Hops Honor ‘Battered Bastards’ Tonight

The Hillsboro Hops (Single-A, Northwest League) are celebrating “Portland Mavericks Night” Thursday.  Mavericks players will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.  Hops players will wear custom-made throwback Mavericks uniforms which will be auctioned during the game.  Learn more about the “The Battered Bastards of Baseball” here.  Watch documentary on Netflix here.

Growlers Rename Mascot After Barlee/Barley Dispute with Hops

Back in December, the Kalamazoo Growlers (Summer Collegiate, Northwoods League) launched a second name-the-mascot contest after the original name Barlee ran into trademark trouble with the Hillsboro Hops (Single-A, Northwest League), who already had a mascot named Barley.  Keeping with the microbrew theme, the portly bear is now named Porter.  View mascot photo here.

Growlers Lose ‘Barlee’ Name to MILB, Launch New Name-the-Mascot Contest

PRESS RELEASE – After a successful inaugural season, the Kalamazoo Growlers will be making a name change to their beloved mascot “Barlee” due to a current dispute from Minor League Baseball and the Hillsboro Hops.

Update: Hillsboro Ballpark Financials

Ron Tonkin Field, home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League), made more money for the city in 2014 than it did last year, but Hillsboro still has a long way to go if it wants to break even on the debt service it pays for the $15.5 million stadium.  Read more and view interactive chart here.

Hillsboro Ballpark Gets New Name, Cool Signage

As the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) held their media day on Thursday, crews outside the event were putting up a sign for Ron Tonkin Field – the new name for the venue formerly known as Hillsboro Ballpark.  This should be very cool at night, as timed lighting will simulate a pitcher throwing a baseball and the batter hitting it.  Tube Art Group is completing the work.  Read more here.

Pippins Open Inaugural Season in Front of 3,209

An announced crowd of 3,209 turned out Friday night at “The Orchard” (Yakima County Stadium) to watch the summer collegiate Yakima Valley Pippins (West Coast League) play their first-ever game.  The turnout was larger than any game the then-Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) (now Hillsboro Hops) drew in their 23rd and final season at the ballpark in 2012.  Read more here.

Mascot Scott T. Pippin at inaugural home opener, Yakima Valley Pippins Twitter photo

Hillsboro Ballpark Renamed Ron Tonkin Field

At a press conference Tuesday, Hillsboro (OR) Mayor Jerry Willey announced that the home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) will be called Ron Tonkin Field, in memory of the Tonkin family’s patriarch.  The Tonkins have operated dealerships in the Portland area for decades.  The deal is worth $1.5 million over 10 years.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Ballpark Naming Rights Announcement Tuesday?

City officials aren’t talking, but there is speculation that the “major announcement” scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon, May 13, has to do with naming rights for Hillsboro Ballpark, home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League).  Read more here.

Hops, Diamondbacks Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops), announced today that they have extended their affiliation with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) through the 2016 season. The Hops have been a Diamondbacks affiliate since 2001.

A’s to Hillsboro? Highly Unlikely

Lynn Lashbrook, sports agent and long-time promoter of bringing MLB to Portland (OR), is suggesting that the home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) could serve as a temporary home for the Oakland A’s, while a new MLB ballpark is built in the Rose City.  Read more here.  Rather than blabber on here about the many obstacles, we’ll let Portland-based MLB business analyst

Free Wi-Fi for Hillsboro Ballpark

Free Wi-Fi is being installed at Hillsboro Ballpark, home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League).  The network will handle up to 1,000 users simultaneously and will be expanded over time.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Hillsboro Ballpark (Hillsboro, OR)

MLB.com reporter Benjamin Hill recently visited Hillsboro Ballpark, home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League).  Read more and view photos in a two-part series here and here.

Officials Calling Hops Season a Success

While the city of Hillsboro (OR) awaits a full accounting of its share of revenues from the Single-A Hillsboro Hops’ (Northwest League) inaugural season at their new $15.5 million baseball stadium, officials are already calling the season a success.  Read more here.

Hops’ Outfield Turf Doesn’t Match, Will be Replaced in the Offseason

The artificial turf installed at the new home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) just weeks before the team’s home opener on June 17, doesn’t match.  Hellas Sports Construction, an Austin, Texas-based company which worked with the construction contractor on the $15.55 million ballpark, will pay for the additional work.  Read more here.

Vancouver a Model for Hillsboro?

The Oregonian’s Tyson Alger takes a look at the Single-A Vancouver Canadians (Northwest League) as a model for longevity after the shine wears off the first-year Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League).  Read more and watch video here.  As a side note, we love just about everything about the new Hops franchise, but the team gets a “C-” for Barley the mascot.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Hillsboro Ballpark (Hillsboro, OR)

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com was in Hillsboro (OR) on June 17 for the inaugural opening of Hillsboro Ballpark, the new home for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League).  Mr. Mock delivers another impressive ballpark review covering the facility’s development, design and construction, amenities, concessions, and overall fan experience.  Read more and view photos here.

Hops Open New Ballpark in Front of Sellout Crowd

The new ballpark  in the Portland (OR) suburb of Hillsboro opened to a sellout crowd of 4,710 on Monday night, as the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) won their inaugural home opener 12-0 over the Eugene Emeralds.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Commuting to the New Hillsboro Ballpark

Tonight is the inaugural home opener for Hillsboro Ballpark, home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League).  If you are going, you might want to pay close attention to this rundown for getting to and from the stadium from The Oregonian’s Joseph Rose.  Read more here.

Hops Show Off New Ballpark During Open House

The Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) showed off their new 4,500-seat ballpark during an open house on Thursday.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

New Hillsboro Ballpark in Pictures

The Oregonian newspaper has published photos of Hillsboro Ballpark, the new home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League), as preparations are made for the open house on Thursday and inaugural home opener on Monday.  View photos here.  The new “Barometer” art piece and signage also go up.  View more photos here.

Hillsboro Ballpark Open House This Week

Hillsboro (OR) city officials have invited the public to the grand opening of the new Hillsboro Ballpark, home of the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League), at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13.  The team’s inaugural home opener is scheduled for Monday, June 17.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Hops Unveil Uniforms

The Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) unveiled their official home, road, and BP uniforms on Thursday at their new ballpark at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.

Hillsboro Hops Facebook Photo

Hillsboro Hops Facebook Photo

Lights On in Hillsboro

Construction is nearing completion on the new ballpark for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex in Hillsboro (OR).  The lights were turned on for the first time on Wednesday, but work remains on the artificial turf, scoreboard, outfield berm, and other finishing touches.  Read more here.  View stadium photo here.

New Hillsboro Ballpark 80 Percent Complete

Hillsboro (OR) Parks & Recreation Director Wayne Gross has informed city officials that construction on the new $15.5 million ballpark for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) is 80 percent complete.  Installing the scoreboard, field turf, concessions and completing the concourse between the ballpark and Hillsboro Stadium remain on the to-do list.  Read more and view slideshow here.

Budget for Hillsboro Ballpark Up Another $350K

Because of unforeseen costs and proposed enhancements to the new $15.2 million ballpark under construction for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League), an additional $350,000 will be sought to complete the project.  Read more here.

Higher Price Tag, Fewer Seats for New Hillsboro Park

Hillsboro’s (OR) new $15.2 million baseball facility for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) will be more expensive and have fewer permanent seats than originally planned, according to city officials.  Read more here.

Rich Burk Named ‘Voice’ of the Hops

PRESS RELEASE – The Hillsboro Hops announced today that longtime baseball broadcaster and Hillsboro resident Rich Burk will serve as the broadcast voice for the franchise. The Hops also announced that all 76 of their regular season games plus playoffs will be broadcast on Fox Sports AM620 Portland.

BridgePort Brewing Company Named Official Beer of the Hillsboro Hops

PRESS RELEASE – Bring me some peanuts and…IPA? The Single-A baseball Hillsboro Hops announced a multi-year partnership with BridgePort Brewing Company based in Portland, Ore. As per Hillsboro Hops team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New Hops Ballpark to Feature Interactive Art Sculpture

The new stadium for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) will feature an interactive art piece called the “Barometer” that will light up when there is sound, and includes steel musical instruments.  Read more and view design here and here.

City Agrees Hillsboro Stadium Won’t Pay for Itself

The city of Hillsboro (OR) appears quite comfortable concluding that the new $12 million, 4,500-seat stadium under construction for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) will not be a revenue generator for the city but a valuable community asset/quality of life amenity that will have to be subsidized.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Hillsboro Stadium on Track, But Little Surprises During Excavation

The new 4,500-seat, $15 million ballpark under construction in Hillsboro (OR) for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) is on schedule to be completed in time for the team’s inaugural home opener in June, but the discovery of existing utilities that had to be moved and unstable soil during excavation will increase the cost of the project.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Issues Bonds for Ballpark, Moody’s Gives Rating

The city of Hillsboro (OR) issued $12 million in full faith and credit bonds last week for the new 4,500-seat, $15.2 million ballpark for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) now under construction at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.  Moody’s Investors Service has given the bond deal an ” Aa3 raing.”  Read more here.

As We Predicted, It’s the ‘Hillsboro Hops’

PRESS RELEASE – Short Season, LLC announced today that it has selected the name Hillsboro “Hops” for its Single-A baseball team. The Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate begins play in a new state-of-the-art stadium in Hillsboro in 2013 and will play 38 home games from mid-June to early September.