Can-Am League Focused On Finalizing Ottawa Stadium Lease

Miles Wolff, the commissioner of the indy pro Can-Am League, says he has spoken with people interested in owning an Ottawa (ON) expansion franchise, but his priority is formalizing a lease for Ottawa Stadium.  Wolff expects to have local owners lined up within three or four months.  Read more here.

Ottawa Council Approves Deal with Can-Am League

The Ottawa City Council on Wednesday approved a deal to lease Ottawa Stadium to the indy pro Can-Am League for at least 10 years.  A new franchise is slated to take the field for 50 home games starting in 2015.  Read more here.  Read league press release here.

New Can-Am League Ballpark Developing in Pennsylvania?

In an article in the Ottawa Citizen today unveiling more details about the city’s decision to pursue an economical indy pro Can-Am League franchise for Ottawa Stadium instead of a pricey Double-A Eastern League club, Commissoner Miles Wolff said the Can-Am League has “a new ballpark in the works in Pennsylvania.”  Read more here.  Maybe we’re still talking Phoenixville?  Thanks to John Cerone for the Ottawa link.

Ottawa to Consider Can-Am League Recommendation

Ottawa (ON) Mayor Jim Watson announced late Tuesday that a staff report to be presented to the city’s financial and economic development committee Oct. 1 recommends approving an offer from the indy pro Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball to lease Ottawa Stadium.  Read more here.  Read press release here.

Deadline Looming in Ottawa

Joe McEacharn, president of the Double-A Eastern League, reportedly said a decision for baseball in Ottawa will need to come by this fall for a new team to take the field in 2015.  Read more here.

Multiple Bids in Ottawa, But…

The city of Ottawa announced today that more than one suitor submitted a bid to lease Ottawa Stadium before the deadline for offers expired Thursday afternoon, but, as posted Wednesday, the bid by Mandalay Sports Entertainment and Professional Sports Catering was the only “legitimate” one.  Read more here.  More from “The Bulldog” here.

City Staff Recommend Issuing New RFO for Ottawa Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – In a report to be released this afternoon, City staff recommend that a new Request for Offers be issued to find a long-term tenant for the Ottawa Stadium. Staff are also recommending that the Ottawa Stadium be opened for community use this summer. The staff report will be considered at a meeting of the Finance and Economic Development Committee on June 4.

Ottawa Mayor to Meet with Blue Jays, Eastern League

Ottawa Mayor Mayor Jim Watson is heading to Toronto to talk baseball with Toronto Blue Jays officials on Friday hoping to secure a new professional baseball team and a Blue Jays affiliation for the capital city.  Watson also plans to meet with officials from the Double-A Eastern League.  Read more here and here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the links.

Another Run at Double-A Ball in Ottawa?

The Ottawa newspaper is reporting that Mandalay Baseball Properties and Professional Sports Catering are jointly working with Ottawa mayor Jim Watson’s office on a deal to completely renovate and operate Ottawa Stadium while bringing an existing Double-A Eastern League franchise to the capital city.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Extension Granted to Seal Ottawa Deal

Beacon Sports of Boston has been granted an extension until the end of the first quarter of 2013 to finalize a deal to bring a Double-A Eastern League franchise to Ottawa.  Beacon COO Richard Billings will be at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville next week to apparently round up additional investors for the ownership group that already includes Hall of Fame

B-Mets President Dances Amid Relocation Reports

President of the Double-A Binghamton Mets (Eastern League) Michael Urda bobbed and weaved around questions surrounding reports that the B-Mets ownership was planning to sell the team and then buy a Single-A New York-Penn League franchise to replace them at  NYSEG Stadium.  While Urda appears to bluntly deny negotiations are happening, the wiggle room is there.  Read more here.

Nolan Ryan Interested in New Ottawa Team?

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who already owns the Triple-A Round Rock Express (Pacific Coast League) and Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks (Texas League) as part of Ryan-Sanders Entertainment, is believed to be negotiating through Beacon Sports Capital Partners to own a minority stake in the Double-A Eastern League franchise expected to set up shop in Ottawa (ON) in 2014.  Read more here.

Despite Ottawa Talk, It’s Business as Usual for SeaWolves

A headline on GoErie.com today reads: “SeaWolves say they’re not in Canada talks,” but we’re not sure this is exactly what Greg Coleman, general manager of the Double-A Erie SeaWolves (Eastern League), had to say about rumors that the SeaWolves are bound for Ottawa in 2014.  Read more here.

Gray Predicting a Different Experience for Ottawa Baseball Fans This Time Around

Ottawa Sun blogger Ken “The Bulldog” Gray, a vocal proponent of bringing Double-A ball to Ottawa, visited Grayson Stadium last spring to experience the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) operation first hand.  While taking minor shots at the former Triple-A Ottawa Lynx (International League) and even the Toronto Blue Jays, Gray voices his expectations for a fun-filled

Double-A Ball Actually Headed Toward Ottawa?

An agreement has reportedly been reached between the City of Ottawa and middleman/broker Beacon Sports, and Beacon Sports and an unnamed Double-A Eastern League team, to bring the franchise to a renovated Ottawa Stadium beginning in 2014.  Read more here.  Read mayor’s press release here.

Ottawa Baseball Decision By Fall

The City of Ottawa and Beacon Sports of Boston are still in talks to bring a Double-A Eastern League team to a renovated Ottawa Stadium in 2014.  Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says he has had meetings with a possible owner with “tremendous credibility,” and the city has talked with others too.  Beacon Sports of Boston hopes to have a deal signed, sealed, delivered, and approved by around Oct. 1.

Blue Jays, Fisher Cats Extend PDC

The Toronto Blue Jays and Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Eastern League) have extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) until 2014.  There is also talk that the Blue Jays might be eyeing the Buffalo Bisons (International League) to replace Las Vegas 51s as the team’s Triple-A affiliate.  The Bisons are currently an affiliate of

Blue Jays Happy with Double-A Affiliate, But…

The Toronto Blue Jays say they would “love to” extend their player development contract (PDC) with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Eastern League), despite rumors that the affiliation could move to Ottawa, if a Double-A franchise relocates there.  Read more here.  However, as we have suggested before, the club’s PDCs are far more than about great facilities and markets to develop

Blue Jays Marching Toward ‘Canada’s Team’ Status?

It’s clear to us that the Toronto Blue Jays are gunning to truly become “Canada’s Team,” which we believe is primarily driven by a desire by the club’s owner, Rogers Communication, one of the largest communications companies in Canada, to exand its power and penetration across the country.

B-Mets Vehemently Deny Reports of Sale, Relocation

Michael Urda, president of the Double-A Binghamton Mets (Eastern League) has angrily denied reports that the team has been sold or contacted by anyone interested in the club.  Rumor has it that the B-Mets are headed to Ottawa, and that the Single-A Batavia Muckdogs (New York-Penn League) would move to Binghamton.  Below is an interesting tidbit from the Press & Sun-Bulletin Friday that

Jays GM: No Plans to Change Double-A Affiliation

Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said that the club does not plan to move its Double-A Eastern League affiliation from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Manchester to a possible relocated club in Ottawa.  Read more here.

B-Mets Fire Sale?

The Double-A Binghamton Mets (Eastern League) have been one of the teams rumored to be relocating to Canada, if  Beacon Sports of Boston locks in a deal to use Ottawa Stadium.  Could the Mets’ current merchandise clearance sale be a sign?  Start shopping here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the heads up.

Deal to Bring Double-A Ball to Ottawa to be Announced Friday

The City of Ottawa has reportedly reached a tentative long-term deal with Beacon Sports of Boston (MA) to bring a Double-A Eastern League team to the capital city beginning in 2013.  The city is apparently planning to pump $6 million into Ottawa Stadium to bring it up to par, while Beacon will pony up $3 million.  If the deal happens, expect the team’s affiliation to eventually be the Toronto Blue Jays.  Read more here.

Beacon Sports Submits Bid for Ottawa Stadium

Beacon Sports Capital Partners of Boston beat today’s 3:00 p.m. deadline to submit bids to lease Ottawa Stadium for the long haul.  Beacon Sports has been the group gunning to relocate a Double-A Eastern League franchise to the capital city starting in 2013.  Read more here.

No Chance Fisher Cats Affiliation Moving to Ottawa?

Eastern League President Joe McEachern tried to snuff out rumors that the Toronto Blue Jays’ affiliation with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats would be heading to Ottawa (along with the Double-A Binghamton Mets) in an affiliation swap with the New York Mets.  McEachern said there is no chance of that happening, primarily because of a territorial rights issue with the Boston Red

Double-A Ball Closing in on Ottawa

It appears that Double-A Eastern League baseball will begin play in Ottawa (ON) in 2013, although there are still hoops to jump through to make this happen.  The Eastern League franchise targeted for relocation has not been identified, although the Ottawa Citizen again mentions the Binghamton Mets.  As you know, the Mets

Eastern League Could Be on Way to Ottawa, Fat Cats Willing to Coexist

Chatter continues in Ottawa (ON) that a group called Beacon Sports Capital Partners LLC is interested in buying and relocating a Double-A Eastern League team to the capital city.  The Binghampton Mets have been mentioned as a target.  Ottawa Stadium’s current tenant, the Intercounty Baseball League’s Ottawa Fat Cats, are apparently willing to share the ballpark.

Talk of New Can-Am League Ballpark in Gatineau

Can-Am League commissioner Miles Wolff was interviewed on CKAC Sports about a proposed new 5,000-seat ballpark in Gatineau (QC) across the Ottawa River from Ottawa (ON).  The article is in French, but the audio is in English.  Read more and listen to audio here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

More On Affiliated Ball in Ottawa

Mark Sutcliffe from the Ottaw Citizen takes a look at the possibility of bringing a Toronto Blue Jays affiliate to Ottawa, and the strategy by Toronto-based Rogers Communications, the Blue Jays’ parent company, to advance the Rogers brand and power across Canada.  Look out, Vancouver-based Telus Communications!  Read more here.

Can-Am to Expand by Two?

Can-Am League Commissioner Miles Wolff has stated that there is a good chance that the league would expand from six to eight teams in time for the 2011 season.  Prospective owners are expected to make presentations during the league’s meetings on Oct. 4-5.  Ramapo and Ottawa are the most obvious markets on deck.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the article.

IBL Confirms Ottawa Entry for 2010

PRESS RELEASE – The Intercounty Baseball League today announced that the application from Ottawa Stadium Group Ltd. (OSG) has been ratified and OSG has been awarded an expansion franchise.

Ottawa Stadium Back in Business (at Least for One Year)

Meeting a Friday deadline, Ottawa Stadium Group locked in a one-year lease agreement today to use Ottawa Stadium.  OSG will bring in a new franchise from the Intercounty Baseball League.  The Can-Am League could also play a few games at the park.  In addition to a lease payment, OSG will be responsible for the stadium’s operating costs.  Read more here.

Ottawa Stadium Group Faces Friday Deadline

Ottawa Stadium Group, the lone bidder working to secure a lease agreement to use Ottawa Stadium, has until Friday to produce a $108,000 letter of credit and meet a number of other demands by the city. 

Reprieve in Ottawa

The Ottawa Stadium Group is being allowed to revise their bid to lease Ottawa Stadium.  As reported, OSG is proposing to bring in a new franchise from the Intercounty Baseball League.  A number of Can-Am League games might also be played at the stadium.  The revised bid will be considered by the city council on Feb. 24.  Read more here.

No Ottawa Baseball for 2010?

At least one Ottawa city councillor believes that Ottawa Stadium may sit empty this summer.  Councillor Bob Monette has indicated that city staff have told him that the bid submitted by Ottawa Stadium Group falls short of the required criteria to secure a lease.  The OSG group has apparently secured a conditional franchise with the Intercounty baseball League.  Read more here.

Ottawa Stadium Group Makes Formal Bid to Lease Ballpark

Just in time to meet the Jan. 21 deadline to respond to the City of Ottawa’s Request for Interest (RFI), Ottawa Stadium Group (OSG) submitted a formal application to lease Ottawa Stadium.  Read more here.  As you might recall,

Future Still Cloudy for Baseball at Ottawa Stadium

There appears to be no tenant yet for Ottawa Stadium for 2010.  We know that the independent professional Can-Am League continues to sniff around, but another group, Ottawa Stadium Group, has been trying to make a play for the park.  The group imposed a Nov. 7 deadline for an answer from the city on their proposal, and that was nearly a week ago.  Read more here.  The OSG group is not inerested in a Can-Am club, so this begs the question: What league are we talking about here? 

New Plan to Revive Baseball in Ottawa

Baytown Trolley Company CEO David Butler has made an offer to the City of Ottawa to lease the former home of the Lynx.  Read more here.