In Search of a Management Structure in OOB

Now that revived ballpark in Old Orchard Beach, ME is nearing its renaissance debut, volunteers and the city are working to determine the management structure that will handle the venue’s operations and events managment.  Read more and view news clip here.

Populous (HOK), HKS, and TCF Compete for Cheney Design Rights

Three designers have submitted plans the City of Tacoma for a $30 million renovation of Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers.  The designers, which include Populous, HKS, and local architects TCF, have each partnered with a builder to put together the bids.  To protect proprietary information, formal presenations of the plans will be made behind the scenes in January to a six-person selection panel.  Read more here.

Red Wings, Muckdogs Finish in the Red

Rochester Community Baseball lost $167,844 running both the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and the Single-A Batavia Muckdogs. The teams did not contribute equally to the deficit however. 

New Attitude Revives Ballpark Discussions in Nashville

With a new mayor taking the helm in Nashville in 2008 and a new management team running the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, a fresh cooperative spirit has inspired very preliminary talks to advance a new downtown ballpark in the Music City.  Read more and view news clip here.

‘I Hate the Off Season’ Episode 8

The Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies released the eighth episode of ‘I Hate the Off Season’, the team’s digital short series back for its second (0ff) season.  This episode is entitled ‘When the Bosses are Away, Parker Will Play.’  View video here.

Bees and Angels Extend Affiliation Through 2014

PRESS RELEASE – The Salt Lake Bees and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced today that the organizations have signed a two-year Player Development Contract (PDC) extension that will keep the Bees and Angels affiliates through the 2014 season.

Iowa Cubs Win Freitas Award

PRESS RELEASE – Baseball America announced the Iowa Cubs franchise has been awarded the 2009 Bob Freitas “Organization of the Year” Award for the Triple-A level for the Iowa’s successful 2009 campaign and continued contribution to Minor League Baseball.

City to Vote on Deal to Subsidize Grizzlies, Share in Profits

The Fresno City Council is expected to vote on Dec. 17 on a complex deal to prop up the struggling Fresno Grizzlies, which have apparently lost nearly $3 million over the past four years.  The Grizzlies pay $1.5 million per year to lease Chukchansi Park, which the city uses to help fund the $3.5 million per year payment on the bond that was issued to build the new stadium.  Under the proposal, the Grizzlies’ rent would remain the same, but the team would receive a hefty subsidy and share its profits with the city.  Read more here.

Baseball America: Minor League Executive of the Year

Ken Young, owner of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and Albuquerque Isotopes, is the Minor League Executive of the Year.  Read more here.

Going Totally Tubuler at the Brick

It ain’t the Winter X Games, but starting Dec. 4 through Jan. 3, fans of winter in Oklahoma City can banzai down a giant man-made snow-tubing slope built from the upper deck down to second base at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.  Read more here.

Art Savage Memorialized at Raley Field

This past Saturday, family, friends and fans gathered at Raley Field to bid a final farewell to Art Savage, the owner of the Sacramento River Cats.  Mr. Savage passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 21 at age 58.  The Cats have been one of minor league baseball’s top franchises since it was launched in West Sacramento in 2000.  Read more here.

Bonds Approved for Cheney Upgrades

The Tacoma City Council on Tuesday approved $28 million in bonds to fund improvements to Cheney Stadium, the home of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.  The deal will keep the Rainiers in town until 2041.  Read more here.

Rainiers Lock in Long-Term Lease

The Tacoma Rainiers will be staying put at Cheney Stadium for the next 32 years, provided major upgrades are done to the city-owned facility by March 2011.  The city unanimously approved the lease deal this week, and an affirmative vote on a $30 million bond package to cover ballpark improvements is expected next week.  The Rainiers will repay most of the debt over the next 25 years.  Read more here.

$30 Million Bond Package for Tacoma Ballpark on the Docket

Later this month, the Tacoma City Council will consider a $30 million bond package to spruce up 50-year old Cheney Stadium, home of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.  Read more and view renderings here.

Doh! Expected Parking Revenues for Gwinnett Ballpark Short by $168k

Gwinnett County had estimated that $200,000 in parking revenues would be generated from the new stadium for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves.  But the county has reportedly received a mere $31,530 from the team for parking from April through September.  The parking revenues are part of the funding forumla used to satisfy the ballpark’s annual bond payment of between $2.1 and $2.6 million over the 30 years.  Read more here.

New Baseball Art to Greet Fans at Aces Ballpark

Working to satisfy a requirement that the new Aces ballpark give a little love to the public arts, the stadium’s entrance will sport a giant skeletal red-stitched baseball globe.  This new decorative sphere will join a “gallery” of show pieces at the park, inlcuding the light show towers and pop up puppet baseball over the stadium’s outfield fence.  That said, take notice folks!  While this might be viewed as fulfilling a requirment to spend dollars on ballpark arts, this kind of “sensory candy” is critical to building an atmosphere of fun, energy, and excitement Disney-style (or Vegas-style in this case, or carnival-style for those doing it on the cheap) at any ballpark.  Read more here.

Campaign Dead for New Beaverton Ballpark

Unable to broker a deal for a new $59 million ballpark for the Portland Beavers in Beaverton, owner Merritt Paulson pulled the plug on negotiations on Friday.  The big question remains, where will the Beavers play in 2011 once Portland’s PGE Park is renovated for soccer?  Read more here.

‘Woofstock’ an Apparent Success at The Ballpark

Over the weekend, Woofstock kicked off the reopening of The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach, ME.  Organizers and volunteers who helped save the facility from the wrecking ball hope that Woofstock is just one of a number of events the old facility will host in the future.  View video here.

‘The Ballpark’ Lives!

Severely neglected after the Triple-A Maine Guides ditched The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach, ME for Pennsylvania, the ballfield has undergone a renaissance of sorts at the hands of local volunteers, who were able to stifle efforts to level the ballpark in favor of new development.  The facility will host its first event on Oct. 25 called Woofstock, a canine-oriented celebration.  Read more here.

Grizzlies Seeking Rent Relief

The cash-strapped Fresno Grizzlies are looking for a substantial cut in their annual lease payment from $1.5 million to $500,000.   The team is looking to local citizens to support their appeal by sending out 10,000 “Keep the Lights On” fliers to registered voters.  The team has also hired a PR firm to help influence the city.  Read more here.

$59 Million Price Tag for New Beaverton Ballpark, Approval Awaits

The cost to build a new stadium in Beaverton for the Triple-A Portland Beavers has been estimated to cost $59 million.  If the deal is approved, taxpayers would be on the hook for about $34.9 million.  Read more here.

Zephyrs Sport New Look

The New Orleans Zephyrs unveiled a new logo on Tuesday that features a “Fleur de Z” that incorporates a bat and a new Zephyrs script in a baseball-style font.  We’ll keep this simple — we like the change.  Read more here.

Critics, Proponents Debate Gwinnett Stadium

The first season for the Triple-A  Gwinnett Braves has come to close, but detractors and supporters are still debating the merits of the new stadium.  Whether or not it should have ever been built is a debate for the locals, but paying for it is another question.

Big(gi) Land Deal for Beaverton Ballpark on the Ropes

The Biggi family has decided against selling the land targeted for a new AAA ballpark for the Portland Beavers in Beaverton. While it appears the Biggi’s are done at the negotiating table, Gary Brentano from the the city’s negotiating team has indicated that they intend to continue talking with the family.  The “informal” offer on the table is reportedly $8 million.  Read more here.

Sarpy Co. Saves on Ballpark Financing

Because of lower than expected interest rates, Sarpy County expects to save $1.5 million over the life of the bonds issued for the new 6,000-seat $26 million ballpark for the AAA Omaha Royals that is expected to open in 2011.  Read more here.

IronPigs ‘Business of the Year’ in Lehigh Valley

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce has named the IronPigs the ‘Business of the Year’.  Indeed, the performace by the IronPigs has been impressive.  This year, the franchise ranked #2 out of 267 teams in BBiz’s attendance Mega-Rankings with 9,161 fans per game.  Read more here.

Beaverton Ballpark Funding Comes into Focus

Gary Brentano, the City of Beaverton’s lead negotiator for the proposed Beaverton ballpark project, presented funding specifics for a $45 million facility. 

Neighboring County’s Help Needed for Stadium Improvements

PNC Field (formerly Lackawanna County Stadium) is in need of $14 million in playing surface repairs and renovations over the next four years, and Lackawanna County wants Luzerne County to pony up as an equal financial partner to make sure AAA baseball remains in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Read more here.