Book About Skylands Park, New Jersey Cardinals Released

Rob Hilliard has released a book called The Circus is in Town — A Baseball Odyssey, a 790-page manuscript chronicling every detail of the deal to build Skylands Park in Frankford Township (NJ) and the relocation of the Hamilton Redbirds (Single-A, New York-Penn League) to the new stadium as the renamed New Jersey Cardinals.  The book also traces his lifelong love of baseball from his childhood days to his cameo appearance as a sports writer in the 2013 movie 42 about Jackie Robinson.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Still No Franchise for Skylands, But Bring on the Scare

The new owners of Skylands Park in Augusta (NJ), the former home of the Sussex Skyhawks (Can-Am League) and Single-A New Jersey Cardinals (New York-Penn League), have temporarily transformed their idle stadium into “Scareland Stadium,” an interactive haunted attraction that opens for Halloween-season recreation the first weekend of October.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the news.

Events Beyond Baseball Targeted for Skylands Park

As one of the new owners of Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ), Al Dorso Jr. knows he’s going to need more than just baseball to keep the place afloat.  While baseball is expected to be part of the stadium’s future, Dorso and his partners are working with Fastlane Communications, a New York City marketing firm, to develop events geared toward families and young people.  Read more here.

Group Buying Skylands Park, Baseball Possible in 2015 (UPDATED)

Al Dorso Sr., president of the State Fair Meadowlands, said Wednesday that he is heading up a team of six investors purchasing vacant Skylands Park baseball stadium in Augusta (NJ).  One of the investors is Nick Corrado, owner of a shopping mall and cousin of the late actor James Gandolfini.  Dorso hopes to attract a minor league baseball team by the 2015 season.  Read more here.  UPDATE:  Stadium sold for $850,000.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the links.

New Owner of Skylands Explores Options, Lower Annual Property Tax Bill Should Help

Mark Roscioli Jr., owner of real estate investment firm 17 Mile LLC, continues to explore his options for a primary baseball tenant at Skylands Park after finalizing a deal to purchase the facility for $950,000.  After learning that the park’s annual property tax liability has been lowered from $120,000+ to $30,000, we have more confidence in this effort.  Read more here.  Thanks to Johnny Regan for the story.

Skylands Park Sold

In positive new for the possible return of baseball to Sussex County (NJ), the sale of Skylands Park to Ardmore (PA)-based real estate investment firm 17 Mile LLC indeed closed on Friday, March 15.  The facility sold for $950,000, plus $160,000 in overdue taxes and related fees.  Skylands is the former home of the Single-A New Jersey Cardinals (New York-Penn League) and indy pro Sussex Skyhawks

Skylands Deal to Close Next Thursday, Patriots Chairman Rejects Idea of ABL2 Feeder Circuit

As real estate investment firm 17 Mile LLC looks to close next Friday on a deal to acquire Skylands Park, Steve Kalafer, chairman of the indy pro Somerset Patriots (Atlantic League), firmly dismissed any notion of an ABL feeder team coming Sussex County.  More broadly, according to the New Jersey Herald, Kalafer issued a statement late Thursday saying “there is no value at this

Sale of Skylands Park Postponed, Not Dead

The deal to sell Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ) to real estate investment firm 17 Mile is apparently not dead after all.  Mark Roscioli, owner of Ardmore (PA)-based 17 Mile, says the closing has been rescheduled for Friday, March 15.   Read more here.

Sale of Skylands Park Called Off

After coming to terms earlier this month on the pending transfer of ownership of Skylands Park, the parties to the deal said last Thursday that the sale of the 4,200-seat ballpark, which was scheduled to be  finalized on March 1, is apparently a no go.  Read more here and here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the story.

Baseball to Return to Skylands Park

While the deal is not yet finalized, Ardmore (PA)-based 17 Mile LLC plans to buy vacant Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ) for $950,000.  The group is reportedly in negotiations with two separate baseball outfits to find a team to play at the stadium beginning in 2014.  Read more here.

Investor Now Skylands Lienholder

Matt Milano, a private investor who has no interest in returning baseball to Skylands Park, now holds the tax lien certificate to the vacant stadium after snatching it up for $159,946.23 at today’s auction.  While baseball is not necessary done at the park, it could take a while to sort this one out.  Millennium Sports Management, the stadium’s owner, could still redeem the property for a price within the next

Skylands Park to Live Again With New Sewer?

Currently vacant Skylands Park, former home of the defunct indy pro Sussex SkyHawks (Can-Am League) and relocated Single-A New Jersey Cardinals (New York-Penn League), will reportedly be connected to the new sewer system being built in Frankford Township (NJ).  This appears to send a signal that the ballpark will live to fight another day, if a new tenant can be found.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Still No Solid Future for Skylands Park

Millenium Sports Management Corp. continues to struggle to sell or find a new tenant for 4,200-seat Skylands Park, the former home of the indy pro Sussex Skyhawks (Can-Am League) and Single-A New Jersey Cardinals (New York-Penn League).   Located in rural Frankford Township (NJ), Skylands remains for sale at $1.99 million.   A request to lower the facility’s annual

Sussex Ballpark For Sale

Skylands Park, the 17-year-old stadium owned and operated by Millenium Sports Management, is now for sale.  The pricetag is $1,990,000.  Now, that may not seem like much for a ballpark like Skylands, but the annual property tax bill in Frankford Township (NJ) has been coming in at around $121,000 on an assessed value of $6.7 million.  Review our full report here from January.  Thanks to Brian Merzbach for the news.