Vibes Inaugural Opening Weekend Begins Friday

The inaugural opening weekend for the Rocky Mountain Vibes (Rookie, Pioneer League) at UCHealth Park begins Friday, June 21st.  It will be very interesting to see if this Rookie-level team can sufficiently fill an 8,500-seat venue after Colorado Springs (CO) lost its Triple-A club to San Antonio (TX) in the off season.  The branding for the club is cool and unique, and hopefully the front office has the fun-guns loaded and ready, but will it be enough to avoid the cavernous feel and lack of intimacy of a potentially less-than-half-empty ballpark?  The Sky Sox averaged a little over 4,000 fans per game the past three seasons.  Good luck, Vibes!  Watch news report: Vibes don uniforms for first time.

Expanding Wolff Stadium Pitched for Triple-A Club, MLS Talk Could End with Austin

With no firm proposal in sight for a new Triple-A baseball stadium in San Antonio (TX), County Judge Nelson Wolff wants Missions owner Dave Elmore and his Elmore Sports Group to take a closer look at expanding Wolff Stadium to facilitate the city’s move up the minor league ladder.  Read more here.  That said, will it be a new facility for baseball or soccer?  Moves by Austin (TX) could kill MLS idea in San Antonio.  Read more here and here.

Missions Prepare to Bid Adieu to Texas League

One of the longest running affiliations in American professional sports will come to an end in September when the San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League) conclude their season.  Read more here.

Name-the-Team Contest Announced for Colorado Springs Rookie Franchise

After four decades of professional baseball in Colorado Springs (CO) as the Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League), Elmore Sports Group has announced a name-the-team contest for the Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) franchise that will be relocating to the city when the Sky Sox move to San Antonio (TX) next season.  Fans have until Wednesday, June 27, to submit their ideas.  Submit ideas here.

Manager Foresees Triple-A Ball Returning to Colorado Springs

Rick Sweet, the skipper of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League), thinks Triple-A baseball could eventually find its way back to Colorado Springs (CO), particularly if MLB expands to 32 teams.  As most already know, the Sky Sox are relocating to San Antonio (TX) after this season, and the Helen Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) will relocate to fill the void at Security Service Field.  Read more here.

Columnist Bashes Idea of Downtown San Antonio Ballpark

According to one columnist, there is no visible merit to building a minor league baseball stadium downtown San Antonio.  Not in a fast-growing city with major league aspirations.  Not in the name of economic development.  Read more here.

The Latest on the San Antonio Ballpark Plan

While the city of San Antonio (TX) has flirted with plans for Major League Soccer, a handful of movers and shakers have continued to work behind the scenes on a new ballpark for the future Triple-A San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League).  Read more here.

San Antonio Mayor Not Interested in Investing in Minor League Sports for Major League City

San Antonio (TX) Mayor Ron Nirenberg said using Public financing for a downtown minor league baseball stadium is not in the interest of San Antonio.  He doesn’t think the public needs to be investing in minor league sports, because San Antonio a big league city.  Read more here.

Scouting Triple-A Ballpark Sites in San Antonio

Land near the Government Hill neighborhood across from the Pearl and an area next to the San Antonio Museum of Art are potential new locations under consideration for the city’s first triple-A baseball stadium.  Read more here.

Colorado Springs Gazette Sports Columnist Takes Swing at Elmore, Rockies

Triple-A baseball in Colorado Springs was not built to last.  And, as we know, it will not last.  The Triple-A version of the Sky Sox is fleeing to San Antonio in 2019, ending three decades in the Springs.  The Elmore family, owners of the Sky Sox, use altitude to justify the departure.  Read more here.

Musical Ballparks: Elmore Will Move Three MiLB Teams

In not so surprising, news, the Minor League Baseball landscape will look a little different in 2019 after an ownership group announced plans to relocate three teams on Wednesday.  Read more here.  With Amarillo (TX) locking down the San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League), the next questions is, what happens to Wichita (KS)?  Read background story here.

Contemplating Wichita’s Baseball Future

The Wichita Eagle’s Bob Lutz takes a look at the future of baseball in Wichita (KS), as discussions in several markets remain heated over the possibility of that the San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League) will need a new home if San Antonio steps up to the plate to lure the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League).  Read more here.

Mayor Wants More Private Financial Support for New Ballpark

City leaders may have a better understanding of San Antonio’s ability to support a new downtown ballpark and a Triple-A baseball team, thanks to the release on Monday of two market studies from different consulting firms.  But what San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor wants to see before endorsing a plan for a new stadium is financial support from the private sector.  Read more here.

No Triple-A Ballpark for San Antonio in 2019

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor on Wednesday effectively shelved a plan to bring Triple-A baseball to San Antonio (TX) by the 2019 season.  Taylor acknowledged Wednesday that meeting a 2019 launch date is now nearly impossible, based on rough estimates of construction time.  It’s unclear whether David Elmore will continue to push for a new stadium in San Antonio and how this news might affect other cities hoping to land the city’s Double-A franchise.  Read more here.

Missions Trolling Lubbock

The San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas) are apparently trying to cover their relocation bets, as the team is reportedly eyeing Lubbock (TX) for its new home, while in ballpark talks with Amarillo (TX).  As we all know, the franchise will be moved, if San Antonio (TX) builds a new downtown stadium for the to-be-relocated Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League).  Read more here.

San Antonio Ballpark Study Complete, Results Won’t Be Released Just Yet

Washington (DC)-based stadium consultant Brailsford & Dunlavey has apparently completed its downtown San Antonio (TX) ballpark feasibility assessment, but Centro San Antonio is not yet ready to share those findings.  Read more here.

Janet Smith on San Antonio Ballpark: Take Time, Do It Right

If San Antonio leaders want to hit one out of the park with a proposed downtown stadium, they first need to determine what type of development they want around such a new stadium, and how much investment they can expect to attract to a given site, so says big league architect and urban planner Janet Smith.  Read more here.

Colorado Springs Downtown Ballpark Talk Resurfaces, but Not for Sky Sox

Colorado Springs may not be finished with talks of a downtown baseball stadium.  Addressing the City Council on Tuesday, Mayor John Suthers said Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) owner Dave Elmore indicated he would consider moving a Class-A team to the city, but only to a downtown stadium.  As we suspected all along, Elmore is contemplating moving his Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) to Colorado Springs to replace the Sky Sox, if they depart for San Antonio.  Read more here.

San Antonio Gets Ballpark Advice from L.A. Dodgers

L.A. Dodgers executive Janet Marie Smith and El Paso city manager Joyce Wilson were in San Antonio Tuesday to speak at a luncheon with local architects and tour potential sites for a new ballpark that would lure the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) to downtown.  Read more here.

Plan for Downtown San Antonio Ballpark Questioned

No real news year, but weeks after Mayor Ivy Taylor announced plans to bring a Triple-A baseball team to downtown San Antonio (TX), current and former political leaders have raised questions about the proposed project.  Read more here.

If They Built It, Triple-A Sky Sox to San Antonio

San Antonio (TX) Mayor Ivy Taylor announced Thursday that Triple-A baseball will come to San Antonio in 2019 if a new ballpark is built Downtown.  Taylor made the announcement with David Elmore of Elmore Sports Group, which owns the San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League) and Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League).  Read more here.

Colorado Springs Mayor Releases Downtown Ballpark Survey Results

Under pressure to do so, Colorado Springs (CO) Mayor Steve Bach on Thursday finally released the results of a 2012 survey measuring support for a new downtown baseball stadium for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League).  Bach said the results are moot because the stadium concept has changed from baseball-only to a sports/event center as part of the city’s proposed City For Champions project.  Read more and watch news report here.

Colorado Springs Ballpark Survey Questions

In May 2013, the City of Colorado Springs (CO) sponsored a survey asking residents their opinions about building a new downtown ballpark for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League) as part of the City for Champions project.  The Colorado Springs Gazette has printed the survey questions, but the answers remain secret.  View questions here.  We assume this is a stirring of the pot by the newspaper, because the Sky Sox recently lost their affiliation with the Colorado Rockies.

Sky Sky Release 2014 Promo Schedule

PRESS RELEASE – Baseball season in Colorado Springs is almost here and as the winter begins to come to an end the Colorado Springs Sky Sox have announced their 2014 promotional schedule to help warm the hearts of baseball fans in the Front Range. The home slate begins on Friday, April 11 as the Sky Sox take on the Round Rock Express and the season is packed full of exciting and entertainin

Price Tag of Reconfigered, Non-Sky Sox Stadium Soars

The new “Colorado Sports and Events Center” is very different from initial plans for a new downtown home for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League).  It’s much more expensive ($92.7 million vs. $60.5 million) and is designed to accommodate sports other than baseball.  Read more here.

Sky Sox Announce Front Office Promotions

PRESS RELEASE – After another record-setting season in 2013, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox are excited to announce three promotions within the team’s front office staff. Those staff promotions are: Chris Phillips has been promoted to Assistant General Manager and Director of Corporate Sales, Whitney Shellem moves up to Senior Director of Ticketing and Keith Hodges has

Colorado Springs Council Secretly Talks Downtown Ballpark

A survey taken by the city of Colorado Springs (CO) to gauge public interest in a downtown baseball stadium for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League) was the subject of closed-door session at City Hall Monday.  The City Council retreated at 1 p.m. into executive session, under a vague notice of “subject to negotiation.”  Read more here.

Rough Road Ahead for Proposed New Colorado Springs Ballpark?

John Hazlehurst from the Colorado Springs Independent weekly newspaper takes a look at the possible rough road ahead for the proposed new downtown ballpark for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League).  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Colorado Springs Seeks State Funds for New Ballpark

The city of Colorado Springs (CO) has applied for funding through the Colorado Economic Development Commission for a number of projects, including a $60.7 million downtown ballpark for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox.  Read more here.

 

Study Says New Downtown Ballpark Would Score Big

Building a new downtown ballpark for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League) would be an economic grand slam, according to a report by Colorado Springs research firm Summit Economics.  Read more here.

Colorado Springs Newspaper Endorses Downtown Ballpark Plan

In an editorial over the weekend, the Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper endorsed a proposal to build a new downtown ballpark for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League) as a “big move” to spur downtown revitalization.  Read more here.

Survey to Measure Interest in New Downtown Ballpark

At the request of Mayor Steve Bach, the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Pacific Coast League) and the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance have emailed surveys to their fans and organization members, respectively, soliciting input on a possible new downtown baseball stadium.  Read more here.

Sky Sox Welcome 6 Millionth Fan, Players Sport ‘Socko’ Jerseys

PRESS RELEASE – On Sunday, August 12, 2012 the Colorado Springs Sky Sox welcomed 10 year-old Granger Kinne of Divide, CO through the front gates of Security Service Field as the six millionth fan to attend a regular season Sky Sox game. Granger was attending the game with mother Karen and family friend JoDee Weaver, when he was stopped just inside the gate where he was met by a

Sky Sox Announce Front Office Changes

PRESS RELEASE – With the 25th Anniversary Season right around the corner, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox are proud to announce they have bolstered their Front Office lineup, welcoming 12 new additions to the staff for the 2012 season as well as a change of position for a key player.

Sky Sox Best Franchise in Triple-A Ball

PRESS RELEASE – The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are proud to announce today that the franchise has been named the recipient of the prestigious Bob Freitas Award for the Triple-A classification by Baseball America, the baseball industry’s premier publication. This national award is one of the most significant in Minor League Baseball and recognizes long-term success and excellence in minor league

Sky Sox Unveil Luxury Suite Renovations

PRESS RELEASE – The Sky Sox are constantly striving to improve the game day experience for fans at Security Service Field. As part of that initiative, Sky Sox fans will now be able to experience games in a whole new way in our newly renovated luxury suites. New for the 2011 season, the renovations have moved the Sky Sox into the upper echelon of Minor League Baseball for group hospitality

Sky Sox, Rockies Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Colorado Springs Sky Sox and the Colorado Rockies have extended their Player Development Contract through the end of the 2012 baseball season, team officials announced today. The two-year agreement extends from October 1, 2010 until September 30, 2012.