Plans for the area around Wichita’s (KS) new baseball stadium for the relocating New Orleans Baby Cakes (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) call for a large parking garage and additional surface parking. The parking garage would also double as a transit center. Read more here
A development group involved in the project for a new baseball stadium in Wichita (KS) has created an advisory board that will help in the establishment of an entertainment district around the stadium. Read more here.
The Syracuse Mets’ (Triple-A, International League) 2019 Ballpark Craft Beer Festival, featuring samples of more than 100 beers from 50 or so breweries, will be 7 to 10 p.m. Friday June 21. That’s an off-night for the team. In previous years, the beer fest had been held in September, after the end of the season. Read more here.
Filed under Conference & Events, Food & Beverage
On May 4, San Antonio voters will elect a new mayor, and the election has become a proxy contest for a Chick-fil-A controversy. Incumbent Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who supports barring the company at the San Antonio airport, faces City Councilman Greg Brockhouse, who wants to reverse the City Council decision to do so. Read about the controversy here. Read more here. How does this relate to a potential new ballpark for the San Antonio Missions (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League)? Nirenberg has been less enthusiastic about city involvement in a new ballpark than Brockhouse. Read more here. If the Chick-fil-Aers come out to vote, it could turn the ballpark tide for the Missions.
Filed under Lease & Contracts, Legal, Stadium Issues
Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com was in Summerlin (NV) recently to tour the new $100-million ballpark that opened last week for the Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League). Mock’s in-depth review checks in at 5,800 words and three-dozen photographs covering everything from the ballpark design to fan amenities and concessions. Read review and view photos here.
Don't miss our brand-new review of Las Vegas Ballpark! Loads of info and lots of photos you won't see anywhere else. https://t.co/Qzni5Oqcyv @AviatorsLV @thelvballpark @HOKSportsRecEnt pic.twitter.com/mpQgFuoUnv
— Joe Mock (@baseballparks) April 15, 2019
Filed under Ballpark Visits, Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
The Worcester Redevelopment Authority board unanimously voted Friday to take the first three properties needed to assemble the footprint for the construction of a minor league ballpark off Kelley Square. The board also voted to spend $23 million for the design and construction of a structured parking garage that will be built on the south side of Madison Street. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Wichita (KS) city officials, the owner of the Miami Marlins and Wichita baseball fans gathered Thursday morning for the ceremonial placement of home plate at the new minor league baseball stadium. Read more and watch news report here. Meanwhile, Scott Sherry of JE Dunn Construction gave an update on the progress of the new ballpark, which is expected to be completed in March of 2020. Read more and watch video here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
The Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) opened their new ballpark in Summerlin (NV) Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 11,036. They also introduced two new mascots — Spruce the Goose and Mr. Aviator. Read more and watch news report here. Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com is in Vegas to experience the stadium, so we expect some great professional coverage from his visit. Stay tuned!
We’re the two best friends that anyone could have! 😉⚾️✈️ pic.twitter.com/ufpJ8D0IA2
— Spruce the Goose (@SpruceLV) April 10, 2019
I'll have a lot more to say about the color scheme here at @theLVballpark, but for now, the orange on the underside of the roof is brilliant. @AviatorsLV pic.twitter.com/dFmW6Jr7Cg
— Joe Mock (@baseballparks) April 10, 2019
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
The Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) held media day at the new Las Vegas Ballpark on Tuesday. Read more and watch news report here. Meanwhile, Celebrity chef Giada de Laurentiis is playing a starring role in a food and beverage lineup worthy of the majors. Read more here.
The pool located behind the @thelvballpark outfield is now filled with water and ready to go for Opening Day next week. #vegas #aviators #milb pic.twitter.com/BeYhOpmU9A
— Mick Akers (@mickakers) April 2, 2019
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
PRESS RELEASE – The $3.4 million dollars in capital improvements pledged to Chukchansi Park by the Fresno Sports & Events LLC ownership group, now in their second season operating the Fresno Grizzlies, are taking shape in advance of Opening Day 2019 (Thursday, April 4, 7:05 p.m. first pitch).
PRESS RELEASE – AutoZone Park’s 20th season is underway after nearly $2 million in stadium upgrades, improvements, and renovations ahead of 89 scheduled Memphis Redbirds and Memphis 901 FC games.
PRESS RELEASE – The off-season taste testing is complete, and the Toledo Mud Hens are introducing a wide array of new food and beverage options for fans at Fifth Third Field. Here are the new menu items fans can enjoy beginning Opening Day on April 4.
Filed under Food & Beverage
The final piece of the construction/design team for Worcester’s (MA) ballpark project is now in place, as the city’s redevelopment authority has awarded the construction manager at risk contract to Gilbane-Hunt, a joint venture. In a related matter, offers are being made for acquisition of properties in the area of the proposed ballpark site. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
The Wichita (KS) City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night to move forward with a development agreement on the new baseball stadium and some of the land around it. Read more and watch news report here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
With a New England accent and penchant for colorful detail delivered without taking a breath — at least when he’s in sales-pitch mode — New Orleans Baby Cakes (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) owner Lou Schwechheimer is in Wichita (KS) to sell a dream. Read more here.
Filed under Uncategorized
More than three years of negotiations — punctuated by weeks of public outcry over transparency — come down to a Tuesday City Council vote on a development agreement for Wichita’s (KS) new ballpark. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Grass was laid down at the Las Vegas Ballpark Thursday, just weeks before the Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) are scheduled to start playing there. Opening day is April 9 when the Aviators will play Sacramento at 7:05 p.m. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Field & Turf, Stadium Issues
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo says she’s actively trying to recruit a new professional sports team to replace the Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A, International League) at McCoy Stadium. Inquiries have reportedly come for the ranks of soccer, baseball and more. A formal request of proposals document/process for the future use of McCoy Stadium is forthcoming. Read more and watch video here.
Filed under Lease & Contracts, Market & Location
The Selection Committee for Polar Park has recommended to the Worcester (MA) Redevelopment Authority that Gilbane-Hunt, a joint venture, be construction manager for the ballpark project. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
After three years of construction, the Alfredo Harp Helú baseball stadium, the new home of the Diablos Rojos del México (Triple-A, Liga Mexicana de Béisbol). will be inaugurated on March 23, just ahead of the start of the new season on April 5. Read more and view photo here. View another photo here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
During “#NewFoodWeek” across the team’s social media channels, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs introduced the new items that will be available around the Coca-Cola Park concourse, as well as items exclusive to the club-level menu. Read more here.
Filed under Food & Beverage
Drone footage captured the latest updates of the Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin. The big update, as of March 7, includes large signage above where the biggest video scoreboard in minor league baseball will reside. Read more and watch video here. The biggest news though, might be $2 beer nights at the new stadium:
The days of enjoying $1 beer nights at 51s (now @AviatorsLV) games are a thing of the past 🍺https://t.co/iiJHYOCRHe
— Las Vegas RJ (@reviewjournal) March 8, 2019
The Louisville Bats (Triple-A, International League), in partnership with Four Roses Bourbon, announced in a press conference at Louisville Slugger Field on Thursday that the team will re-brand as the Derby City Mint Juleps for two games during the 2019 season. Read more here.
New figures show the debt incurred for building Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League), will be covered by revenue generated by the stadium and hotel occupancy tax revenue alone after 2021, two years ahead of schedule. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Money & Financials, Stadium Issues
The stadium that will serve as the new home for the Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) is quickly taking shape in Downtown Summerlin (NV), after nearly a year of construction. The seats are filling in, the scoreboard is going up, and they’re getting the field prepared for grass. Watch video here.
Get ready, baseball fans! @thelvballpark is expected to open in less than 50 days… https://t.co/0XJvDjmJsR
— Las Vegas RJ (@reviewjournal) February 20, 2019
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Construction on Wichita’s new baseball stadium project is hitting warp speed as government officials and developers try to get the stadium up and running by spring 2020. The first round of building was approved by the City Council last Tuesday and work began Wednesday. Read more here. Watch groundbreaking here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
In honor of one of sport’s cinema’s most iconic scenes, the Durham Bulls (Triple-A, International League) will rebrand for one night only as the Durham Lollygaggers. On June 14th, 31 years after the release of the Bull Durham movie, the team will take the field in specially-designed jerseys and hats to commemorate a scene still mentioned across pop culture today. Read more here.
Las Vegas Ballpark will have the biggest videoboard in minor league baseball — and bigger than those at stadiums of five Major League Baseball teams. Read more here. View press release here.
Filed under Amenities & Features, Media
PRESS RELEASE – With Opening Day fast approaching, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders have announced their 2019 promotional schedule. The RailRiders, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, will celebrate 30 years of professional baseball in Northeast Pennsylvania during the upcoming season and the promotional highlights will revolve around that history.
Filed under Fun & Atmosphere, Promotions & Entertainment
PRESS RELEASE – The Fresno Grizzlies have changed their primary logo(s), colors and uniforms, effective for the 2019 season. The new independent look for “Growlifornia” is part of a continued branding effort by the Grizzlies to be “Fresno and the Central Valley’s team.” The scarlet, black, gold and beige scheme will be the Fresno Grizzlies’ new permanent look.
Filed under Branding & Marketing
On Tuesday, Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A, International League) President Dr. Charles Steinberg, Paw Sox Chairman Larry Lucchino, ballpark designer Janet Marie Smith, and City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., welcomed some of the other people who will sit around the ballpark-design table, including D’Agostino Izzo Quirk Architects and Sasaki Associates — leaders of the design effort for Polar Park and its surroundings. Read more here and here.
City of Worcester Introduces D’Agostino Izzo Quirk Architects and Sasaki Associates to provide ballpark design https://t.co/7ZGKmTNScf
— Polar Park (@PolarPark2021) January 29, 2019
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
PRESS RELEASE – As Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark gets ready for its 22nd season as the home of professional baseball in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Dodgers have announced a series of improvements and renovations to the facility for 2019 and beyond.
Wichita (KS) officials, along with architecture and construction firms, have unveiled new renderings of a new ballpark that will host the relocating, soon-to-be-renamed New Orleans Baby Cakes (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League). Read more and watch video here.
**NEW** Via @DionKansas:
First look: Wichita’s new ball park and what will be in it https://t.co/bhiP5ERPxG@WichitaBaseball @jefflongwellict @CityofWichita #baseballICT pic.twitter.com/DgAPMvH3sw
— kansasdotcom (@kansasdotcom) January 23, 2019
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Sasaki Associates is being brought on as part of the design team for Polar Park, the new baseball stadium that will be built in Worcester (MA) for the relocating Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A, International League). The firm has expertise in urban design and landscape architecture. Read more here.
Suggestions are now being taken to name the new Triple-A team that will begin playing in downtown Wichita (KS) in 2020. Read more here. Visit name-the-team site here.
Filed under Branding & Marketing
Three months before the first pitch is thrown at the new Las Vegas Ballpark, workers are finishing up construction on the stadium — installing the first AirFlow mesh seats on Friday. Read more here.
4Topps First Glimpse at our
First Class Fan Experience:💺 100% AirFlow Mesh Seats pic.twitter.com/pdl0cFVwwL
— Las Vegas Ballpark (@thelvballpark) January 4, 2019
This past June, the Tacoma Rainiers (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) brought reindeer mascot Rhubarb and local icon “Epic Sax Gorilla” up onto the roof of Cheney Stadium, where the club plays, for a routine crowd-pleasing stunt. Read more here. Watch performance here.
Filed under Fun & Atmosphere, Legal
A significant amount of infrastructure work is planned in the Canal District, Kelley Square and Green Island in Worcester (MA) in the coming months to prepare for the construction of the new home of the Boston Red Sox’s top minor league team. Read more here.
Filed under Design & Construction, Stadium Issues
Empire State Development has awarded Monroe County (NY) a $550,000 grant to help fund significant upgrades to Frontier Field in Rochester, home of the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, International League). Planned improvements include a 360-degree concourse, kids area, beer and wine garden, an expanded party space, and more. Read more here.
PRESS RELEASE – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are pleased to announce a free, six-part lecture series for parents of players registered for the upcoming Winter Camps at PNC Field. RailRiders University is presented by Geisinger, who is proud to offer its expertise for these informative sessions in the home clubhouse at PNC Field.
Filed under Conference & Events
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