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Started By
Message
Minor League baseball future in NOLA leaks bleak
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:33 am
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:33 am
LINK
That's a shame...I would really like to see a AA ball club come here as there are better prospects.
That's a shame...I would really like to see a AA ball club come here as there are better prospects.
quote:
The 2019 season will likely be the final one for the Baby Cakes in New Orleans and likely the beginning of a lengthy hiatus for minor league baseball in the Crescent City.
At Thursday’s Superdome Commission meeting, LSED chairman Kyle France said that two other sports are expected to fill the void at the facility formerly known as Zephyr Field when the Cakes depart for Wichita.
France was asked about the 2020 season and the possibility of minor league baseball returning with another franchise.
“I don’t know about next year, but we are looking beyond that,” said France. “What are we going to do with this facility long term? We have been talking to some rugby folks and soccer teams, and I think there are opportunities to do better than we are doing out there, now, so.
“As far as baseball, that remains to be seen long term.”
France told a reporter that it was up to the state of Louisiana to decide whether to invest money in an extensive renovation of the ballpark, an item that is likely a key component to a minor league team relocation to New Orleans.
NOLA Gold Rugby, a second-year franchise in Major League Rugby that has played its home games at Archbishop Shaw’s new football stadium, is a likely tenant. France said he is also talking to several soccer minor leagues about placing a franchise in New Orleans.
It is clear that the Superdome Commission, which oversees the operation of the Shrine on Airline for the state of Louisiana, thinks there is more money to be made with rugby and soccer.
Maybe so.
But, there’s no denying that minor league baseball in New Orleans has been hampered by several issues.
The first is out-of-town ownership.
The second is the aging facility. As millions were poured into the Superdome and the Smoothie King Center, the baseball stadium – now two decades old – remained mostly untouched.
And third, the Miami Marlins have been a terrible Triple-A affiliate, since the organization has consistently sent bad teams to New Orleans.
Former Zephyrs COO Ron Maestri admits that no minor league baseball is on the horizon in New Orleans.
“It is a tragedy to lose minor league baseball,” said Maestri. “Especially when so many people worked hard to bring it here.”
The dynamic for Zephyrs baseball changed dramatically in the spring of 2002 when the NBA Hornets relocated from Charlotte. Suddenly, Triple-A baseball was third fiddle in the chase for sports sponsorship dollars.
In the meantime, it will be up to the state of Louisiana and Governor John Bel Edwards to decide if New Orleans will attempt to get back into minor league baseball.
France said so in a conversation Thursday with a reporter prior to the scheduled meeting of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District.
Right now, the state appears not to have the palate to make a multi-million dollar effort to bring baseball back.
20
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:38 am to JS87
I guess I'll have to get in some Thirsty Thursdays this season while I still can.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:38 am to JS87
A nice ballpark downtown like the Redbirds have in Memphis would be pretty cool / may work. The Zephyrs park was built during the huge migration of $$$ to the suburbs.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:38 am to JS87
It’s MiLB, who cares?
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:38 am to JS87
Rugby and soccer would suck in that stadium. It's a baseball stadium, not meant for those sports..
When HS football was played there, it was terrible...
There's basically no visitors side, and you have to sit about 12 rows up to see over the players to see the field on the "home" side along the 3rd base line...
The sight lines are the worst...
When HS football was played there, it was terrible...
There's basically no visitors side, and you have to sit about 12 rows up to see over the players to see the field on the "home" side along the 3rd base line...
The sight lines are the worst...
This post was edited on 2/25/19 at 11:40 am
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:41 am to JS87
Of course it’s bleak. The stadium is bland. Southern League, Texas League, and even Eastern League stadiums kick the arse of that place.
It has a good seating capacity, that’s about it.
The solution is a downtown ballpark, and probably a double A franchise. But that won’t get done.
It has a good seating capacity, that’s about it.
The solution is a downtown ballpark, and probably a double A franchise. But that won’t get done.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:43 am to NIH
quote:
A nice ballpark downtown like the Redbirds have in Memphis would be pretty cool / may work. The Zephyrs park was built during the huge migration of $$$ to the suburbs.
Agreed, it is way too remote.
Downtown ballpark would allow for people to make it part of a night out on the town.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:45 am to JS87
This is truly sad.
I had season tix. for a few years, and worked on-and-off after that on gameday staff (usher) it is sad to see what happened to this franchise after 2001-2002.
To ME, what harmed this franchise was:
1. The Astros moving their AAA affiliate to Round Rock, Texas, at the time owned by Nolan Ryan. It made sense for Houston, but not for New Orleans.
2. Rob Couhig deciding to run for office which was predicated upon him selling the franchise, thus as the article mentioned, losing local ownership.
3. Also stated in the article, the arrival of the N.B.A. which altered the sports landscape of New Orleans from one major league and three minor league franchises (New Orleans Brass, New Orleans Zephyrs, New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers/Storm) to TWO major league franchises and one minor league.
3a. My only quibble with #3 is that minor league baseball normally falls somewhat between the N.B.A. and the N.F.L. with overlaps only at the beginning and end of baseball season. Also, a Zephyrs' game was always much less expensive and offered more games than the once-a-week Saints, or the Hornets/Pelicans.
Losing local ownership was huge, and losing the Astros was huge as the franchise bounced to the Nats, then the Mets, and finally they abysmal Marlins. But, hey, Giancarlo Stanton put one out onto Airline Highway in an exhibition game.
New Orleans was a AA city for decades upon decades, YES, I KNOW, ancient history, and with our TV market and population should be a AAA city as it currently stands.
And YES, like others, I had not been to a game in couple years, either. :(
The ball park is not as bad as people want to make it. They widened the concourse, added new railings and such, the restrooms were always very clean. Not certain what else it needs, it is a snap, even crowded, to get into and out of the park and into and out of the parking lot, as well.
It is not a 100-yard field venue. Soccer was not all that great in there from the outset, high school football was not good, either. Could not hear the bands at all, which is part of the atmosphere of h.s. football. But as I mentioned above, the concourse was wide and easy to navigate, the concessions are great and clean restrooms.
As much as I love downtown parks, in general, I would hate one in New Orleans, as parking is so much more expensive in the city. I admit some of this is colored by my residing less than two miles from Zephyr, I find it convenient and the parking situation outstanding even at five bucks, now.
I had season tix. for a few years, and worked on-and-off after that on gameday staff (usher) it is sad to see what happened to this franchise after 2001-2002.
To ME, what harmed this franchise was:
1. The Astros moving their AAA affiliate to Round Rock, Texas, at the time owned by Nolan Ryan. It made sense for Houston, but not for New Orleans.
2. Rob Couhig deciding to run for office which was predicated upon him selling the franchise, thus as the article mentioned, losing local ownership.
3. Also stated in the article, the arrival of the N.B.A. which altered the sports landscape of New Orleans from one major league and three minor league franchises (New Orleans Brass, New Orleans Zephyrs, New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers/Storm) to TWO major league franchises and one minor league.
3a. My only quibble with #3 is that minor league baseball normally falls somewhat between the N.B.A. and the N.F.L. with overlaps only at the beginning and end of baseball season. Also, a Zephyrs' game was always much less expensive and offered more games than the once-a-week Saints, or the Hornets/Pelicans.
Losing local ownership was huge, and losing the Astros was huge as the franchise bounced to the Nats, then the Mets, and finally they abysmal Marlins. But, hey, Giancarlo Stanton put one out onto Airline Highway in an exhibition game.
New Orleans was a AA city for decades upon decades, YES, I KNOW, ancient history, and with our TV market and population should be a AAA city as it currently stands.
And YES, like others, I had not been to a game in couple years, either. :(
The ball park is not as bad as people want to make it. They widened the concourse, added new railings and such, the restrooms were always very clean. Not certain what else it needs, it is a snap, even crowded, to get into and out of the park and into and out of the parking lot, as well.
It is not a 100-yard field venue. Soccer was not all that great in there from the outset, high school football was not good, either. Could not hear the bands at all, which is part of the atmosphere of h.s. football. But as I mentioned above, the concourse was wide and easy to navigate, the concessions are great and clean restrooms.
As much as I love downtown parks, in general, I would hate one in New Orleans, as parking is so much more expensive in the city. I admit some of this is colored by my residing less than two miles from Zephyr, I find it convenient and the parking situation outstanding even at five bucks, now.
This post was edited on 2/25/19 at 11:50 am
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:51 am to Tigeralum2008
quote:
Agreed, it is way too remote.
Nothing in greater New Orleans is "too remote" unless it were on the northshore or deepest, farthest St. Bernard.
From Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans to the end of Earhart and Zephyr Field is 13 to 14 minutes at almost any time of day, save for 5:00-5:30 where it may be 18 minutes. That, m'friend, is not remote, it is actually quite easy.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:59 am to RedPop4
excellent synopsis and i agree with everything you said.
if the team still had local owners and literally any other affiliate than the marlins, the stadium (location and features) would be fine
its a real shame.
i started going as soon as they got here, back when they played at UNO
if the team still had local owners and literally any other affiliate than the marlins, the stadium (location and features) would be fine
its a real shame.
i started going as soon as they got here, back when they played at UNO
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:01 pm to JS87
Surprise, surprise
The city of New Orleans fails when it comes to sports and athletics.
The city of New Orleans fails when it comes to sports and athletics.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:02 pm to RedPop4
quote:
Nothing in greater New Orleans is "too remote" unless it were on the northshore or deepest, farthest St. Bernard.
I think he means "remote" as in not being located in an area surrounded by commercial activity. Sure, it's fairly easy to get out there, but there is not much else to do in the area.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:02 pm to JS87
They need a ballpark somewhere centrally located to have a chance.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:06 pm to RedPop4
The American Association folding didn't help either. It was better to be playing teams like Buffalo and Louisville. More natural rivals.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:06 pm to jj06
It’s the baby cakes. Who cares?
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:07 pm to RedPop4
quote:
Losing local ownership was huge
+1
As soon as the name was changed by some group not even from Lousiana(a group in California), I knew they were gone in a few years.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:08 pm to JS87
Time for NOLA to get behind the Jesters. That soccer team needs the support of the city...
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:09 pm to JS87
I have heard the team in Jackson TN may be eyeing N.O. for relocation. They are a AA team.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 12:12 pm to jj06
quote:
Surprise, surprise
The city of New Orleans fails when it comes to sports and athletics.
quote:
atlanta..God’s city
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