Best In The World, CHS Field Claims Two More Awards

PRESS RELEASE – From coast-to-coast CHS Field has been recognized for its beauty, design and architecture that will change the way minor league ballparks are constructed for years to come.

Saints 2016 Promotions Will Take Fans Out With the Fun

PRESS RELEASE – “Take me out to the ballgame, take me out with the crowd!” Never has a song been so connected with the great game that it represents and in 2016 Saints fans will be taken out with the crowd and much, much more.

Saints New Ballpark Greenest in the Land?

The St. Paul Saints (Indy Pro, American Association) are billing brand-new CHS Field as the “Greenest Ballpark in America.”  And while they may get an argument or two from any number of stadiums — including the big-league ballyard at the other end of the Green Line — they make a good case.  Read more here.  Speaking of CHS Field, read about the Saints’ $42.7 billion, Fortune 100 ballpark naming rights partner here.

Light Rail Will Allow Fans to ‘Railgate’ Between Twins and Saints Games

Officials with the city of St. Paul, the St. Paul Saints (Indy Pro, American Association) and Metro Transit are promoting “railgating” before games at the new Lowertown ballpark, which is a block away from the Green Line’s terminus at Union Depot.  For the inaugural home series starting at CHS Field Thursday, Metro Transit will offer free rides two hours before and after Saints games.  Read more here.

Target Field to St. Paul Union Depot map, screen shot from MetroTransit.org.

Saints Bring Tailgating Experience to CHS Field, Parking Aplenty

PRESS RELEASE – In advance of next week’s opening series festivities, the Saints are pleased to announce the availability of tailgating in close proximity to CHS Field. In addition to the tailgating lot, the Saints also have arranged for convenient preferred parking at locations near the ballpark.

Saints Officials Tour New Ballpark

On Friday, Mike Veeck and other officials from the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) took a couple of hours out of a sunny winter day to tour the $63 million Lowertown ballpark that will be the site of 50 Saints games every summer, as well as 100 other events each year.  Read more here.  View photo gallery here.  You’ve got to love the “Creation of Man”-based mural.

Check out 'CHS Field Update – Winter 2015' on Vimeo https://t.co/aVIAzSdZzZ #Vimeo

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) February 23, 2015

Saints Ballpark Update (UPDATED)

Ryan Cos. representatives say design and construction innovations have saved millions of dollars in project costs for the new $63-million, 7,000-seat ballpark under construction in Lowertown for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), including moving the team’s offices from a nice second-story perch to the service level.  Read more here.  UPDATE:  Ballpark is 60 percent complete here.  Ballpark is going green here.

Construction Update: CHS Field

Forget the World Series for the moment, it’s a beautiful 70 degrees in St. Paul (MN) and the latest construction photos of CHS Field, the new Lowertown home for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), have been posted on LowertownBallpark.com.  View photo gallery here.

CHS Field construction photo, Oct. 24, LowertownBallpark.com

New Saints Ballpark: Turf Installation in 2 Minutes

If a two-minute, time-lapse video of the natural grass being installed at the new CHS Field currently under construction in Lowertown for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) doesn’t get you at least a tiny bit excited for opening day at the new digs next spring, nothing will.  Watch video here.

Sod Being Installed at Saints New Ballpark

St. Paul (MN) Mayor Chris Coleman and Mudonna, the mascot for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), were on site Wednesday, as crews began laying 95,000 square feet of Wisconsin-raised grass at CHS Field, the soon-to-be Lowertown home for the two-decades-old ball club.  The sod project is expected to be completed by Friday.  Read more and watch video here.

Laying of the sod at CHS Field, Lowertown Ballpark Facebook photo

Talking New Ballpark, Last Homestand with Saints EVP

KSTP sat down with Tom Whaley, executive vice president of the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), to talk about the move to the new Lowertown ballpark and the final games at Midway Stadium on Aug. 26-28.  Read more and watch news report here.  View latest photos of the new ballpark here.

And the Building Begins

Amid the thrumming of concrete trucks and excavators, crews from Ryan Construction began pouring concrete to create the footings and foundations for the much-anticipated lowertown St. Paul ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  Read more here.  View photos here.

First Concrete Footings for New Saints Ballpark to be Poured Wednesday

Mudonna, the official mascot of the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), will join work crews from the Ryan Companies at 2 p.m. Wednesday as they pour the first concrete footings for the city’s new 7,000-seat regional ballpark in Lowertown.  Read more here.  Watch construction video here.

Officials Choose Ballpark Artwork: ‘Meandor’ Over ‘Field Condition’

The St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department and the Lowertown ballpark project team have selected “Meander” — a lengthy public art sculpture composed of 28 lighted pillars — to decorate the west plaza of the new ballpark being built for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  Read more here.

Deal to Build St. Paul Ballpark Finalized

The City of St. Paul (MN) and Ryan Cos. have finally signed off on a $43.8 million contract to construct the Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), with Ryan responsible for any cost overruns involving labor or materials.  Read more here.

Some Saints Fans Cry Foul Over Higher Ticket Prices at New Ballpark

Some fans of the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) are reportedly up in arms over the reality that the comfortable seatback chairs with cupholders behind home plate at the new Lowertown ballpark will be more expensive than the crappy bleacher seats behind home plate at Midway Stadium.  Saints GM Derek Sharrer does a nice job explaining the pricing.  Watch news report here.  Read more here.

The Last Train to Midway

The indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) have released a ticket promo video using their “Take the Last Train to Midway” theme promoting their last season at Midway Stadium before moving into a new ballpark in Lowertown in 2015.  For those who have never been to Midway, the game announcer monotonically announces “train” whenever one rumbles by beyond the outfield fence.  Watch promo here.

Choose One of Two Art Options for New Lowertown Ballpark

The community is being asked to vote on their favorite public art piece for the new Lowertown ballpark under construction for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  The deadline for participation is 5:00 p.m. on March 5, 2014.  Read more here.  Learn more about the art concepts here.  Vote here.

 

Saints Ballpark Design Again Under Fire

In the latest letter from the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, the design for the new Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) is being challenged for its open-air design, trees and planters that are too uniform, uneven building setbacks, and dearth of “punched” windows and the prevalence of glass.  Read more here.

Broadway Entrance

Saints Unveil Latest Lowertown Ballpark Renderings

The indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) unveiled three new illustrations Thursday evening depicting the city’s future regional ballpark, a 7,000-seat stadium that soon will be under construction in Lowertown.  Read more and view renderings here.

City Gets $748K from Met Council for Environmental Cleanup of Lowertown Ballpark Site

The city of St. Paul has received a $748,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council to help offset the cost of environmental cleanup at the new regional ballpark in Lowertown for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  Read more here

Saints, Chamber of Commerce to Throw Ballpark Party

The indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce are throwing a party at the end of the month to celebrate the future regional ballpark in lowertown St. Paul.  Read more here.  View press release here

Contractor for New St. Paul Ballpark Hires Three Subcontractors

The Ryan Companies, the design-build contractor behind a $63 million ballpark in lowertown St. Paul for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), has hired three Minnesota companies as subcontractors, including Hunt Electric, Schadegg Mechanical Inc. and Skyline Fire Protection.  Read more here.

Latest Renderings Unveiled for New St. Paul Saints Ballpark

St. Paul (MN) Mayor Chris Coleman joined representatives of the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) and the design-build contractor the Ryan Cos. on Thursday to unveil three new interior and exterior renderings of the city’s future 7,000-seat Lowertown ballpark. Read more  here and here.

Broadway Entrance

Concourse View

Outfield View

State Historic Preservation Officials: Saints Ballpark Design Too Suburban

The preliminary design plans for the new 7,000-seat ballpark in Lowertown St. Paul (MN) for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) are coming under fire for lacking a certain downtown feel.  Read more and view renderings here.

Council Approves Bonding for Saints Ballpark

The city of St. Paul (MN) voted Wednesday to issue $8.5 million in bonds toward construction of the new 7,000-seat, $63 million ballpark in Lowertown for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  The balance of the city’s $24 million contribution will be covered by an internal cash loan, proceeds from the sale of Midway Stadium, various cash accounts and the TIF district.  Read more here.

City, Saints Finalize Lease

The city of St. Paul (MN) and the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) have finalized a lease for the downtown ballpark that assigns most of the operating and maintenance expenses to the team, while giving the city a cut of the team’s annual proceeds.  The deal will go before the city council for ratification on Wednesday.  Read more here.

Finalizing the Lowertown Ballpark Use Agreement

The St. Paul (MN) Parks and Recreation Commission will host a public hearing Wednesday on the terms of a new 25-year lease with the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) for the use of the new 7,000-seat ballpark under construction in Lowertown.  It is expected that an actual use agreement will be finalized in the next week or two and then forwarded to the city council for approval.  Read more here.

St. Paul Taps Port Authority for Environmental Cleanup Help

The city of St. Paul (MN) is looking for expert help from the St. Paul Port Authority to guide them through the environmental cleanup of the Lowertown site for the new ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), as well as the the team’s current home at Midway Stadium, which will be leveled and the land redeveloped.  As Port Authority President

Council Approves Extra Funding Needed for Saints Ballpark

The St. Paul (MN) City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved $9 million to plug the funding gap in the $63 million budget for the new Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), keeping the project on track for a 2015 opening.  Read more here.

St. Paul Council to Take Up Expanded Funding Plan

The St. Paul (MN) City Council on Wednesday will consider a plan to cover the additional $8.8 million needed for the new Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) because of unanticipated environmental cleanup of the building site.  Read more here.

City and Saints Reach Deal to Close Ballpark Funding Gap, Share Revenue

The city of St. Paul (MN) cleared two major hurdles Thursday to building its $63 million Lowertown ballpark, laying out a plan to close a $8.8 million funding gap resulting from unanticipated environmental cleanup of the construction site and reaching an agreement with the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) on operation costs and revenue sharing.  Read more here and here.  Watch news report here.

Columnist: Build Saints Ballpark at Ford Plant Site

In light of the $8.8 million rise in cost for soil cleanup at the Lowertown site for the new ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association), Pioneer Press columnist Joe Soucheray is suggesting that the location for the facility be moved to the old Ford assembly plant site that is currently being cleared for future redevelopment.  We don’t agree with the idea, and it’s

Environmental Cleanup Adds $8.8 Million St. Paul Ballpark Project

The soil where the Lowertown ballpark is to be built in downtown St. Paul for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) is more polluted than city officials believed, adding $8.8 million to the $54 million budget for the project.  Read more here.

Mayor Gives Thumbs Down to St. Paul Parking Idea

St. Paul (MN) Mayor Chris Coleman said Monday that reusing part of the vacant Gillette/Diamond Products factory for parking below St. Paul’s future Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) won’t work, for both cost and design reasons.  Read more here.

Public Invited to Comment on Ballpark Environmental Assessment

The City of St. Paul (MN) is seeking public comment on its Environmental Assessment Worksheet of the Lowertown site slated for the new $54 million ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  The deadline to submit comments is April 3, 2013.  Read more here.

City Finalizes New Ballpark Contract with Ryan Cos., Design to Start From Scratch

The city of St. Paul (MN) has finalized the contract with Ryan Cos. to design and build the new 7,000-seat ballpark in Lowertown for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  The first order of business will be to scrap the original design concepts.  Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed in time for the 2015 season.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the news.

Huge Surprise (Sarcasm): Ryan Cos. Selected to Build New Saints Ballpark

As expected, Ryan Cos. has been selected by the city of St. Paul (MN) to design/build the new $54 million ballpark in Lowertown for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  Read more here.

Under Pressure From Taxpayers Group, St. Paul Puts Ballpark Project Out for Bid

Facing a legal challenge by the Taxpayers League of Minnesota for awarding the design and build contract for the new Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) to Ryan Cos. without competition, St. Paul leaders Wednesday reversed course by deciding to put the project out for bid.  Read more here

Taxpayer League Sues to Stop Saints Ballpark

The Taxpayers League of Minnesota has filed suit claiming the City of St. Paul violated the state’s competitive bidding laws by awarding a contract to Ryan Companies in September to design and build the new Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association).  Read more and watch news report here.