Four-year agreement just announced.

I wonder if this means Sport will be moving east? Will the cubs farm affiliate be moving into the greater Quad Cities area? And if so, and Sport decides not to pick up stakes, does he now become a cubbies fan? All interesting things to ponder. I for one will miss going to games in the QC area
as it sort of has that 1940's feel to it.....not that I was around back then, but one can imagine.

The Stadium in Davenport is possibly my favorite baseball venue although its been a while since I've been there. 

Peoria holds a lot of memmories of going to games there with my kids. We still talk about seeing Duncan smack an extra innings walk off.  That was the year the new stadium opened, and although we had already attended a game there, I drove over to the old park near Bradley Univ out of habit and we were late to the game. (My son still likes to remind me of that).

Another memmory is the 1992 Midwest League all-star game at the old stadium.  In those days it was sometimes possible to catch a college game and a midwest league game on the same day.  (If the college game was first, admission was cheaper and you could sort of hide out and catch the next game for free.  That, too, was great fun for the kids.)  1992 was also the year the Quad Cities team took on the name River Bandits so of course we had to go over there for a game and get some stuff with the new logo. I don't remember where the Cards affiliate was, Springfield maybe.

It could be worse - Las Vegas has just become the AAA team of the New York Mets.

yes!!!!

The Cubs moved their MWL affiliate to Kane County for next year. The Kane County Cougars play in the far west Chicago suburb of Geneva.

The Cardinals moving back to Peoria makes a lot of sense to me. As soon as the Cubs moved, I figured this would happen.

blingboy wrote: The Stadium in Davenport is possibly my favorite baseball venue although its been a while since I've been there. 

Peoria holds a lot of memmories of going to games there with my kids. We still talk about seeing Duncan smack an extra innings walk off.  That was the year the new stadium opened, and although we had already attended a game there, I drove over to the old park near Bradley Univ out of habit and we were late to the game. (My son still likes to remind me of that).

Another memmory is the 1992 Midwest League all-star game at the old stadium.  In those days it was sometimes possible to catch a college game and a midwest league game on the same day.  (If the college game was first, admission was cheaper and you could sort of hide out and catch the next game for free.  That, too, was great fun for the kids.)  1992 was also the year the Quad Cities team took on the name River Bandits so of course we had to go over there for a game and get some stuff with the new logo. I don't remember where the Cards affiliate was, Springfield maybe.

Yes, that is correct. In 2009, I wrote a piece about the Cardinals' Class-A history. Guess it is time for an update.

Domeboys wrote: Four-year agreement just announced.

Brian,

any thoughts on why the Peoria agreement is a 4-year deal, while the State College contract is only a 2-year arrangement?

I heard that State College really wants a team from Pennslyvania so I'm assuming the 2 years is on there end in case they want out quick when the Pirates or Phillies team opens up.

skszyszowski wrote:

Domeboys wrote: Four-year agreement just announced.

Brian,

any thoughts on why the Peoria agreement is a 4-year deal, while the State College contract is only a 2-year arrangement?

Most agreements are two years. I don't know yet why the Cards and Peoria went for four, but I don't consider it a bad thing.

scadder21 wrote: I heard that State College really wants a team from Pennslyvania so I'm assuming the 2 years is on there end in case they want out quick when the Pirates or Phillies team opens up.

I don't know where you heard that, but I question it. If it was the overriding criteria, State College would have accepted Pittsburgh's offer of a four-year deal now.

this is a no brainer for both ends...for anyone who has been to both stadiums, i think you would agree: modern woodman is nice, but the stadium in peoria is much nicer and has a much more metropolitian(as metro as you can get in peoria) feel. I will easily make 2-3 trips there next season as the drive from stl is only about 2.5 hrs...

As someone who lives close to both, the Quad Cities area has more to offer away from the park. The Peoria park is a little nicer but Modern Woodman is also nice.

Domeboys wrote:

scadder21 wrote: I heard that State College really wants a team from Pennslyvania so I'm assuming the 2 years is on there end in case they want out quick when the Pirates or Phillies team opens up.

I don't know where you heard that, but I question it. If it was the overriding criteria, State College would have accepted Pittsburgh's offer of a four-year deal now.

Not sure where I heard this but the part in State College was built to match the OF dimensions at PNC and that they really want a local team there, it Pittsburgh or Philly.

scadder21 wrote: Not sure where I heard this but the part in State College was built to match the OF dimensions at PNC and that they really want a local team there, it Pittsburgh or Philly.

That park was finished seven years ago. Its dimensions have no more to do with the Phillies than they do the Cardinals.

Relationships can and do change. If you didn't already, I suggest you listen to the interview on the main site with the owner of the team. Like I already said, if they wanted the Pirates there, they would still be there. The Pirates offered four years. All State College had to do was say "yes."

scadder21 wrote:
Not sure where I heard this but the part in State College was built to match the OF dimensions at PNC and that they really want a local team there, it Pittsburgh or Philly.

Why would anyone want to copy something that hasn't worked for it's home team for such long duration? Yeah, it's just their building, but still the thought of avoiding anything significant that's assosiated with such perennial losers sure merits consideration. Copy the old Yankee Stadium, Busch Stadium or even the old Three Rivers facility, but I'd avoid PNC at all costs.

pugsleyaddams wrote:

scadder21 wrote:
Not sure where I heard this but the part in State College was built to match the OF dimensions at PNC and that they really want a local team there, it Pittsburgh or Philly.

Why would anyone want to copy something that hasn't worked for it's home team for such long duration? Yeah, it's just their building, but still the thought of avoiding anything significant that's assosiated with such perennial losers sure merits consideration. Copy the old Yankee Stadium, Busch Stadium or even the old Three Rivers facility, but I'd avoid PNC at all costs.

Too late now!

Looks like the spacious State College ballpark is going to be a great place to develop our young speedy centerfielders.

Will the State College team continue to be called the Spikes or will they be called the Cardinals/Redbirds?

skszyszowski wrote:

pugsleyaddams wrote:

scadder21 wrote:
Not sure where I heard this but the part in State College was built to match the OF dimensions at PNC and that they really want a local team there, it Pittsburgh or Philly.

Why would anyone want to copy something that hasn't worked for it's home team for such long duration? Yeah, it's just their building, but still the thought of avoiding anything significant that's assosiated with such perennial losers sure merits consideration. Copy the old Yankee Stadium, Busch Stadium or even the old Three Rivers facility, but I'd avoid PNC at all costs.

Too late now!

Looks like the spacious State College ballpark is going to be a great place to develop our young speedy centerfielders.

Will the State College team continue to be called the Spikes or will they be called the Cardinals/Redbirds?

Actually, PNC is a very nice ballpark.

The Spikes name is remaining.

Domeboys wrote:

blingboy wrote: The Stadium in Davenport is possibly my favorite baseball venue although its been a while since I've been there. 

Peoria holds a lot of memmories of going to games there with my kids. We still talk about seeing Duncan smack an extra innings walk off.  That was the year the new stadium opened, and although we had already attended a game there, I drove over to the old park near Bradley Univ out of habit and we were late to the game. (My son still likes to remind me of that).

Another memmory is the 1992 Midwest League all-star game at the old stadium.  In those days it was sometimes possible to catch a college game and a midwest league game on the same day.  (If the college game was first, admission was cheaper and you could sort of hide out and catch the next game for free.  That, too, was great fun for the kids.)  1992 was also the year the Quad Cities team took on the name River Bandits so of course we had to go over there for a game and get some stuff with the new logo. I don't remember where the Cards affiliate was, Springfield maybe.

Yes, that is correct. In 2009, I wrote a piece about the Cardinals' Class-A history. Guess it is time for an update.

Yes the cheap fans in Springfield only showed when it was 2 for 1 tickets. They then showed how tight they we're when minor league baseball returned for a few seasons and no one showed up. Don't get me wrong they loved the team but didn't want to pay full price to see it or build or upgrade the good old Robin Roberts field.

The fans in Springfield will say it's a participation town and they do love high school sports but they really let one get away. From AAA to A to nothing

I live in Springfield. I used to walk to Springfield Cardinal games with my dad when I was younger. Lived 2 blocks away at that time. I played HS baseball and Lanphier Park. I think the reason why the Cardinals eventually left is because Lanphier Park is simply not a MILB quality field and the city never updated the field or built a new one. The north side isn't the best part of town either. When they came back it was as a Padres minor league affilate and no one cares about the Padres in this area. I worked as a soda vendor for years when the Frontier League team was there, the Capitals, and the attendance was pretty decent for the quality of ball that was exhibited. For MILB baseball to ever come back to Springfield most likely they would need to build a new complex out west near the new YMCA or have one on Route 4 on the way out to Chatham.