Makeover

PRESS RELEASE – The Long Island Ducks have announced the completion of a playing field makeover at Bethpage Ballpark, home of the Atlantic League club for 17 years. The natural grass field has been completely replaced for the first time since 2008 and will be on display for all to see on Opening Night in 2017.

More Upgrades for Progressive Field

The Cleveland Indians are planning another round of upgrades at Progressive Field that include fixing up the elevators and putting in new sod on the field.  Read more here.

Play the Links at Globe Life Park

Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers for now, will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind, nine-hole golf course from Nov. 18-20.  Players will hit tee shots from nine locations throughout the stadium at targets that will be landscaped into the outfield.  Read more here.

Atlantic League Renames Groundskeeping Award

The Atlantic League (Independent Professional) has announced that its annual groundskeeping award has been renamed to honor former Somerset Patriots groundskeeper Ray Cipperly.  Read more here.  Read press release here.

Field Renovations Begin at City Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – Less than a week after the conclusion of the 2016 season, the Lynchburg Hillcats began the initial stage of a series of renovations scheduled for City Stadium by starting to remove the current playing surface. The first of many changes to take place at the ballpark during the offseason, the Hillcats have hired Sports Contracting Group (SCG) to execute a complete overhaul of the field.

Mini Golf at Lugnuts Ballpark

The field at Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts (Single-A, Midwest League), has been transformed into a unique 18-hole mini golf course ahead of renovations to the field.  Read more here.