IndependentBaseball.net

Here is an interesting aspect of new independent baseball stadium construction:  a speakers bureau was formed for the new Atlantic League stadium which is being built in Sugar Land, Texas:

• http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/08/20/47385

I know that many people only care about the on-field action when it comes to independent minor league baseball; but this information is useful to get a better understanding of the bigger picture of what is happening in the industry.  Decisions made early in the planning phase ultimately can affect some aspect of the play on the field and, even moreso, the experiences which fans will have at the games.

Feel free to chime in and leave your comments on cities creating speakers bureaus regarding sports venues.

Resources for those involved with baseball at any level:

If you, or someone you know, is a youth baseball parent and frustrated with the experience then click here: Youth Baseball Parents

If you, or someone you, want guidance from actual independent minor league baseball executives on how to succeed in the independent minor leagues then click here: Independent Baseball Advice Interviews

If you simply want to find out about independent minor league baseball tryouts then click here: Independent Minor League Baseball Tryouts Notification List

If you, or someone you care about, want to improve the mental game of baseball then click here: Improving Your Baseball Mental Game

If you, or someone you know, need to improve your 60 yard dash time then click here: Click Here

Click this link if you, or someone you know, need baseball equipment which occasionally is on sale and/or offers free shipping (check the site for any such incentives):

One of the large appeals of minor league baseball (affiliated or independent) is when new ballparks are built.  Here is something which helps explain the business of baseball better:  a new stadium’s RFQ:

• http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/sugarland/cultural_district/index.asp

Surprisingly, the decisions made during the RFQ process and beyond will affect the experience fans have (positive or negative) for years to come.  They even may affect who plays on a team because of stadium dimensions and nuances.  For example, a change in the location of a new stadium, or the dimensions of the field, determine whether certain advantages/disadvantages will exist for pitchers, certain types of hitters, and those players who may (or may not) be signed to a team due to how the wind affects the action on the field.  It may sound ridiculous at first, but these types of conversations have been had by independent baseball managers and GM’s; and many times the roots of these decisions can be traced back to the stadium’s construction.

Feel free to chime in and leave your thoughts.  I just wanted you to see a different side of the independent baseball business which most fans never see.

Resources for those involved with baseball at any level:

If you, or someone you know, is a youth baseball parent and frustrated with the experience then click here: Youth Baseball Parents

If you, or someone you, want guidance from actual independent minor league baseball executives on how to succeed in the independent minor leagues then click here: Independent Baseball Advice Interviews

If you simply want to find out about independent minor league baseball tryouts then click here: Independent Minor League Baseball Tryouts Notification List

If you, or someone you care about, want to improve the mental game of baseball then click here: Improving Your Baseball Mental Game

If you, or someone you know, need to improve your 60 yard dash time then click here: Click Here

Click this link if you, or someone you know, need baseball equipment which occasionally is on sale and/or offers free shipping (check the site for any such incentives):

Here is an interesting announcement from the Laredo Broncos of the United League.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH43zN0YKwY
• http://ballparkbiz.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/save-the-broncos/

The Broncos may be forced out of the city due to the playing rights for the new Laredo stadium going to the Ventura Group, which owns teams in the American Association.  If you have any opinions on the matter then you are welcome to leave your comments on this post.

Here is an article about yet another proposed independent baseball stadium, and this one is proposed to be built in suburban Indianapolis, IN:

• http://www.ibj.com/the-score/2010/06/23/is-new-westfield-pro-baseball-team-taking-aim-at-indians/PARAMS/post/20714

If you have more information about the ownership group, the region’s demographics, the community’s level of interest, or other information then feel free to leave a comment.

Please remember that this new stadium construction possibility does not exist in a “vacuum.”  Many other cities are in the process of considering (or are already building) new independent league stadiums.  Here is a quick list:

• Zion, IL (Lake County Fielders – Northern League)
• Ramapo, NY (Can-Am League)
• Omaha, NE (multiple leagues vying for the opportunity)
• Laredo, TX (American Association)
• Montgomery County, TX
• Sugarland, TX
• Oakland County, MI
• St. Paul, MN

In addition, other new stadiums have been built in the last few years:

• Grand Prairie Airhogs (Grand Prairie, TX)
• Normal Cornbelters (Normal, IL)

This does not even include financing situations regarding current team’s stadium renovations such as in Pensacola, FL.

Bob Wirz, who writes the Independent Baseball Insider column, has an excerpt from his column on the Ventura Group which owns multiple teams in the American Association.  The excerpt covers the group’s plans to build multiple independent minor league baseball stadiums in the upcoming months outside of Houston, in Laredo, and in Kansas:

• http://www.thesportsbank.net/northern-league/ventura-sports-will-deliver-two-more-american-association-teams-in-%E2%80%9912/

Evidently, there are no takers for the naming rights to the Long Island Ducks (Atlantic League) stadium.  Supposedly, several companies were contacted after the previous agreement ended but there were no deals made:

• http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=201524

If you have opinions on how teams can give extra value to companies who sponsor the naming rights to stadiums then leave your opinions on this post.

Here is news about the possible new independent baseball stadium which would have been built in Fort Smith, Arkansas:

• http://www.swtimes.com/news/article_cf08eb1e-7176-11df-9e1e-001cc4c03286.html

Again, it seems that people do not recognize the return-on-investment which an independent league can bring.  Dealing with local apathy, people hanging onto their wallets in a much tougher economy, and civic leaders feeling voting pressure is affecting a lot of this sentiment against new stadium construction.

Feel free to leave your thoughts as well as what independent baseball can do to re-energize fans in these prospective new markets.

In recent months, a significant number of new independent minor league baseball stadium construction deals have been announced.  Most have been for teams to come to new cities which have not had independent baseball previously.

Many of them, as reported on this site and others, have had snags and challenges with financing, scheduling, and other backlash from citizens due to the proposed costs and/or structures of the deals with the respective cities.

Here is another possible concern for the expansion of independent baseball:

• http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/06/04/r_jsobjfjbtk6yeps5oxo4a/index.xml

Hopefully these expansion teams have solid numbers, conservative projections on attendance and traffic (if retail shops are included), and create legitimate jobs in their respective areas.  With new expansion plans across the country (New York, Illinois, Texas, and more), hopefully the independent leagues can help local residents feel reassured about their civic leaders’ decisions by offering quality entertainment which has local support.

If you have opinions on this new “stadium boom” then feel free to leave your comments on this post.

Here is a video about the Normal Cornbelters new independent baseball stadium.  The team plays in the Frontier League:

• http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/vmix_1f455916-699b-11df-afa7-001cc4c002e0.html

Here is information about the new independent baseball stadium to be built in Ramapo:

• http://rockland.lohudblogs.com/2010/05/27/ramapo-town-board-votes-to-allow-development-agency-bond-16-5m-bond-for-construction-of-a-baseball-stadium-when-the-time-comes/

This is an interesting situation because many of the pieces of the puzzle are not yet available such as:

• publicly announced ownership
• safe land (from health standpoint)

Here is more information about Ramapo, so that you can asses the economic potential of the team based on demographics and other summertime entertainment alternatives:

• http://www.city-data.com/city/Ramapo-New-York.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramapo,_New_York
• http://www.ramapo.org/

The other question is if Ramapo gets added to the Can-Am League then where would an eighth team be located.  Hopefully if all goes well, the Can-Am League will be able to reduce travel costs to a degree by having a strategically-located new team which can operate profitably.

Feel free to leave your comments on this post and/or share it with your friends and social networks.