Freier Talks New Chattanooga Ballpark

A “win, win, win” scenario and enough time to build a new stadium in Chattanooga is all Jason Freier needs, and the Chattanooga Lookouts would no longer be playing inside AT&T Field on Hawk Hill.  Read more here.

Stadium Board Hears About Improvement Needs at Spirit Communications Park

The Columbia Fireflies (Single-A, South Atlantic League) and city officials told a newly formed stadium board of advisers this week that several expensive upkeep projects are in the works for Spirit Communications Park, the minor league ballfield that only opened just over a year ago.  Read more and view photos here.

Lookouts Owner Considers Future of Ballpark

After two seasons as the owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A, Southern League), Jason Freier continues to look for ways to make AT&T Field as pleasant as possible, but he realizes the 6,340-seat facility has an expiration date.  Read more here.

Hardball Capital to Lead Fayetteville’s MiLB Negotiations

Jason Freier of Hardball Capital, which owns ball clubs in Fort Wayne (IN), Chattanooga (TN), and Columbia (SC), will lead the city of Fayetteville’s (NC) negotiations with the Houston Astros to to bring a Single-A Carolina League franchise to town.  Read more here.

Columbia Baseball Stadium on Track

Baseball team owner Jason Freier said construction on Columbia’s baseball stadium is on track for an April 2016 minor league season opening.  The Hardball Capital owner spoke to Columbia City Council officials and business owners last week about progress on the multipurpose venue in the Columbia Commons development on Bull Street.  Read more here.

MLB Approves Sale of Lookouts

The sale of the Chattanooga Lookouts to Atlanta-based general partners Jason Freier and John Woods has been approved by Major League Baseball.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, please enjoy a little “Chattanooga Cho Cho” and the Lookouts Train, which received a new look awhile back thanks to local artist Kristin Meyer.  Watch video here.

Columbia Considers Options for Financing New Ballpark

The city of Columbia (SC) is looking at three revenue sources that could fund a new baseball stadium for an affiliated club, two of which are bonds that could cost the city roughly $70 million or $80 million over the next several decades.  Read more here.

Freier Would Buy Another Team If Both Savannah and Columbia Play Ball

Jason Freier, owner of the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League), says he would buy another team to satisfy both Savannah (GA) and Columbia (SC) if both markets decide to build a new ballpark.  That being said, there is a long way to go here, and it is entirely possible that only one or neither market will play ball with Freier.  Read more here.

Developer Offers Up Land for New Columbia Ballpark

Baseball developer Jason Freier told members of the Bull Street Commission during their meeting Monday that developer Bob Hughes would donate between 10 and 12 acres of land if a baseball stadium was approved in Columbia (SC).  Also, Freier said he got the green light from Major League Baseball to explore moving one of his teams to the area.  He owns, via Hardball Capital, the Single-A Fort Wayne