City to Pay Off Joe Becker Stadium Debt

Joplin’s (MO) debt for the 2015 rebuild of Joe Becker Stadium will be paid off later this year.  The City Council has agreed to a proposal by the finance director to use money in the general fund’s unrestricted fund balance to pay off the remaining debt.  The city owes $1.62 million of the $2 million it financed in an effort to enlarge the stadium for use by a professional baseball team.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Joplin Miners’

Officials of the start-up Southwest League of Professional Baseball hope to bat a thousand by crowning their new baseball team in Joplin (MO) the Joplin Miners.  Read more here.

Name-the-Team Finalists Unveiled for Joplin Franchise

The start-up Southwest League (Independent Professional) has announced six name-the-team finalists for the new franchise that is expected to take up residence at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin (MO).  The names are Tornadoes, Twisters, Miners, Phoenix, Jacks and 66ers.  Read more and vote here.

Joplin Approves Ballpark Lease with Ventura Sports Group

An agreement to lease Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin (MO) to Ventura Sports Group and Joplin Sports and Entertainment for a franchise in the start-up Southwest League (Independent Professional) was approved Monday night by the Joplin City Council.  The city can terminate the agreement if a six-team league is not firmed up by Oct. 15.  Read more here.

Joplin to Negotiate with Ventura Sports Group, Start-Up SWL

A five-year lease that would allow a baseball organization to locate an independent team at Joe Becker Stadium and handle overall operations there year-round will be proposed Monday night to the Joplin City Council.  Read more here.

Start-Up Southwest League Seeking Non-Binding Agreement with Joplin

Details about bringing a professional baseball proposal to Joplin and Joe Becker Stadium will be discussed Wednesday during a work session of the Joplin City Council.  City Manager Sam Anselm said organizers of the startup Southwest League of Professional Baseball, based in Texas, want a nonbinding agreement that would allow them to start soliciting investors for the venture.  Read more here.

Joplin Hears Pitch from Ballpark Suitor

A newly formed professional baseball league wants an answer from Joplin (MO) city officials by about Nov. 15 on whether the city would be willing to lease Joe Becker Stadium, starting in 2019, for a Joplin team.  Read more here.

Joplin in Preliminary Talks with Frontier League

City officials are keeping Joplin (MO) ready for a pitch from professional baseball even though the Joplin Blasters (Independent Professional, American Association) struck out.  Mayor Mike Seibert this week mentioned the Frontier League (Independent Professional) in a City Council discussion about whether to install artificial turf on the infield of Joe Becker Stadium.  Read more here.

City, Blasters Will Try Mediation to Resolve Dispute

City officials and the owners of the former Joplin Blasters (American Association, Independent Professional) have agreed to try to resolve the lawsuit between them over the lost lease revenue for Joe Becker Stadium through mediation.  Read more here.

Trouble Brewing in Joplin

Joplin’s (MO) city manager and the president and chief executive officer of the Joplin Blasters (Independent Professional, American Association) exchanged email barbs recently over whether the professional team will stay in Joplin for a third season under a renegotiated five-year contract to lease Joe Becker Stadium.  Read more here.

Blasters Seek Payment Forgiveness, Lease Restructuring to Save Team

Saying they cannot afford to operate in Joplin (MO) without a lease restructuring because of lower than expected paid attendance, the owners of the Joplin Blasters (Indy Pro, American Association) announced they want the Joplin City Council to forgive the $37,500 quarterly lease payment that was not paid on Oct. 1, and to reduce the annual lease in future seasons from $150,000 to $50,000.  Read more here.  View proposal here.  Watch news report here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Joe Becker Stadium (Joplin, MO)

Charles O’Reilly from CharliesBallparks.com recently visited Joe Becker Stadium (50 photos), home of the Joplin Blasters (Indy Pro, American Association).  View photo gallery here.

Blasters to Take the Field at Renovated Joe Becker Stadium

Joplin’s historic Joe Becker Stadium is (almost) ready to take another swing at hosting professional baseball, as the first-year Joplin Blasters (Indy Pro, American Association) take the field Tuesday night to play an exhibition game against the Kansas City T-Bones.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Groundbreaking Set for New Missouri Southern Ballpark

A groundbreaking for Missouri Southern State University’s new $2.5 million baseball stadium will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, adjacent to the MSSU Softball Complex.  Read more here.

Blasters Hire Food Service Operator, Joe Becker Renovations Begin

The expansion indy pro Joplin Blasters (American Association) have hired Sodexo to manage food and beverage concession services for baseball games at Joe Becker Stadium, when the team begins play in 2015.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the renovations slated for the old ballpark are under way.  Read more 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.