Changes are [...]]]> Cheney Park, home of the AAA Tacoma Rainiers since 1960, may be in line for a $30 million  facelift. The team, the PCL and the city all appear to be working harmoniously towards some major improvements that will update an historic facility, and ensure the future of Tacoma baseball for another 20+ years.

Changes are planned for the dugouts and press boxes, as well as a new grandstand superstructure, concessions and a restaurant. The fate of the wooden reserved seats, that had originally been brought up from San Francisco’s Seals Stadium, was not disclosed.

The Tacoma Rainiers are the Seattle Mariners AAA club, and drew just less than 5,000 fans a game in 2009, which places them 4th from the bottom in attendance in the PCL. Sacramento led the league with an average of more than 9,100, and Colorado Springs trailed with just 4,350 per game.

The Rainiers finished atop their division for the first time in 4 years in 2009, but were bounced from the playoffs by the Sacramento River Cats in the Pacific divisions’ playoffs. Sacramento was then dispatched by the Memphis Redbirds for the PCL title.

The Sports Business Journal (link via sister publication SportingNews) reported last week that the Maryland Ballpark Authority has sent out the RFP for the first major overhauls to Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. The exact details of the [...]]]> So, when you’ve already re-invented the ballpark experience, what do you do for an encore?

The Sports Business Journal (link via sister publication SportingNews) reported last week that the Maryland Ballpark Authority has sent out the RFP for the first major overhauls to Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. The exact details of the RFP were not released, but the SBJ and SportingNews are speculating about new restaurants and concessions vendors.

Fully 2/3rds of all major league stadiums were built after Oriole Park at Camden Yards set off the new wave of ballpark building that has hallmarked the last 20 years of the game. Smaller parks, more intimate settings, many with a retro feel, eschewing the concrete multipurpose donut for unique, brick and steel experiences that remind people of Ebbetts Field, even as there are less and less people around who remember Ebbetts Field first hand.

As the uniqueness of Camden Yards has subsided, and the “newer new” have sprouted up across the country, including Nationals Park in Washington DC, attendance has waned with the abysmal play on the field, and it only makes sense that the Orioles look to do some things to freshen up the park to re-energize the fan base.

So, what do you the Orioles do now to usher in the next phase of ballpark advancement?  Let’s run down a couple of ideas that we’ve heard bandied about, and see if they still fit.

• In seat video replay – Is this really still a viable idea?  Seems like too much hardware to worry about, especially in a sea of beer, soda and nachos. Better off just providing solid wifi access in the park, and access to video on smartphones
• New gourmet restaurants – apparently a trend brewing in having restaurants behind the batter’s eye in CF witha  smoked glass view of the game.  Not really an innovation, but more of a “me too” hand-waving.

Now, what’s on our wish list for ballpark experience improvements?

• Ejector seats that get the guy in the middle of the aisle to the concourse without making everyone else get up.
• Web cams that give you a look at the length of popular concession lines
• Seats with 2 true armrests per person, and MORE legroom (the author is 6’7″ and really likes legroom)
• Up to 3 sections per game get a visit from a staffer (one in each level of the park)  Sit ‘em down.. talk to ‘em about their concerns at the ballpark.  Then, over the next few days… follow up with them, and thank them for their thoughts.
• Public photographer’s wells: I love taking my camera to a game…  How can I get a good photo if I can’t get close enough to the field?  Have Kodak sponsor some public space, specifically for taking game photos.  For $10, you get 15 minutes in the photographer’s well at field level.  My guess is it would be so popular, you’d need reservations.

What do you want in your next park?  Leave a comment and let us know.