Well-Seasoned Wilson Launches Great West League

PRESS RELEASE – The Great West League (GWL) is joining the ranks of the top summer collegiate wood bat baseball leagues. The league, featuring teams in California and Oregon, will begin play in 2016.

Big Day In Hillsboro Today: First the Name, Then the Funding

As the owner of the relocated Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) prepares to “hop” into next season with the unveiling of the team’s new branding at 9:00 a.m. (PDT) this morning, the Hillsboro (OR) City Council is expected to authorize the issuance of $12.5 million in bonds at a meeting later today as part of the financing plan for the club’s new $15.2 million ballpark.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Team Name Coming Next Week

We think we already have it pegged, but Hillsboro (OR) Professional Baseball announced yesterday on its Facebook page that the new name and logo for the relocated Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) will be unveiled on Tuesday, Oct. 16.  View Facebook page here.

Hillsboro to Use Full Faith and Credit Bonds to Pay For New Ballpark

The City of Hillsboro (OR) is expected to finance the new $15.2 million ballpark for the relocating Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) with full faith and credit bonds rather than general obligation bonds.  The former is paid for via general funds (no direct funding source) and requires no voter approval.  The latter is usually tied to a new tax or taxes requiring voter approval.  Read more here.

Yakima Bears Say Goodbye, Talks With West Coast League Continue

The Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) played their final regular-season home game Saturday night at Yakima County Stadium.  The Bears still have a shot at the league championship in the playoffs, but the team said goodbye last night by playing a montage of highlights from past seasons on the stadium’s video board.  Next season, the team will take up residence in a new

Hillsboro Team Name to Be Announced at Groundbreaking

The owners of the soon-to-be-relocated Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) plan to announce the name of the new Hillsboro (OR) team during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new stadium at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex at 11 a.m. on Sept. 21.  Read more here.

Milwaukie Set To Consider Proposal for WCL Ballpark Next Tuesday, Deadline Looms

After voting 3-2 to consider building a more modest ballpark for the summer collegiate West Coast League after talks with the Single-A Northwest League broke down, the Milwaukie (OR) City Council will review next Tuesday an updated economic impact study and architectural plans for a 2,000-seat baseball stadium.  Read more here.  The city is reportedly facing an Aug. 23

Milwaukie Takes Next Steps with West Coast League

The Milwaukie (OR) City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to press ahead with a proposed new minor-league baseball stadium project, contingent upon determining the economic impact of building a smaller ballpark and bringing in a summer collegiate West Coast League franchise, after talks with the Single-A Northwest League broke down.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Council to Consider Proposed Ballpark Naming Rights Deal

The City of Hillsboro (OR) has reportedly negotiated the terms of a ballpark naming rights agreement for the 4,500-seat stadium to be built at the Gordon Faber Recreational Complex for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  The proposed deal, worth $150,000 annually, is expected to come before the city council Tuesday.  Read more here.

West Coast League Steps Up to Plate in Milwuakie

Now that talks between Milwuakie (OR) and the Single-A Northwest League have collapsed, the summer collegiate West Coast League has taken a seat at the negotiating table.  Read more here.  Read statement from the mayor here.

Northwest League a No Go in Milwaukie, West Coast League Presented as Option

Milwaukie (OR) officials have announced that talks with the Single-A Northwest League to lure an existing franchise to a proposed new ballpark in town have come to a disappointing end.  Quite simply, there is no team availabe, because the Yakima Bears

Don’t Push, Don’t Get

While the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) were willing to pony up 30 percent of the cost for a new Vancouver (WA) stadium, they didn’t offer any contribution to Hillsboro (OR) for their new home, nor did Hillsboro appear to push for one.  City officials either didn’t do their homework, are poor or inexperienced negotiators, or simply wanted to get a deal done quickly (like they did)

Milwaukie (OR) Still in the Game, But What Team?

The Portland suburb of Hillsboro muscled ahead of Milwaukie in the ballpark sweepstakes to lure a Single-A Northwest League franchise.  Despite Hillsboro’s success in snagging the Yakima Bears, Milwaukie expects to secure commitments for a team and a

West Coast League Expands to Medford, Yakima on Deck

The summer collegiate West Coast League has announced that the circuit is expanding to Medford (OR).  The team will be owned by Arizona-based Consolidated Sports Holdings International, Inc..  The group has pledged $250,000 in matching funds to help complete Harry & David Field.  The franchise will replace the amateur Southern Oregon RiverDawgs (Far West League) beginning

Yakima Bears Deal Approved

The Hillsboro City Council voted Tuesday evening to approve a deal that will bring the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) to a new ballpark in the Portland suburb beginning in 2013.  As we have stated before, expect the summer collegiate West Coast League to quickly step in to fill the void in Yakima.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Approves Offer to Lure Yakima Bears

The Hillsboro (OR) City Council voted Tuesday to approve the terms of a 20-year contract offer to bring the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) to a new $13.4 million, 4,500-seat stadium at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.  Under the terms, the Bears will have until June 29 to respond, unless the timeline is extended.  Read more and watch video here.  View the offer sheet here.

Yakima Bears On Way to Hillsboro?

The Hillsboro (OR) City Council is expected to vote Tuesday to approve the terms of 20-year contract offer to bring the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) to a new $13.4 million, 4,500-seat stadium at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.  If approved by the council, the Bears will have until June 29 to respond, unless the timeline is extended.  Read more here.  View the offer sheet here.

Milwaukie (OR) Takes Next Ballpark Steps

While Hillsboro (OR) put off a vote to build a new ballpark for a Single-A Northwest League team, the Milwaukie (OR) City Council voted unanimously to move forward with their ballpark plan.  However, the city wants a commitment from the league by July 31 to bring a team to Milwaukie, if the stadium is built.  Read more here.

Hillsboro (OR) Delays Vote on Ballpark

The Hillsboro (OR) City Council has put off a vote to award a contract to Hoffman Construction and SRG Partners to design and build a new $13.4 million, 4,500-seat ballpark for a yet-to-be-named Single-A Northwest League franchise.  Read more here.

Hillsboro (OR) Council to Vote Tuesday on New Ballpark Plan

The Hillsboro (OR) City Council is expected to vote Tuesday to move forward with plans to build a new $13.4 million, 4,500-seat ballpark for a yet-to-be-named Single-A Northwest League franchise.  The city is expected to hire Hoffman Construction and SRG Partners to design and build the stadium.  Read more here.

Milwaukie (OR) to Decide Action on New Ballpark Proposal Next Week

The Milwaukie (OR) City Council will decide whether or not to move forward with a plan to build a new ballpark for a Single-A Northwest League franchise at a hearing on May 15.  As you know, Hillsboro (OR) is the newest entry in the Portland-area baseball market sweepstakes, and Vancouver (WA) has fallen by the wayside.  Read more here.

Hillsboro (OR) Seeking New Ballpark, NWL Team

The City of Hillsboro (OR), a suburb of Portland, appears to be moving forward to build a new $14 million, 4,500-seat ballpark for a Single-A Northwest League team.  The project would be funded by city-backed bonds.  Read more here.

Milwuakie (OR) Blazes New Ballpark Trail

The City of Milwuakie (OR) has hired former Portland Trail Blazers executive and Portland Business Association president J.E. Isaac as the chief consultant to help bring a Single-A Northwest League franchise to the city.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Milwaukie (OR) Ballpark Design Options Unveiled

Following up on yesterday’s posting that the city of Milwaukie (OR) is moving forward with the second phase of the proposed new ballpark project for a yet-to-be-named Single-A Northwest League franchise, 360 Architecture showed off several potential designs. View one design here.  We like the seemingly larger-than-typical covered grandstand.  Read more here.

Milwaukie (OR) Ballpark Project Takes Next Step

At a special public meeting last night to discuss Phase I of the proposed new ballpark for a yet-to-be-named Single-A Northwest League franchise, the Milwaukie (OR) City Council heard from strong supporters and staunch opponents.  In the end, after a three-hour meeting, the council voted 3-2 to authorize moving on to Phase II.  Blogger and long-time Portland Beavers/ Rockies fan Steve Armbrust was on the scene and

Progress Report on New Ballpark Scheduled for Monday

City of Milwaukie (OR) staff are scheduled to give a progress report on the proposal to build a new ballpark for a yet-to-be-named team from the Single-A Northwest League during the city council’s meeting on Monday.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Clark County Nixes Proposed Tax to Fund Ballpark

Clark County (Vancouver, WA) has rejected a 5 percent admissions tax to pay for a new $19.5 million ballpark for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  As a result, the project appears dead for now.  Read more here.  Hello Milwaukie (OR)?

Ballpark Listening Sessions Continue in Milwaukie (OR)

The City of Milwaukie (OR) has held two of three scheduled public “listening lounge” sessions to discuss the proposed new baseball stadium for a yet-t0-be-identified Northwest League team.  While concerns were raised, there doesn’t yet appear to be any major opposition to the project.  The final listening session will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17.  Read more here.

New Milwaukie (OR) Ballpark: Limited Noise, Light Pollution

According to preliminary projections commissioned by the City of Milwuakie (OR), light and noice from the proposed new ballpark would have a limited impact on surrounding neighborhoods.  Read more and view impact maps here.

Milwaukie (OR) Takes Next Ballpark Steps

The Milwaukie (OR) City Council voted on Tuesday night to authorize the city to hire three companies to determine the feasibility of building a new minor league baseball stadium.  The three companies tapped to handle the duties are Innovative Campaign Strategies, 360 Architecture, and Capital Project Consultants.  Read more here.

Vancouver (WA) Ballpark Plan Rejected

The proposal to build a new $22.7 million ballpark in Clark County (Vancouver, WA) for the Single-A Yakima Bears with a 70-30 public-private funding split was rejected by commissioners on Wednesday.  A new proposal is now being floated by Commissioner Steve Stuart for a 40 percent public contribution, but it still involves an unwelcome tax increase.  On to Milwaukie (OR)?  Read more here.

Milwaukie (Oregon) Envisions Field of Dreams

Milwaukie (OR) City Councilor Joe Loomis has a redevelopment dream for an industrial zone full of warehouses and outlets stores along McLoughlin Boulevard between Portland and Milwaukie.  His vision includes a new 4,000-seat ballpark for a Single-A Northwest League club, brew pubs, and other economic revitalization.  Look out, Vancouver!  Read more here and here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the links.

La Grande (OR) to Enter SSL North Division

The new Southwestern States League has announced that La Grande (OR) will join the league as a member of the North Division.  The “Wilcats” will play their games at Optimist Memorial Field, which is billed as the only lighted baseball field in Union County.  We will hold fire for now as we see how the league evolves over the next few months, but the decision to place an indy pro team in a horribly amateur