MLB headed to Australia in 2007

[Alphabet Man]

Well, in a few days, it will all be announced.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?Men...ContentID=15038

Americans back new Aussie baseball league

30th November 2006, 8:00 WST

US Major League Baseball is expected to throw its financial muscle behind a new national league in Australia next year.

Almost 10 years after the demise of the once successful Australian Baseball League, Australia’s best players — many of whom now make a lucrative living playing professionally in the United States — should again be able to play at home during the summer months.

Major League Baseball International, professional baseball’s marketing arm, is expected to formalise a decision during the next week.

Australian Baseball Federation chief executive officer Don Knapp would not elaborate but said he was expecting an announcement within the next couple of days.

“We are confident a new competition will be up and running next year,” Knapp said.

He said Australia now had between 80 and 90 players contracted to Major League teams in the United States — about 50 more than when the Australian Baseball League was operating during the late 80s and 90s.

He said the proposed new competition would be less reliant on American players than in the past, yet the standard would be considerably higher given the development of Australians on the international stage.

Though Knapp would not comment, it is expected Major League International will own 70 per cent of the league and the ABF 30 per cent.

Teams would be based in the five major capital cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide — with a sixth team most likely operating out of Canberra.

The teams would be run centrally from the ABF office on the Gold Coast with standard marketing and promotion.

Player contracts would be uniform, while salary caps would be strictly controlled to ensure the financial viability of the new league.

The former ABL had a $6 million a year budget but was raising only $4 million a year in revenue, and was eventually forced to fold.

It was anticipated that teams in the new league would be sold off after a few years if the single entity ownership went well.

GENE STEPHAN

[Alphabet Man]

An announcement will be made sometime this month for the ABL to start up again next year.

Meanwhile....

Punt Road baseball pitch interests Tigers

Richmond's Jack Dyer stand at Punt Road.

Michael Gleeson, Age

July 5, 2007

PUNT Road Oval could become the home of a new Victorian baseball team in a proposed national competition that is expected to be announced within weeks. It is understood Richmond Football Club has explored the feasibility of converting the ground for three months a year to host baseball under lights, as the code seeks to bring the competition into the heart of the city and considers options away from its home in Altona.

The Richmond Cricket Club plays on the ground over summer, so for baseball to be played there the Premier cricket club would have to move its home ground. Talks have already been held with the City of Yarra about resurrecting an oval in the MCG car park. (ed - a terrible idea) A report by sports marketing consultants, Sweeney Sports, assessed the viability of inner-city venues should baseball opt to move from its unpopular location in Altona. The Age understands Punt Road Oval and Bob Jane stadium in South Melbourne were the two stand-out choices.

Plans for a new team and its playing venue are no further advanced than feasibility as officials wait for a decision on whether the new national competition will go ahead. That decision hinges on whether the US Major League Baseball commits $15 to $20 million to underwrite the competition for the first five years. It would be expected that every capital city would field teams in the competition, which would likely be televised on pay TV network Fox. It has been suggested the season would run for about 10 weeks through November, December and early January.

It is understood Richmond FC would consider incorporating the baseball plans in the $7 million final stage of the Punt Road Oval redevelopment that begins at the end of the football season. That stage includes indoor player facilities, a new social club and parking and possibly medical and sports science suites. One option under consideration is for new cricket practice wickets to be cut into the hill below the existing scoreboard near the corner of Brunton Avenue. That would enable the cricket club to train at the ground throughout the summer and play at the nearby new oval.

Richmond chief executive Steven Wright confirmed he had met baseball executives, who had expressed keen interest in the potential of Punt Road Oval. "Obviously, with football and cricket at Punt Road, it is a difficult exercise, but like any football club, you examine any and all possibilities and we are waiting for them to come back to us with a submission."

Baseball Victoria chief executive Steve Nash, who was Melbourne manager of West Coast for 15 years, said no decisions had yet been made about moving from Altona. "We have got Altona already and that is the only purpose-built baseball stadium in the country. But there is some thought that the land at Altona may be sold," Nash said. "I know my predecessor had discussions with Steven Wright at Richmond Football Club about whether that was a possibility but I have only been here (in his job) a month.

"Look, at the moment there is no national competition and one of the biggest problems the ABF (Australian Baseball Federation) has at the moment is that it does not have a CEO. It makes it very hard to make a decision without a CEO. We really can't do anything until we know for certain it is going to start. We are reasonably confident it will happen but it is not over the line yet."

There has been no national baseball competition in Australia since the Australian Baseball League folded in 2000. There are 115 Australians who play professionally around the world.

[budbowl77]

Not for nothing, but if I was a young ballplayer from the states looking for a place to play during the MLB off season. Would I want to go to Venezuela? Or any other country in South America where my safety could be compromised? (we live in a mad mad world)..Or I could go to the land down under where people are friendly and I can concentrate on playing baseball. Just a thought, thats the cop in me....

But I think its a cool idea..

[DEAD!]

Not for nothing, but if I was a young ballplayer from the states looking for a place to play during the MLB off season. Would I want to go to Venezuela? Or any other country in South America where my safety could be compromised? (we live in a mad mad world)..Or I could go to the land down under where people are friendly and I can concentrate on playing baseball. Just a thought, thats the cop in me....

But I think its a cool idea..

... or how about just staying in the US and play the Arizona Fall League?

[budbowl77]

Not for nothing, but if I was a young ballplayer from the states looking for a place to play during the MLB off season. Would I want to go to Venezuela? Or any other country in South America where my safety could be compromised? (we live in a mad mad world)..Or I could go to the land down under where people are friendly and I can concentrate on playing baseball. Just a thought, thats the cop in me....

But I think its a cool idea..

... or how about just staying in the US and play the Arizona Fall League?

I forgot about the AZ Fall League..But i'm sure this is a great opportunity to help get the ball rolling down under.

[Alphabet Man]

Well, with 115 Aussie's pro overseas, i think they should be pretty much offered a team. But 115 i don't think can be accomodated. So there is some talent there.

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra

Throw in Geelong and Gold Coast in a few years.

Eight teams. Roster size will need to be addressed. Say a roster of 30-35 would be viable. I don't think we need 150 or whatever I'm led to believe is the MLB roster sizes.

Lifestyle would be a factor in determining whether a player chooses to come here for 6months than go to Arizona. Beaches, sun, girls, relax all week, then hit a few balls on the weekend in the ABL. I couldn't think of anything better (lifestyle wise).

[marlinfan]

Not for nothing, but if I was a young ballplayer from the states looking for a place to play during the MLB off season. Would I want to go to Venezuela? Or any other country in South America where my safety could be compromised? (we live in a mad mad world)..Or I could go to the land down under where people are friendly and I can concentrate on playing baseball. Just a thought, thats the cop in me....

But I think its a cool idea..

There could be talent issues playing in Australia. Most of the guys who play in the Dominican/Mexican/Puerto Rican/Venezuelan League are looking to impress the big clubs or potential clubs. All those leagues are at best a mid to high AA. Australia would need to put a league of that caliber on the league for players to seriously consider going down under.

[KevinMcD]

Eight teams. Roster size will need to be addressed. Say a roster of 30-35 would be viable. I don't think we need 150 or whatever I'm led to believe is the MLB roster sizes.

With Minor leagues they have the rights to about 150 players, "minor league" players are property of the "parent" club but play only for the minor league team. On the actual roster of the MLB teams only 40 players are allowed but can be called up or down from Minor League teams. 40 Players should be OK in Australia.

I hope you understood that. It is a complicated system. And I hope you do get a league down under.

[FiddySicks]

Not for nothing, but if I was a young ballplayer from the states looking for a place to play during the MLB off season. Would I want to go to Venezuela? Or any other country in South America where my safety could be compromised? (we live in a mad mad world)..Or I could go to the land down under where people are friendly and I can concentrate on playing baseball. Just a thought, thats the cop in me....

But I think its a cool idea..

And not to mention the insanely beautiful and wild Aussie ladies. That right there would be enough for me.

[Alphabet Man]

There could be talent issues playing in Australia. Most of the guys who play in the Dominican/Mexican/Puerto Rican/Venezuelan League are looking to impress the big clubs or potential clubs. All those leagues are at best a mid to high AA. Australia would need to put a league of that caliber on the league for players to seriously consider going down under.

Well, it is mostly funded by the MLB. So, there'd be some genuine link between the leagues in Australia and America.

I hope you understood that. It is a complicated system. And I hope you do get a league down under.

Sortof makes sense. To me it sounds like how AFL players not playing in the firsts are distributed to SANFL and WAFL clubs in those states.

And not to mention the insanely beautiful and wild Aussie ladies. That right there would be enough for me.

Where are these wild ones you speak off?

[jr79]

Baseball Victoria chief executive Steve Nash, who was Melbourne manager of West Coast for 15 years, said no decisions had yet been made about moving from Altona. "We have got Altona already and that is the only purpose-built baseball stadium in the country."

Lies! We have a purpose-built baseball stadium in little ol' Lismore here. Probably seats 100 people

The Sydney Showground next to Telstra Stadium is an almost-purpose built baseball venue that has been shoehorned into other uses since the 2000 Olympics.

[Alphabet Man]

Sydney Showgrounds is now Canterbury Bulldogs' home ground isn't it?

I like the idea of Punt Road. It's inner city. They have that hill around most of the ground near the scoreboard side. It'd be a nice venue for late afternoon/night baseball games. Now, if only it wasn't Richmond FC's home.

Jr, have ya got pics of Lismore?

[Alphabet Man]

Sydney Showgrounds is now Canterbury Bulldogs' home ground isn't it?

I like the idea of Punt Road. It's inner city. They have that hill around most of the ground near the scoreboard side. It'd be a nice venue for late afternoon/night baseball games. Now, if only it wasn't Richmond FC's home.

Jr, have ya got pics of Lismore?