Yakima Name-the-Team Finalists Announced

The owners of the new summer collegiate West Coast League franchise in Yakima (WA) have announced the following five finalists for the name-the-team contest:

1 – Pippins
2 – Red Tails
3 – Short Hops
4 – SunRays
5 – Cascaders

Fans can vote online at www.yakimabaseball.com starting on Friday, Sept 20th.

Leased Finalized in Yakima for West Coast League Team

Representatives from Pacific Baseball Ventures and the Central Washington State Fair Park Association officially signed a lease securing Yakima’s entry into the summer collegiate West Coast League for the 2014 season.  Read more here.

Team Yakima Launches Name-the-Team Contest

Owners of the summer collegiate West Coast League expansion franchise in Yakima (WA) have launched a name-the-team contest.  The team will play at Yakima County Stadium beginning in 2014 — replacing the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League), which relocated to a new ballpark in Hillsboro (OR) and became the Hillsboro Hops.   Click here to enter the contest.

West Coast League Expands to Yakima

PRESS RELEASE – The West Coast League will expand in 2014 as Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC (PBV), the ownership group of the Walla Walla Sweets, announced today that they have been awarded a West Coast League membership in Yakima, Washington. The soon-to-be-named Yakima team will begin WCL play in time for the 2014 season. The Sweets will continue to play in Walla

GWU Colonials Open New Ballpark

The George Washington University (GWU) Colonials have opened their new stadium at Barcroft Park, built in a partnership between the university and the Arlington County (VA) government.  Read more here.  Watch video of opener here.  View GWU’s 2011 announcement here.

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

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Gesa Stadium (Pasco, WA)

LittleBallparks.com visits Gesa Stadium, home of the Single-A Tri-City Dust Devils (Northwest League).  As described by the site’s Paul Crumlish, Gesa is a “Nice little park a long way from anything. But amazing landscape of the Columbia River and lava flows is worth the drive. Sunset on the landscape is almost a distraction from the game.”  View photos here.

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)?

Lead Business Group Backs Tax Plan for Ballpark

The Greater Vancouver (WA) Chamber of Commerce has officially endorsed a proposed plan for a 5-percent admissions tax to help pay for a new $19.5 million baseball stadium for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  Read more here.

Admissions Tax Funding Revealed for New Vancouver Ballpark

The Clark County (Vancouver, WA) Board of Commissioners have released details on a proposed new 5 percent admissions tax to help pay for a new ballpark for the Single-A Yakima (WA) Bears (Northwest League).  Read more here.

Vancouver Ballpark Funding Hearing Postponed

A public hearing on an admissions tax to help fund the proposed new $22.7 million baseball stadium at Clark College in Vancouver (WA) for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) has been indefinitely postponed, after the Bears requested more time to rework their proposal.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

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.

Vancouver Ballpark Study Released

The Columbia River Economic Development Council has released a commissioned study to determine the feasibility of  building a new $22.7 million ballpark in Clark County (Vancouver, WA) for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  The study estimates the project would generate $206.5 million in pubic-private investment over 20 years.  Read more here.

Pfitzner Stadium to Get Field Upgrades After Spat

Despite the fact that Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber is working on a new privately-funded ballpark for his Single-A, Carolina League club, Prince William County (VA) has decided to spend up to $250,000 on playing field upgrades at Pfitzner Stadium.  Read more here.  Just last week, there was a three-way spat between Silber, the county, and the Washington Nationals over the field’s conditions.

Vancouver Will Engage in Ballpark Discussions with Clark County

The Vancouver (WA) City Council gave approval on Monday for the city manager to engage in talks with Clark County to determine its role, if any, in building a proposed new ballpark for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  Read more here.

Progress on New Vancouver Stadium for Bears

There is still a long way to go here to lock in a ballpark deal in Clark County (Vancouver, WA) for the Single-A Yakima Bears, but progress is being made.  The Clark County Board of Commissioners are expected to sign off on a non-binding letter of intent with the Northwest League club on Tuesday, July 26.   An impact study commissioned by the CREDC will be released soon.  Read more here.

Study Commissioned for Proposed Vancouver (WA) Ballpark

The Columbia River Economic Development Council has commissioned a study to determine the economic impact of a proposed new $23 million ballpark in Clark County (Vancouver, WA) for the Single-A Yakima (WA) Bears.  The study is expected to be completed by next week.  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.

Fans Show Support for Bears Despite Threatened Move

A near-capacity crowd of 2,246 showed up for the Yakima (WA) Bears’ home opener last night, despite talk about the team’s pending relocation to Vancouver (WA).  The capacity of Yakima County Stadium is 2,654.  Read more here.

Yakima Striking Back?

Yakima councilman Dave Edler is taking the pulse of city councils in Selah and Union Gap to see if there would be interest in creating a public facilities district that would help fund a new ballpark for the Single-A Yakima bears via a sales tax in Yakima and the other two cities.  As you know, the Bears have a deal in place to negotiate exclusively for a new stadium with Clark County (Vancouver, WA).  Read more here.

Will Bears Be Forced to Pony Up More?

According to Clark County (Vancouver, WA) Deputy Treasurer John Payne, a five percent countywide admissions tax would generate $965,000 per year, which only covers 53 percent of the capital construction costs for the proposed new $23 million ballpark for the Single-A Yakima (WA) Bears.  It looks like the 70/30 public/private split contemplated by the parties isn’t

Clark County Delays Vote to Approve Exclusivity Contract with Bears

Clark County (Vancouver, WA) Commissioners have decided to put off consideration of an exclusivity contract with the Single-A Yakima Bears until Tuesday, June 7.  Commissioners argued that the delay will allow for more public input into the idea of building a new ballpark for the Bears.  Read more here and here.

Yakima Bears to Negotiate Exclusively with Vancouver

It appears that the Single-A Yakima (WA) Bears will not be playing markets off against each other in the club’s search for a new ballpark.  Team officials are expected to sign an agreement to negotiate exclusively with Vancouver (WA), a city of 165,809 that sits just across the mighty Columbia River from teamless Portland (OR).  The penalty for cheating on Vancouver: $250,000.

No Fight in Yakima for Bears?

After the announcement on Friday that the Single-A Yakima (WA) Bears are targeting Vancouver (WA) for relocation, locals in Yakima seem resigned to the reality that they will lose the team.  Some folks have even shown a little viciousness with “don’t let the door hit you on the …”-toned comments under today’s story in the local paper.  Read more here.

Yakima Bears Targeting Move to Vancouver (WA) in 2012

With the Portland Beavers are gone, and the proposed new ballpark in Yakima (WA) on ice (as a direct source has told us), the Single-A Yakima Bears are looking to snag the Portland (OR)-Vancouver(WA) market.  At a press conference on Friday, representatives from Identity Clark County and the Bears presented a proposal to build a $23-million, 3,500-seat stadium on the