Fighters Choose Kitahiroshima for New Ballpark

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (Pacific League, Nippon Professional Baseball) will build their proposed new stadium in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido.  The ballclub, based in the capital of Japan’s northernmost main island, has played at Sapporo Dome since 2004.  Read more here.

NPB’s Fighters Explore Building New Ballpark

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are reportedly considering building a new ballpark in Sapporo or its vicinity.  The team currently plays at the Sapporo Dome on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan.  Read more here.

One-Half of Japan’s Professional Baseball Teams to Start Season on Time

The monster earthquake/tsunami that rocked Japan will apparently not keep Japan’s pastime down.  Despite reported opposition from the players’ union, the Nippon Professional Baseball‘s Central League, with relatively unscathed markets, will start the season on time on March 25, while the Pacific League, with harder hit markets, will delay its opening day until April 12.  Read more and view photo of hard hit stadium here.

Rainiers Lock in Long-Term Lease

The Tacoma Rainiers will be staying put at Cheney Stadium for the next 32 years, provided major upgrades are done to the city-owned facility by March 2011.  The city unanimously approved the lease deal this week, and an affirmative vote on a $30 million bond package to cover ballpark improvements is expected next week.  The Rainiers will repay most of the debt over the next 25 years.  Read more here.

Campaign Dead for New Beaverton Ballpark

Unable to broker a deal for a new $59 million ballpark for the Portland Beavers in Beaverton, owner Merritt Paulson pulled the plug on negotiations on Friday.  The big question remains, where will the Beavers play in 2011 once Portland’s PGE Park is renovated for soccer?  Read more here.

Beaverton Ballpark Funding Comes into Focus

Gary Brentano, the City of Beaverton’s lead negotiator for the proposed Beaverton ballpark project, presented funding specifics for a $45 million facility.