Sportswriter: Time for New Ballpark in Downtown Sioux Falls

Since they arrived in Sioux Falls in 1993 as a charter member of the former Northern League, the Sioux Falls Canaries (Independent Professional, American Association) have gone through numerous changes in ownership and front office leadership. But 25 years later, the landscape is vastly different.  Read more here.

It’s Been 25 Years Since Construction Began on Sioux City Ballpark

It’s hard to believe it has been 25 years since construction began on a new $3.5 million baseball stadium on the south edge of Sioux City (IA) to house the Sioux City Explorers (Independent Professional, American Association) of the start-up Northern League.  Read more here.

A Telus Field Revival?

Telus Field in Edmonton (AB) could become the center of a baseball stadium district that spurs Rossdale redevelopment similar to the impact of Rogers Place on downtown, a new report says.  Read more here.  The stadium is the former home of the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers (Pacific Coast League) and indy pro Edmonton  Cracker-Cats/Capitals (Northern League/Golden Baseball

Elkhart (IN) Baseball Stadium Remains on Hold

In not-so shocking news, plans for building a baseball stadium at the former site of a large farmers market in Elkhart (IN) remains on hold while the developer works to line up financing.  The new stadium was slated to be the home of the proposed Elkhart County Miracle in the revived but stalled indy pro Northern League.  The developer is now open to bringing in an independent or summer collegiate club.  Read more here.

Still Trying to Get Revived Northern League Off the Ground, Elkhart Team Delayed Until 2015

Craig Wallin, owner of the proposed indy pro Elkhart County Miracle (Northern League) baseball team confirmed earlier this month that plans to build a new stadium and launch the franchise this season have been postponed.  Nick Desrosiers, chairman of the revived circuit, said an unpredictable economy has made it difficult to get the league going this year.  Desrosiers said he expected to

Kingfish Are No Fielders

The Lake County News-Sun looks back at the failed indy pro Lake County Fielders (Northern League/North American League) and compares the effort to bring baseball to the area with the new summer collegiate Kenosha Kingfish (Northwoods League).  You can ignore the so-called  “reporter” looking for Kevin Costner dirt and not the true facts about the Zion (IL) situation.  Read more here.

Drama Continues in Zion

This news is two weeks old, but the indy pro Lake County Fielders (Northern League/North American League) have amended their lawsuit against Zion (IL),  city officials and a developer to include allegations of bribery against Zion (IL) Mayor Lane Harrison.  Harrison called the allegations against him “fiction” and “unbelievable.”  Read more here.

Judge Issues Ruling in Lake County Fielders Case

Lake County Circuit Court Judge Jorge Ortiz issued a 37-page ruling Thursday on a lawsuit filed by the indy pro Lake County Fielders (Northern League/North American League) against Zion (IL), city officials and a developer that reportedly retains significant claims (including fraud and conspiracy) while also dismissing some aspects of the suit.  The next hearing is set for Dec. 4.  Read more here.

Zion Taxpayers Out Millions Over Abandoned Fielders Ballpark Project

In an investigative report, NBC 5 News Chicago found that taxpayers in Zion (IL) lost at least $7.8 million for the ballpark that was never built for the defunct indy pro Lake County Fielders (Northern League/North American League).  Read more and watch news report here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Ballpark Heaven Setback Raises Questions About Northern League Franchise

A funding shortfall and litigation have forced the developers of the All-Star Ballpark Heaven project at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville (IA) to delay its opening beyond 2014, which brings into question the planned launch of a franchise there from the revived indy pro Northern League.  Read more here.

Lawsuits Aside, Fielders Willing to Return

The field built for the indy pro Lake County Fielders (North American League) in Zion (IL) is deserted and overgrown, while lawsuits between the Fielders and the city over the stadium that was never built remain pending.  Despite the poison well, the Fielders are ready to return if a more modest new ballpark can be built.  The city doesn’t appear interested.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Revived Northern League Announces Deal with Ballpark Heaven

PRESS RELEASE – America finally has proof there is baseball in Heaven. Independent league baseball is about to become part of the new development next to the Field of Dreams Movie Site. The Northern League, an independent professional league with a strong history in the Midwest, plans to bring a team to Northeast Iowa that will call All-Star Ballpark Heaven its home.

Hopes Dim for Skylands Park Revival

Carl Barbati, sports editor for the New Jersey Herald, takes a look at the current Skylands Park situation and the hope, or lack thereof, for indy pro ball returning to the stadium any time soon.  He talks about the state of the resuscitated Northern league and futilely (for a second time) brings up the Atlantic League as an option.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Elkhart County Miracle Break Ground

The developing indy pro Elkhart County Miracle (revived Northern League) broke ground Friday on a new $6.6 million ballpark at the former former site of the American Countryside Farmers Market at State Road 19 and County Road 26 in Elkhart County (IN).  The design will incorporate the existing building.  Read more and watch news report here.

 

Site for Elkhart County Stadium Revealed, Groundbreaking Scheduled

The former site of the American Countryside Farmers Market at State Road 19 and County Road 26 in Elkhart County (IN) will be the location for the new $6.6 million ballpark for the Elkhart County Miracle from the revived indy pro Northern League.  Read more and watch news report here.  The design will incorporate the existing building.  Read more here.  The ceremonial groundbreaking is set for June 28.  Read more here.

No Skylands Park for Revived Northern League

As the revived indy pro Northern League works to add more markets beyond recently announced Elkhart County (IN), it appears vacant Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ) will not be part of the league re-launch in 2014.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Revived Northern League: New Stadium and ‘Elkhart County Miracle’ Announced

Craig Wallin, who unsuccessfully tried to bring professional baseball to Elkhart County (IN) in 2010, announced on Friday his plans to build a new multi-million dollar stadium and launch the Elkhart County Miracle in 2014 as part of the revived indy pro Northern League.  Wallin said the financing is in place and the project is a “sure thing.”  Dan Evans, commissioner of the circuit, joined Wallin

Two Other Leagues Interested in Skylands Park

It didn’t take long after the sale of Skylands Park in Sussex County (NJ) to real estate investment firm 17 Mile LLC for leagues beyond the pre-sale rumbling from the indy pro Atlantic League (or ABL2) to show interest in playing at the currently vacant facility.  The summer collegiate Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and newly revived indy pro

Revived Northern League Hires Former Dodgers GM as Commissioner

PRESS RELEASE – The Northern League of Professional Baseball, a DC Sports & Entertainment, LLC company, is pleased to announce the hiring of veteran big league executive Dan Evans as the Commissioner of the Northern League. Evans, who was the General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001-2004, joins the Northern League after successful Major League

Rehashing the Fielders: A Player’s Perspective

For those  interested in the failed indy pro Lake County Fielders (Northern League/North American League), a link to an in-depth article by Shannon Proudfoot appearing on SportsNet.com last fall was recently posted on AABFAN.com.  It’s worth a read, even if you paid close attention to the happenings of the Fielders.  Read more here.

Omaha Flame Group Targeting Shakopee (MN)?

While doing a little research on the failed effort to build a new stadium and bring an expansion indy pro Northern League franchise called the Metro Millers to the south Minneapolis (MN) suburb of Burnsville back in 2008, we came across a website claiming that a new team also called the Metro Millers will begin play at the yet-t0-be-built Metro Millers Multi-Event Park in nearby

DC Sports Claims Revival of Defunct Northern League

PRESS RELEASE – DC Sports & Entertainment, LLC (DCSE) announces today that it has reached an agreement with the Northern League of Professional Baseball Teams to assume and manage the long-term growth strategy of The Northern League, the premier independent minor professional baseball league with a rich history dating back

Capitals Continue to Hibernate in Edmonton

It appears the indy pro Edmonton Capitals will take another season off, as franchise owners continue to search for a new home in a viable league.  The Caps suspended operations after the 2011 season, when the newly formed North American League began to fall apart.  Read more here.  View team history here.

20th Anniversary: The Staying Power of the Chillicothe Paints

The Chillicothe Paints will celebrate their 20th anniversary today at V.A. Memorial Stadium.  This is quite a feat, considering the Paints were one of the original franchises in the start-up Frontier League in 1993, which, along with the Northern League, launched the modern day independent professional circuits.  As  the Frontier League outgrew Chillicothe, a small community of about 22,000 in south

Clark Griffith Enters Plea in Indecency Case

Clark Griffith, the son of former Minnesota Twins owner Calvin Griffith, former commissioner of the indy pro Northern League, and then-adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law, entered an Alford guilty plea Tuesday to a misdemeanor indecency charge for allegedly exposing himself to a 24-year-old female law student.  With this type of plea, a defendent does not admit guilt but agrees

St. Cloud Team to Go Retro?

We were in the process of submitting a suggested name and logo concept for the soon-to-be-rebranded summer collegiate St. Cloud River Bats (Northwoods League), but we thought we better check on the domain status of a name used by the old St. Cloud team from the Northern League from 1946-1971, before we wasted any time on a self-indulgent, unsolicited pitch for our non-blast from the past

Historic WPA Ballpark in Rural Minnesota to be Demolished

In sad news, the wooden grandstand at historic Al Krueger Field, a WPA ballpark built in rural Perham (MN) in the 1930s, is scheduled to be demolished as early as the end of February.  The supports for the bleachers and the roof have been declared unsafe.  Krueger Field is the home of the Perham Pirates town team.

Ehrenreich Sues Former Flyers’ Suitor

Richard Ehrenreich, owner of the defunct indy pro Schaumburg Flyers (Northern League) and near-death Lake County Fielders (North American League), is suing potential buyer Adriano Pedrelli and other investors for breach-of-contract and fraud.  Ehrenreich claims that Pedrelli’s pursuit of the Flyers led him to bypass other interested suitors, which led to the eventual demise of the club.  Read more here.

Lawsuit Holds Up Pro Baseball at TD Ameritrade

It appears unlikely that there will be professional baseball at TD Ameritrade Park in 2012, as the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority is tied up in a lawsuit with the Omaha Flame ownership group.  The Flame were gunning to play pro ball at the new home for the College World Series as a new

New CWS Ballpark Quiet Now, Pro Ball on Deck for 2012

TD Ameritrade Park, the new home for the College World Series, isn’t quite keeping pace in the ‘filling dates” department with Werner Park, the new home for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chaser down the road

American Association Under Attack in Winnipeg

We’re merely 10 days into the 2011 season, and Paul Wiecek from the Winnipeg Free Press is already bashing the indy pro American Association over attendance.  Read more here.  Clearly, he was never fan of the Winnipeg Goldeyes’ move from the Northern league to the AA.  Rather than going on a long diatribe dismissing his ridiculous attack, we’ve decided to steer you here to aabfan.com (formerly nlfan.com) for a response

NAL Adds Hilo (HI) for 2012?

Okay, we hate to even mention this because of the highly overstated claims being made by the new super indy pro North American League about mega expansion next season from 10 to 16+ teams, but the circuit announced in a press release last week that Hilo (HI) is on board for 2012.  We assume we are talking about Francis Wong Stadium as the home ballpark.

Ignite Fest Coming to Fielders Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – The Lake County Fielders are excited to announce that we will be teaming up with Edan Concerts to bring you Ignite Fest 2011 “A Music Fest to Spark a Revolution”.

North American League: Spin to Win in 2011?

Wow, we can’t believe the spin job we just witnessed in reading the new North American League’s press release announcing the circuit’s finalized 2011 schedule.  (We know a few political spin masters in Washington, D.C. who would be proud!)  Born out of desperation, not inspiration, the NAL is doing all it can to plug franchise holes and bury negative stories that could harm the league’s

R-Hawks to Change Ownership, Rejoin Frontier League

The Northern League’s/North American League’s Rockford RiverHawks will indeed be rejoining the Frontier League under new ownership in time for the 2011 season.  The club has scheduled a press conference for Monday.  Read more here.  View the team’s roster on the Frontier League website here.  The R-Hawks left the Frontier League for the Northern League after the 2009 season.

Former R-Hawks Announcer Becomes New PA Voice for Cubs

PRESS RELEASE – Rockford RiverHawks fans who travel to Wrigley Field this season will hear a familiar voice. The Chicago Cubs announced Friday that they have picked former RiverHawks announcer Andrew Belleson as their new public-address announcer.

Remodeled Fielders’ Stadium to ‘Pop Up’ Soon

PRESS RELEASE – Fans of the Lake County Fielder’s baseball team thoroughly enjoyed their new stadium last year in spite of the fact that construction was delayed and several of the major amenities had to wait until the 2011 season.

Future of the Flyers

Now that the Northern League’s/North American League’s Schaumburg (IL) Flyers have been booted from Alexian Field for non-payment of back rent, focus now turns to the future of the franchise.  According to league and team officials, the club could play as a road team or relocate to a different market.  Owner Rich Ehrenreich hopes to know more next week.  Read more here.

Flyers Respond to Decision by Schaumburg Officials

PRESS RELEASE – Our entire organization is disappointed in the Village Board’s decision yesterday, especially after 13 years of running our small business and risking over $30 million privately in a difficult economy. We’re mostly disappointed for the people and local businesses of Schaumburg, as last week the Flyers reached an agreement with a qualified, successful local business owner who agreed to

Slammers’ Owner, American Association on Deck in Schaumburg

Schaumburg (IL) officials are backing a proposal by Alan Oremus, the new owner of the Frontier League’s Joliet (IL) Slammers, to lease Alexian Field, after Northern League’s/North American League’s Schaumburg Flyers were given the boot for non-payment of back rent.  If an operating agreement is finalized as expected, the new team would begin play as a member of the indy pro American Association