It’s the ‘Columbia Fireflies’

PRESS RELEASE – Hardball Capital and the City of Columbia today announced that Columbia’s new Minor League Baseball team will be the Columbia Fireflies. The New York Mets affiliate will play in Spirit Communications Park in downtown Columbia starting in April, 2016.

Coastal Plain League Franchise to Replace Departing Savannah Sand Gnats

A summer collegiate Coastal Plain League franchise will take up residence at Grayson Stadium when the Savannah Sand Gnats (Single-A, South Atlantic League) depart for a new ballpark in Columbia (SC) after the 2015 season.  The team will be owned by Jesse Cole and Fans First Entertainment, who will continue to own the Gastonia Grizzlies and manage the Martinsville Mustangs in the CPL.  Read more here.  Watch news reports here and here.

Columbia Baseball Stadium on Track

Baseball team owner Jason Freier said construction on Columbia’s baseball stadium is on track for an April 2016 minor league season opening.  The Hardball Capital owner spoke to Columbia City Council officials and business owners last week about progress on the multipurpose venue in the Columbia Commons development on Bull Street.  Read more here.

Columbia Professional Baseball Releases Latest Renderings of Ballpark, Club Area and Suites

PRESS RELEASE – Due to the overwhelming interest shown since the groundbreaking for Spirit Communications Park, Columbia Professional Baseball will be providing project updates and information on the first seating available for purchase at the ballpark next week—approximately six weeks ahead of the initial schedule.

City, Team Officials Break Ground on New Columbia Ballpark

Officials from the City of Columbia (SC), Hughes Development, Spirit Communications, and Hardball Capital held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning at the future site of the new $37 million ballpark that will be built for a yet-to-be-officially-revealed relocating Minor League Baseball team.  Read more and view photo here.

View ballpark renderings below:

Groundbreaking for Columbia’s New Ballpark Set for Next Tuesday

The ceremonial groundbreaking for Columbia’s new $37 million baseball stadium is set for Tuesday, Jan. 6, which coincides with the City Council’s first meeting of 2015.  Read more here.

Columbia Ballpark Designer: Fans Will Be ‘Blown Away’

Take it from Mike Sabatini, a senior architect for Populous, the design firm for Columbia’s new baseball stadium at the Bull Street development.  Spirit Communications Park is going to be a home run.  Read more here.

Savannah Wants Answer for 2016

Hardball Capital, the owner of the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) that might be relocating to Columbia (SC), has until Jan. 1 to let the city of Savannah (GA) know whether the minor league baseball team will play in Grayson Stadium in 2016.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joshua Grace for the link.

Columbia Ballpark Construction Update

The Columbia (SC) City Council on Tuesday is expected to take up a request to spend $1.6 million to hire a female-owned Swansea (SC) firm to prepare the construction site for the new baseball stadium. City officials say groundbreaking is likely later this month.  The $1,658,525 would come out of the city’s $29 million portion for stadium constructions.  Read more here.

It’s ‘Spirit Communications Park’ for New Columbia Baseball Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – The City of Columbia and Columbia Professional Baseball, announced today that they have reached an agreement with Spirit Communications to name the new, state-of-the-art multi-use sports and entertainment venue at Columbia Common in downtown Columbia. The venue will be known as “Spirit Communications Park.”

Savannah Balks at New Stadium Site

The Savannah (GA) City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to reject building a new baseball stadium at Savannah River Landing for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League).  The council will consider the Canal District for a future building site.  The mayor expressed interest in renovating Grayson Stadium instead.  One aldermen thinks the city should explore bringing in

Forget the Ballpark Study, Savannah City Staff Have a Different Site in Mind

City of Savannah (GA) staff members are recommending that the proposed new stadium for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) be considered as a part of the planned Canal District.  The recommendation rejects the Savannah River Landing site picked in a recent $55,000 ballpark study.  The city council will address the issue on Thursday.  Read more here.

Columbia Team Approved by MiLB

Hardball Capital, the group bringing a professional team to Columbia’s (SC) Bull Street development for the 2016 season, has received the required approval from Minor League Baseball.  The Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) remain a prime candidate for relocation.  Read more here.

‘Name Our Team’ Contest Extended in Columbia

PRESS RELEASE – As a result of a tremendous response so far, Columbia’s new professional baseball team is extending the Name Our Team contest for nine more days until Friday, October 24. Since the Name Our Team contest was first announced on September 29, the team has received more than 1,300 suggestions on ColumbiaProBall.com.

Deadline Today for Columbia Name-the-Team Contest

Wednesday, Oct. 15, is the last day for fans to submit their suggested name(s) for the affiliated franchise relocating to Columbia (SC).  Go to Columbia Professional Baseball here.  Click below to enter the contest:

 

Editorial: Build Wrigley- or Fenway-Style Ballpark at Savannah Civic Center Site

If the City of Savannah (GA) actually moves forwarding with building a new ballpark, Tom Barton, editorial page editor of the Savannah Morning News, suggests the parties should ditch the proposed Savannah River Landings site just east of downtown.  Instead, he thinks the existing Savannah Civic Center should be demolished and replaced with a local version of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park.  Read more here.

Savannah Ballpark Study Faces Scrutiny

It was not smooth sailing for Johnson Consulting’s $55,000 taxpayer-funded ballpark study, as Savannah (GA) City Council members challenged the unscientific survey taken as part of the study and sited the firm’s failure of to incorporate the cost of land in the project’s overall price tag.  Hardball Capital, the owner of the Single-A Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League), is planning to move

Name the Team Contest Announced for Columbia Franchise

Jason Freier, chairman and chief executive officer of Hardball Capital, announced the launch of a “Name Our Team” contest for the proposed team — possibly the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) — coming to the developing new ballpark in Columbia (SC).  Fans will be able to suggest branding ideas via www.columbiaproball.com, Facebook and Twitter.  View press release here.

Study: Savannah Should Build New Stadium

A consulting firm is recommending the City of Savannah (GA) move forward with the construction of an estimated $35 million multi-use stadium at the Savannah River Landing site east of downtown for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League).  Now, it is up to the Savannah City Council to decide whether to take the $55,000 study’s advice.  Read more here.  View study here.

Populous Gets the Call in Columbia

The Columbia (SC) City Council decided Tuesday to hire Kansas City (MO)-based Populous to design and oversee construction of the new minor league baseball stadium in the Bull Street neighborhood.  The city will pay the firm $2,025,000 under the contract.  Read more here.

Columbia Authorizes Borrowing for New Ballpark

In a four to one vote, the Columbia City Council approved a new ordinance allowing the city to issue Special Obligation Bonds to raise no more than $35 million to pay for the construction of the proposed multi-use baseball stadium and facilities, equipment and improvements at the Bull Street development.  Read more here and here.

Columbia Moves to Borrow $35 Million for Ballpark

The Columbia (SC) City Council moved ahead Tuesday on borrowing $35 million for a minor-league baseball stadium, ignoring a last-ditch effort to let voters decide the issue.  Mayor Steve Benjamin justified the move by saying people elect the council to make decisions, and the council takes out loans for millions in projects – to build sidewalks, buy police cars, improve water and sewage service.  Read more here.

Columbia Approves Ballpark Development Project

The Columbia (SC) City Council has approved a venue development agreement for the minor league baseball stadium in the Bull Street development, signaling the city’s next step toward establishing the cornerstone of the mixed-use development.  Read more here.

Key Provisions of the Columbia (SC) Ballpark Contract

Members of the Columbia (SC) City Council are scheduled to cast their first vote Tuesday on the draft construction contract for building a proposed new ballpark for a yet-t0-be-named affiliated baseball team.  Read more here.

No Cost-Benefit Study for Columbia Ballpark Project

The development of Columbia’s baseball stadium will continue without a study of the costs and benefits of the project. In a 3-2 vote, Columbia City Council members voted Tuesday to move forward with building the multipurpose venue without the much discussed cost-benefit analysis.  Read more here.

Columbia Approves Baseball Deal

By a vote of 4-3, the Columbia (SC) City Council has agreed to hire Hardball Capital of Atlanta to bring a minor-league team to Columbia and operate a yet-to-be-built stadium.  This was the first step toward spending $29 million in public money for a $35 million year-round facility.  Read more here.

Columbia (SC), Hardball Capital Amend Ballpark Agreement

The City of Columbia (SC) and Hardball Capital have amended the agreement that would allow the company to manage the city’s planned baseball stadium at the Bull Street development site.  Read more and view agreement details here.

A History of Ballpark Debates in Columbia

Since the first professional game was played in Columbia (SC) in 1904, teams have struggled to find and keep a place to play. And that struggle is taking place again today, as the city, a team owner and a developer for the Bull Street property negotiate to build a new $35 million baseball stadium for an affiliated club.  Read more here.

Columbia Ballpark Vote Today (UPDATED)

The Columbia (SC) City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a contract to build a $35 million ballpark for an affiliated club.  Under the proposed deal, Hardball Capital would put up $6 million, and the city would bond the remaining $29 million.  Hardball Capital would be on the hook for payments until the total amount of private development in the Bull Street project reaches $60 million.  Read more here.

Savannah to Study Feasibility of New Ballpark

Despite some misgivings, the Savannah City Council agreed during a workshop Thursday to request proposals to study the feasibility of a new stadium for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League).  Read more here.

Contract for Columbia Ballpark Project Taking Shape

Columbia (SC) city staffers expect to hammer out a contract for building a new ballpark and bringing an affiliated club to town in the next two weeks.  The city council is expecting to vote on a draft contract at its March 4 meeting.  Read more and view billboards here.

Columbia Considers Options for Financing New Ballpark

The city of Columbia (SC) is looking at three revenue sources that could fund a new baseball stadium for an affiliated club, two of which are bonds that could cost the city roughly $70 million or $80 million over the next several decades.  Read more here.

One More Season at Capital City Stadium for Blowfish? (UPDATED)

The Columbia (SC) City Council on Tuesday night is scheduled to give a second reading approval to an agreement that would bring the summer collegiate Columbia Blowfish (Coastal Plain League) back to Capital City Stadium for the 2014 season.  The city is currently considering a plan to build a new ballpark for an affiliated club.  Read more here.  UPDATE: City approves one more year for Blowfish.  Read more here.

Freier Would Buy Another Team If Both Savannah and Columbia Play Ball

Jason Freier, owner of the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League), says he would buy another team to satisfy both Savannah (GA) and Columbia (SC) if both markets decide to build a new ballpark.  That being said, there is a long way to go here, and it is entirely possible that only one or neither market will play ball with Freier.  Read more here.

Columbia OKs Stadium Negotiations

Columbia (SC) City Council on Tuesday voted to open formal negotiations with a minor-league baseball team owner to build a public stadium in the proposed Bull Street neighborhood and asked for draft contracts in two weeks.  Read more here.

Columbia City Council to Vote on Ballpark Resolution Tuesday

The Columbia (SC) City Council on Tuesday will hold its first public meeting on a proposal to build a new ballpark for a Single-A club.  The council will reportedly vote on the following resolution:

“Authorizing the City Manager to commence negotiations to include financing strategies of a Venue License Agreement between Hardball Capital LLC and the City of Columbia and a Venue Management Agreement between Hardball Capital LLC and the City of Columbia for placement and consideration on the February 4, 2014 City Council Agenda.”

Read more here.

Hostile Crowd Voices Opposition to New Columbia Ballpark

A hostile crowd of about 60 people attended a forum organized at Woodlands Park by two City Council members who have been critical of Columbia’s (SC) proposed plan to build a stadium to attract a Single-A baseball team to the capital city.  The turnout appears to have been a case of organized opposition (by the councilmen), rather than random concerned citizens just showing up.  Read more here.

Developer Offers Up Land for New Columbia Ballpark

Baseball developer Jason Freier told members of the Bull Street Commission during their meeting Monday that developer Bob Hughes would donate between 10 and 12 acres of land if a baseball stadium was approved in Columbia (SC).  Also, Freier said he got the green light from Major League Baseball to explore moving one of his teams to the area.  He owns, via Hardball Capital, the Single-A Fort Wayne

Freier: If You Build It in Columbia, We Will Come

Jason Freier, owner of minor league baseball teams in Fort Wayne (IN) and Savannah (GA), on Wednesday guaranteed he would bring a team to Columbia (SC) if the city builds a new ballpark as part of the redevelopment of the old State Hospital campus on Bull Street.  Read more here.

Sand Gnats Subtly Threaten Move

The Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (South Atlantic League) have expressed a willingness to leave Savannah (GA) for another market, if a new downtown ballpark is not built to supplant outdated Grayson Stadium.  Hardball Capital, the team’s owners, have reportedly already been in contact with city officials in Columbia (SC) about relocation.  Read more here.