Groundbreaking Held for Joe Becker Makeover

Officials with the Joplin (MO) City Council, Parks and Recreation, and the indy pro Joplin Blasters (American Association) held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Joe Becker Stadium last week to recognize the beginning of the ballpark’s $4.7 million makeover.  Read more and watch news report here.

It’s the ‘Joplin Blasters’

During a news conference Monday, the owners of the new indy pro American Association franchise in Joplin (MO) announced that the team will be known as the “Joplin Blasters.”  Read more here.  Watch news report here.  Meanwhile, the Blasters are looking for a new developer for Joe Becker Stadium, which is being renovated to make room for the new team.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the heads up.

Joplin ‘Name the Team’ Contest Ends, Chosen Name to be Announced March 4

The “Name the Team” contest for the new indy pro American Association team relocating from El Paso (TX) to Joplin (MO) ended on Friday.  Reportedly, the chosen name will be announced on Tuesday, March 4.  The former El Paso Diablos will play at to-be-renovated Joe Becker Stadium.  Learn more about the Name the Team contest here.  Visit the Joplin Professional Baseball Facebook page here.

Joplin Approves Lease for American Association Team, Outlaws Will Play On

Congratulatory remarks were exchanged Tuesday night after a meeting in which the Joplin City Council approved the lease of Joe Becker Stadium for a professional baseball development that will bring the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) to town in 2015.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the summer collegiate Joplin Outlaws (MINK League) will play on (for now).  Read more here.

Joplin OKs Financing Plan for Ballpark Renovation

A $4 million financing package that draws money from several sources, including $1.8 million in debt, was selected Monday night by the Joplin (MO) City Council to renovate Joe Becker Stadium to bring the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) to town.  Read more here.

Joplin Residents Will Get Their Say Over Proposed Ballpark Renovation for Diablos

Joplin (MO) residents on Monday will have an opportunity to comment on a proposal that the city spend $4 million to renovate Joe Becker Stadium to bring the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) to town.  Read more here.

Diablos Owners Confident They Can Make It Work in Joplin

The owners of the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) who want to relocate the franchise to Joplin (MO) say they are confident they can generate enough support for the team to make the renovation of Joe Becker Stadium worthwhile.  Read more here.

Joplin Votes to Move Forward with Negotiations with Diablos

The Joplin (MO) City Council voted 7 to 1 Tuesday to move forward to develop a performance agreement with WLD Suarez LLC, the owners of the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association), to redevelop Joe Becker Stadium and bring the franchise to town.  Read more and watch news report here.

Joplin Will Vote on MOU with Diablos Monday

A formal vote Monday by the Joplin (MO) City Council on a memorandum of understanding with WLD Suarez LLC, the owners of the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association), to redevelop Joe Becker Stadium will determine whether the city will pursue further negotiations to bring the franchise to town.  Read more here.

Diablos Pursuing Joplin

The Owners of the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) are proposing to make Joplin (MO) their home if the city will agree to an estimated $5.9 renovation of Joe Becker Stadium.  The city council voted unanimously Monday to continue discussions.  The Diablos were forced out of the El Paso (TX) market with the arrival of a Triple-A Pacific Coast League club.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Amicable Lease Termination for Diablos

The El Paso (TX) City Council on Tuesday will consider approving an agreement reached between the city and the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) for early termination of the club’s lease at Cohen Stadium.  Under the terms of the deal, the Diablos will receive about $300,000, which includes a fee to promote the coming Triple-A team at Cohen through the rest of this baseball season.  Read more here.

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.

Tribe Seeks to Buy Stadium, Keep Diablos in El Paso

The Tigua Tribe, which owns the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association), is seeking to buy Cohen Stadium from the City of El Paso, which could arguably neutralize a non-compete clause contained in the city’s agreement with MountainStar Sports Group preventing the Diablos from operating at Cohen, if the group brings a Triple-A club to town.  Read more here.

El Paso Approves Ballpark Plan

The El Paso City Council voted 6-2 Tuesday to approve a deal that would replace the current 10-story City Hall building with a new $50 million stadium for a relocated Triple-A Pacific Coast League club.  An increase in the hotel tax to help fund the project will go before the voters in November.  Read more here.

New Triple-A Ballpark Could Force Diablos’ Move, Hoteliers Oppose Tax to Pay for It

If a Triple-A Pacific Coast League franchise is relocated to a new downtown El Paso ballpark, the indy pro El Paso Diablos (American Association) owned by the Tigua Tribe would be forced to leave town.  There is already talk that the tribe could move the franchise to a new stadium in nearby Socorro.  Read more and view news clip here.  In the meantime, the El Paso Hotel/Motel Association has

Tribe Takes Control of Diablos

At a news conference on Friday, it was announced that the Tigua Indian Tribe has taken a majority ownership of the American Association’s El Paso Diablos.  Read more and watch videos here and here.

El Paso Diablos to Get New Owner Today

The American Association’s El Paso Diablos will hold a press conference today to announce the new owner of the franchise.  The team is currently owned by Wisconsin-based Ventura Sports Group, which also recently sold off the Grand Prairie AirHogs.  Read more here.

The Past, Present, and Future of Baseball in El Paso

Bret Bloomquist from the El Paso Times takes a look at the past, present, and future of professional baseball in El Paso (TX). Local Jim Paul, former owner of the Double-A El Paso Diablos, highly regrets ever selling the team, Ventura Sports Groups still have the indy pro American Association’s Diablos on the block, and some in El Paso still dream of bringing back affiliated ball with

Commissioners Approve Beer Sales for Pupfish

Despite opposition voiced by three passionate citizens on Tuesday night, the Alamagordo City Commission unanimously approved beer sales at Griggs Sports Complex, where the start-up Pecos League’s White Sands Pupfish will begin play in May.  Read more here.  On an interesting side note, the Roswell (NM) Invaders and Las Cruces (NM) Vaqueros from the Pecos will each play an exhibition