Comments:

Ypsidixit - 2007-08-22 21:35:49
I know it would be difficult to change our whole plan for this property. But if our hard-working City Council decides on this plan, I have every confidence they can git-r-done.

The project could start earning money for the city, we'd add a family-friendly cultural resource, and we'd add a destination for out-of-towners in Milan, Saline, Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea, and Canton.

Go Riveters!
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-22 21:47:26
To do my part, if our good councilpeople think this idea has promise, I will volunteer to make a preliminary talk with the minor league baseball consultant company, gather Water Street site information, and work up a proposal with projected costs to present at Council.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-22 23:11:31
Ypsidixit is not the first to think of this idea, as it turns out. There is a group in town who has campaigned to build a baseball stadium in town, though I'm not sure they were targeting the Water Street site. This group (or, their choice for a team name) is apparently called the "Ypsilanti Liberators." Here's a video, sent by a knowledgeable friend who told me all of the above, that details the former mayor's negative response to the group's plan.

Why? I think it's fair to say a small baseball stadium won't rake in the dough that fleets of occupied condos will. But I think it's only realistic to say that residential development at this point in the housing market would be ill-advised and totally unprofitable. The house right next to Ypsidixit, which was totally remodeled and is the nicest and prettiest one on our street, has been for sale for TWO YEARS NOW. And every kind reader is likely familiar with "For Sale: Price Reduced" signs in their neighborhoods that have been in those front yards so long that they're permanent fixtures.
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Unfiltered - 2007-08-23 10:59:07
A great website for what is going on in Minor League Baseball is ballparkwatch.com. It is focused on stadium construction and the econcomic issues surrounding minor league baseball teams. It is updated daily and is essential. I think Ypsilanti is too close for an affiliated team, but the city could host a Northern League team.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-23 11:10:05
Yes, another acquaintance also said that Ypsi might be too close t Detroit to have a Tigers-affiliated team.

(Checks Wikipedia): hmm, Northern League, ah here we go: "The Northern League, based in Chicago, is an independent baseball league which operates in the Northern United States and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either." "The prospects for the league were originally "cloudy." Many forecasted an early demise especially in St. Paul where competition with the Minnesota Twins led many local sportswriters to consider it a "beer league." [That's a drawback?! --Ed.]
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-23 12:42:38
Here's an interesting tidbit from minor league baseball news:

"When the team began to contemplate a new logo two years ago, they started with the assumption that, once again, the best way to show respect to local tribes would be to stay away from any Native American imagery. However, during a meeting with the Spokane Tribe�s Culture Committee early in the logo development process, it became clear that the use of subtle and respectful Indian images would be welcomed by the Tribe. The Spokane Tribal Council released the following statement about the Spokane Indians logo and the process of creating the new identity:

�Immediately upon contact from the Spokane Indians Baseball Management team, the Spokane Tribe believed the request to offer input with the team�s new look would prove to be a win-win situation for all involved. The Spokane Tribal Council along with input from its Culture Committee, and community Elders wanted to use this opportunity to build a long lasting successful working relationship with the baseball team carrying the Spokane Tribe�s name.� from
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Unfiltered - 2007-08-23 12:52:42
I believe the Tigers have a right to Veto any Major League affiliated team in Ypsilanti. Actually, the unaffiliated teams can do promotions that no affiliated team could get away with. For example, I went to a Madison Black Wolves game and they named one player on the opposing team the designated "Beer player". If he struck out at any time during the game, draft beer was sold for $1 for the rest of the inning. Every time the batter got two strikes on him, the place went crazy.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-23 13:02:24
Some of the minor league logos are wonderful:

Mongomery Biscuits: anthropomorphic biscuit with pat of butter for tongue.

Jamestown Jammers: anthropomorphic bunch of grapes holding a bat.

Visalia Oaks: the world's most ticked-off acorn. Also anthropomorphic.

Modesto Nuts

Asheville Tourists

And, Ypsidixit's favorite, the Albuqueque Isotopes.

From Wikipedia: "The fictional Springfield Isotopes from the long running TV series The Simpsons were the influence for the new name of the team. In the episode Hungry Hungry Homer, Homer Simpson attempts to thwart a planned move by the team to Albuquerque. Subsequently, when an Albuquerque Tribune online survey helped the team decide its new name, "Isotopes" received 67 percent of the 120,000 votes."
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-23 13:05:10
I went to a Madison Black Wolves game and they named one player on the opposing team the designated "Beer player". If he struck out at any time during the game, draft beer was sold for $1 for the rest of the inning.

Ha ha ha! Well, clearly, an unaffiliated team is the way to go.
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Unfiltered - 2007-08-23 23:31:36
One more Independent promotion: Your team may don camouflage uniforms with our boys in the military in mind, but not the Kansas City T-Bones. The Independent Northern League squad has opted for a hunting theme this weekend, and their motto will be safety first, as one can see by the bright orange caps and sleeves in our photo here. Yes, it's Redneck Weekend at CommunityAmerica Ballpark beginning tonight, and the T-Bones will be loaded for bear, or squirrel or whatever, in their set with the Winnipeg Goldeyes. One feature of the weekend: Injured players will not be placed on the DL, but instead darted with a potent tranquilizer and relocated further back into the woods (a big thank you to the U.S. Forest Service!). Other features of the T-Bones' Redneck Weekend will include: Tonight: Mullet Night (half-price admission to all those with the Canadian Neckwarmer), plus Director of Group Sales Brandon Smith will be getting a mullet haircut between-innings on top of one of the dugouts. There will also be a mullet contest. Saturday: Redneck Wine & Cheese Festival; a benefit for the Kansas City Cancer Center. A $5 donation gets you two glasses of Franzia and all the Spam, Twinkies, spray cheese and crackers and Slim Jims you can eat. Sunday: The Redneck Olympics. Three teams of two people each will compete all game long to find out who is the biggest redneck in Wyandotte County. Competitions will include road-kill pickup, corn huskin' challenge, a watermelon crawl, and many others. Fun for the entire family.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-24 00:05:31
Oh, how wonderful in every way. "Canadian neckwarmers": hee hee!

How I wish we could tempt some northern League team to come here and pull off such shenanigans. It would be so fun. But I fear the visionless powers that be would find harmless hijinks to be affronts to "decorum"...never mind that Ypsi can't afford decorum any longer.
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