Wichita Getting New Ballpark

Sedgwick County (KS) commissioners approved a special Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district to pay for improvements on downtown Wichita’s riverfront, including replacing Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.  Read more here.  This move reportedly removes the final obstacle to building a new baseball stadium.

Wichita Takes Next Ballpark Steps, Approves Bonding

A sales tax bond district to fund about half the projected cost of replacing 82-year-old Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, the current home of the Wichita Wingnuts (Independent Professional, American Association) with a new and more modern ballpark has been unanimously approved by the Wichita (KS) City Council.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Wingnuts Make Strategic Move to Support Construction of New Ballpark

The Wichita Wingnuts (Independent Professional, American Association) support the planned construction of a new baseball stadium in downtown Wichita (KS), even if it lures affiliated ball to town.  That said, the Wingnuts believe fans would support the team in a new ballpark.  According to Wingnuts co-owner Gary Austerman:

“The quality of [Double-A ball] is no better, that’s one thing.  I do think that the Wichita Wingnuts have tried to put the best level of baseball out there, and I think that’s been a little underappreciated.”

Read more here.

Wichita Focuses on New Ballpark To Dos, Potential Groundbreaking Early 2018

There are, as Wichita (KS) Mayor Jeff Longwell puts it, “plenty of checks and balances” that must occur before ground breaks on a new baseball stadium downtown.  There are also endpoints to each of those checks that make the project increasingly realistic.  Read more here.

Shockers Announce Section 42 at Eck Stadium, Introduce Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The Wichita State baseball program will be working with League 42 to open Section 42 at Eck Stadium. The Shockers have worked with League 42 over the past few years including holding clinics for the kids every year and helping with an annual golf tournament that raises money for League 42.

Wichita Counsel Votes Unanimously to Expand Bonding for New Ballpark

Moving toward building a new ballpark and commercial district west of the Arkansas River, the Wichita (KS) City Council on Tuesday approved expanding a sales tax district to pay for public improvements.  Proponents hope to lure the San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League), which will need a new home if San Antonio builds a new stadium for a Triple-A club.  Read more here.

Contemplating Wichita’s Baseball Future

The Wichita Eagle’s Bob Lutz takes a look at the future of baseball in Wichita (KS), as discussions in several markets remain heated over the possibility of that the San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League) will need a new home if San Antonio steps up to the plate to lure the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League).  Read more here.