Pippins Open Inaugural Season in Front of 3,209

An announced crowd of 3,209 turned out Friday night at “The Orchard” (Yakima County Stadium) to watch the summer collegiate Yakima Valley Pippins (West Coast League) play their first-ever game.  The turnout was larger than any game the then-Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) (now Hillsboro Hops) drew in their 23rd and final season at the ballpark in 2012.  Read more here.

Mascot Scott T. Pippin at inaugural home opener, Yakima Valley Pippins Twitter photo

City Agrees Hillsboro Stadium Won’t Pay for Itself

The city of Hillsboro (OR) appears quite comfortable concluding that the new $12 million, 4,500-seat stadium under construction for the Single-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League) will not be a revenue generator for the city but a valuable community asset/quality of life amenity that will have to be subsidized.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

As We Predicted, It’s the ‘Hillsboro Hops’

PRESS RELEASE – Short Season, LLC announced today that it has selected the name Hillsboro “Hops” for its Single-A baseball team. The Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate begins play in a new state-of-the-art stadium in Hillsboro in 2013 and will play 38 home games from mid-June to early September.

Big Day In Hillsboro Today: First the Name, Then the Funding

As the owner of the relocated Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) prepares to “hop” into next season with the unveiling of the team’s new branding at 9:00 a.m. (PDT) this morning, the Hillsboro (OR) City Council is expected to authorize the issuance of $12.5 million in bonds at a meeting later today as part of the financing plan for the club’s new $15.2 million ballpark.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Team Name Coming Next Week

We think we already have it pegged, but Hillsboro (OR) Professional Baseball announced yesterday on its Facebook page that the new name and logo for the relocated Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) will be unveiled on Tuesday, Oct. 16.  View Facebook page here.

Hillsboro Groundbreaking Today, Brand Unveiling Delayed (But We Think We Know)

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new $15.2 million stadium being built for the relocating Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) is today at 11 a.m. Pacific.  There was also supposed to be an unveiling of the team’s new name a logo, but that’s been delayed for a few weeks.  Read more here.  That said, there is strong evidence that the brand will have a beer connotation that could actually

Hillsboro to Use Full Faith and Credit Bonds to Pay For New Ballpark

The City of Hillsboro (OR) is expected to finance the new $15.2 million ballpark for the relocating Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) with full faith and credit bonds rather than general obligation bonds.  The former is paid for via general funds (no direct funding source) and requires no voter approval.  The latter is usually tied to a new tax or taxes requiring voter approval.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Yakima County Stadium (Yakima, WA)

MLB.com reporter Benjamin Hill visits Yakima County Stadium, home of the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League), before the team relocates to Hillsboro (OR).  Read more and view photos here and here.

Yakima Bears Say Goodbye, Talks With West Coast League Continue

The Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) played their final regular-season home game Saturday night at Yakima County Stadium.  The Bears still have a shot at the league championship in the playoffs, but the team said goodbye last night by playing a montage of highlights from past seasons on the stadium’s video board.  Next season, the team will take up residence in a new

Hillsboro Team Name to Be Announced at Groundbreaking

The owners of the soon-to-be-relocated Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) plan to announce the name of the new Hillsboro (OR) team during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new stadium at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex at 11 a.m. on Sept. 21.  Read more here.

Historical Name Talk in Hillsboro

As the Single-A Yakima Bears prepare to make the move to a new ballpark in Hillsboro (OR), at least one local is exploring the community’s baseball past to come up with a new name for the team.  Her sentimental favorite is the “Hillsboro Cardinals.”  We think something more original is in order.  Read more here.

Milwaukie Pulls Plug On Ballpark Project

The City of Milwaukie (OR) has decided shelve a plan to build a new baseball stadium, after time ran out to provide a needed economic feasibility study for building a more modest facility for a summer collegiate West Coast League franchise, after talks broke down with the Single-A Northwest League.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Council to Consider Proposed Ballpark Naming Rights Deal

The City of Hillsboro (OR) has reportedly negotiated the terms of a ballpark naming rights agreement for the 4,500-seat stadium to be built at the Gordon Faber Recreational Complex for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  The proposed deal, worth $150,000 annually, is expected to come before the city council Tuesday.  Read more here.

Don’t Push, Don’t Get

While the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) were willing to pony up 30 percent of the cost for a new Vancouver (WA) stadium, they didn’t offer any contribution to Hillsboro (OR) for their new home, nor did Hillsboro appear to push for one.  City officials either didn’t do their homework, are poor or inexperienced negotiators, or simply wanted to get a deal done quickly (like they did)

Milwaukie (OR) Still in the Game, But What Team?

The Portland suburb of Hillsboro muscled ahead of Milwaukie in the ballpark sweepstakes to lure a Single-A Northwest League franchise.  Despite Hillsboro’s success in snagging the Yakima Bears, Milwaukie expects to secure commitments for a team and a

Yakima Bears Deal Approved

The Hillsboro City Council voted Tuesday evening to approve a deal that will bring the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) to a new ballpark in the Portland suburb beginning in 2013.  As we have stated before, expect the summer collegiate West Coast League to quickly step in to fill the void in Yakima.  Read more here.

Boise Mayor: New Ballpark For Hawks Highest Priority

Houston-area businessman Neil Leibman, CEO of the Single-A Boise Hawks (Northwest League) and part owner of the Texas Rangers, is feeling a little more optimistic about a new ballpark for the club after a meeting Wednesday afternoon with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter.  Read more here.  Serious or not, the Hawks flirted with Hillsboro before the league voted 7-1 in favor of  sending the Yakima

Yakima Bears, Hillsboro Strike Deal

The City of Hillsboro and the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) have reportedly agreed to terms that would bring the franchise to a new ballpark in the Portland suburb beginning as early as next season.  Expect the summer collegiate West Coast League to quickly step in to fill the void in Yakima.  Read more here.

Hillsboro Approves Offer to Lure Yakima Bears

The Hillsboro (OR) City Council voted Tuesday to approve the terms of a 20-year contract offer to bring the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) to a new $13.4 million, 4,500-seat stadium at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.  Under the terms, the Bears will have until June 29 to respond, unless the timeline is extended.  Read more and watch video here.  View the offer sheet here.

Yakima Bears On Way to Hillsboro?

The Hillsboro (OR) City Council is expected to vote Tuesday to approve the terms of 20-year contract offer to bring the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) to a new $13.4 million, 4,500-seat stadium at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.  If approved by the council, the Bears will have until June 29 to respond, unless the timeline is extended.  Read more here.  View the offer sheet here.

Milwuakie (OR) Blazes New Ballpark Trail

The City of Milwuakie (OR) has hired former Portland Trail Blazers executive and Portland Business Association president J.E. Isaac as the chief consultant to help bring a Single-A Northwest League franchise to the city.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Yakima County Stadium (Yakima, WA)

LittleBallparks.com visits Yakima County Stadium, home (at least for now) of the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  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.

New Vancouver (WA) Ballpark Funding Options on Deck for Public Hearing Next Week

The Clark County (Vancouver, WA) Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing next Wednesday to consider public funding options for the proposed new ballpark on the campus of Clark College for the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League).  Read more here.

Milwaukie (OR) Trolling for NWL Team to Fill New Ballpark

As we previously posted, the city of Milwaukie (OR), a suburb of teamless Portland, is pursuing a new 4,000-seat ballpark for a yet-to-be-determined Single-A Northwest League franchise.  The Yakima Bears are the obvious target, particularly if Vancouver (WA) stumbles, but based on attendance numbers and the quality of the

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.

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.

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 Approves Exclusivity Deal with Yakima Bears

Clark County (Vancouver, WA) commissioners approved an agreement on Tuesday night that would lock the Single-A Yakima (WA) Bears into exclusive negotiations with Clark County for a new 3,500-seat ballpark on the campus of Clark College.  Read more here and here.

Clark County Commissioners: ‘Three Stooges Version of Local Government’?

The Columbian sports editor Greg Jayne pokes fun at the Clark County (Vancouver, WA) commissioners for asking the Yakima (WA) Bears to sign an exclusivity agreement for negotiating a new ballpark, but then delaying a vote to approve it.  Read more here.

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.

West Coast League Pounces on Yakima Opportunity

Sources tell us that the summer collegiate West Coast League is already engaged in very promising discussions with officials in Yakima (WA) to replace the Single-A Yakima Bears at Yakima County Stadium, should the Northwest League franchise relocate to Vancouver (WA).  In fact, we’ve heard a formal announcement could come as early as this week.