It’s the ‘Amarillo ThunderHeads’

PRESS RELEASE – After public input and careful research, Amarillo Pro baseball management has opted to change the name of the team to The Amarillo ThunderHeads.

Downtown Amarillo Hotel Developer Needs Ballpark Built in Timely Fashion to Make Numbers Work

The contract controlling the development of the downtown Amarillo (TX) convention hotel is thick with legal details but basically provides timelines and requirements of all parties to make sure work goes surely and smoothly.  The contract puts pressure on the Amarillo Local Government Corporation (LGC) to get the proposed baseball/events center built on a timely basis.  Read more here.

Rename Amarillo Sox or Keep the Name the Same – It’s Up to the Fans

Stephanie Tucker, vice president and general manager of the indy pro Amarillo Sox (American Association), is giving baseball fans in the Texas Panhandle a unique opportunity to rename the baseball team or keep it the same.  To make a submission or voice support for the team’s current branding, fans need to go to the team’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/AmarilloSoxBaseball.  Read more here.

Owner of Football Team Named New GM of Amarillo Sox

The indy pro Amarillo Sox (American Association) have named Stephanie Tucker, owner of the Amarillo Venom (Champions Indoor Football League), as Executive Vice President/General Manager of the franchise.  She will be joined by her husband Toby Tucker in the management of both the Sox and the Venom.  Read more here.

Amarillo Sox Fire GM

Mark Lee, the nine-year general manager of the indy pro Amarillo Sox (American Association), confirmed Thursday that he has been fired by Southern Independent Baseball LLC (SIB), the owner of the Sox.  Lee said he was informed of the news in a face-to-face meeting with SIB Chairman of the Board Gary Elliston on Sept. 18.  Read more here.

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Amarillo Sox Correct the Record on Support for New Downtown Ballpark

The owner of the indy pro Amarillo Sox (American Association) had to reiterate the team’s support for the city’s effort to bring a new baseball stadium to downtown Amarillo (TX), after Sox General Manager Mark Lee suggested the city should have started revitalization by fixing the downtown Civic Center and upgrading Potter County Stadium, where the team currently plays.  Read more here.  Watch Lee’s interview here at the 1:36 mark.

Downtown Amarillo Ballpark Development Picks Up Steam

Contracts needed to kick off the design, engineering and construction of a $113 million development project for downtown Amarillo (TX) that includes a new $30 million ballpark could be completed in the next six weeks, according to two city officials.  Read more here.

New Amarillo Ballpark Hinges on Potter County

Potter County (TX) officials could make or break the city of Amarillo’s plan to obtain land for a ballpark, part of a $113 million project to revamp downtown.  Read more here.

Amarillo Sox Promote Two

PRESS RELEASE – The Amarillo Sox have hired Russell Johnson to be the new Assistant General Manager and Adam Cox to be the new Director of Sales and Marketing. Both are Amarillo natives, with Johnson being a graduate of Caprock High School and Cox a graduate of Amarillo High School.

Coca-Cola Deal Helps Advance Amarillo Ballpark Project

Amarillo (TX) city commissioners voted unanimously last week to accept a deal made between the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. and Coca-Cola that would move the company out of its current location, which would make way for construction of a proposed new ballpark that is one element of the large downtown redevelopment project.  Read more here.

Amarillo Sox Look Forward to New Ballpark

A downtown Amarillo (TX) development project estimated to cost $113 million is a go, and a new $30.3 million ballpark for the indy pro Amarillo Sox (American Association) is expected to be part of the development.  Read more and view rendering here.

Amarillo Ballpark Update

Sugar Land (TX)-based Wallace Bajjali Development Partners, the private development group partnering with the city of Amarillo (TX) on a downtown revitalization plan that could bring a new ballpark, hotel, and parking garage to a site adjacent to Amarillo City Hall and Amarillo Civic Center, updated Amarillo Local Government Corp. on Wednesday about progress being made to create

Amarillo Sox to be Featured on Food Network’s ‘Great Food Truck Race’

PRESS RELEASE – The Amarillo Sox and the Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium will be featured on the Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race on September 2.

Amarillo Sox Become Better Community Partner

PRESS RELEASE – As part of their continued pledge to “Building A Better Amarillo” the Amarillo Sox announced their plan today to play a larger role in creating awareness and stimulating knowledge of the purpose, function, and outreach of their charitable partners for the upcoming season.

Amarillo’s Storied Baseball Tradition, Loyal Fan Base Approaching Milestone

PRESS RELEASE – Amarillo is probably best known to most people as the destination that George Strait sang into popularity with his cover version of “Amarillo by Morning” back in the 80’s.  And yes, Amarillo is just up from San Antone just like it says in the song but, the small Texas panhandle town is more than just lyrics it’s a city rich with decades of minor league baseball history dating back

Amarillo Sox Promote One, Add Another to Front Office

PRESS RELEASE – The Amarillo Sox Baseball Club announced two additions to their 2012 front office staff today with the promotion of Austin Sutter and hiring of Dave Kost.

Bricktown an Example for Amarillo?

Jon Mark Beilue from the Amarillo Globe-News takes a look at the success of Oklahoma City’s AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks, as a model for Amarillo’s pending downtown revitalization efforts.  Read more here.

Amarillo Sox Unveil Mascot: Whoa! This is a Family Show!

The American Association’s Amarillo Sox unveiled one of two new mascots, and GM Mark Lee is not too pleased.  Despite the fact that it’s pretty funny, we’re not sure why this very excited character was let out the dressing room.  Enjoy your laugh for the week here.  Thanks to Matthew Robbins for pointing out this story on one of our favorite other sites.

Ballpark Talk Continues in Amarillo

Amarillo city officials and the inaugural Amarillo Sox continue to ponder renovating Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium (Potter Memorial Stadium) or building a brand new ballpark to house the team.  Of course, as with any ballpark project, financing is always the primary sticking point.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Wienerschnitzel Wiener Dog Nationals in Amarillo

The indy pro American Association’s Amarillo Sox will be hosting the Wienerschnitzel Wiener Dog Nationals at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium on June 25.  View photo gallery of past races here.

AirHogs Acquired By Southern Independent Baseball

PRESS RELEASE – The Grand Prairie AirHogs announced today that the team has been acquired by Southern Independent Baseball L.L.C. (SIB).  The ownership group resides and works in the Metroplex.  Gary Elliston, Chairman of the Board of SIB, is the senior founding partner of DeHay & Elliston L.L.P. in Dallas.  Elliston becomes the Chairman of the Board of GP Baseball Club L.L.C.

Amarillo Sox Website Goes Live

PRESS RELEASE – The Amarillo Sox announced the creation of the fully functional website for the team at www.amarillosox.com. The site was developed in conjunction with Infinity Pro Sports website production.

Judge Puts Final Nail in Dillas’ Coffin?

No big surprise here, but a judge has rejected a motion by Reunion Sports Group, the owner of the United League’s Amarillo Dillas, to keep the American Association’s Amarillo Sox from taking up residence at Potter County Memorial Stadium, now known as Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium.  RSG has until mid-February to file an appeal.  Read more here.

Amarillo Sox Uniforms Dangling Into Trouble?

The uniform designs for the American Association’s Amarillo Sox were unveiled at the same time the team’s name was announced on Wednesday.  View designs here.  Now, we shook our heads a little when the logo designer for the Amarillo team claimed ignorance of the Minnesota Twins emblem when crafting the Sox logo.  We don’t think the same response could be made with a straight face if the BoSox come calling.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Gives Sox Hope, Confusion Over ‘TM’ Symbol

The Minnesota Twins apparently don’t have a trademark or copyright problem with the strong similarity between the new Amarillo Sox logo and the Twins emblem.  Read more here.  That said, Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. oversees intellectual property issues for MLB entities.  According to a news report on Thursday, MLB

Amarillo Team in Trademark Trouble Again?

The Major League Baseball legal department has been asked to scutinize the team’s new logo for trademark and copyright infringement for its similarity to the Minnesota Twins emblem.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Amarillo Sox’

At press conference this afternoon, it was announced that the team name for American Association’s newest franchise is the “Amarillo Sox.”  View logo here.  Read more here.  A new Infinity Pro Sports website is awaiting launch at www.amarillosox.com.