FABULOUS n FINDS TEXAS MINOR LEAGUE “Most Valuable Minor League Base- BASEBALL ball Teams” with a team value of $26 million, the Express doesn’t let any CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS By JULIE CATALANO of its (newly replaced) grass at Dell Diamond grow under its cleats. New concessionaire Ryan-Sanders Sports DELL DIAMOND Services will result in more diverse “storefronts” with signature items a fabulous view of Harbor Bridge. During games, fans can see from area eateries. A partnership with Budweiser brings a new massive vessels and their tiny tugboat escorts clear the bridge as Party Porch hospitality area available for rental, and the team’s they navigate through Corpus Christi Bay and on to the Gulf involvement in RBI Austin (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) of Mexico. It’s almost impossible to take your eyes off the mag- “hosts underprivileged kids quite a few times during the season,” COTTON CLUB AT nificent span, but the field designers made sure that even when says Almendarez. Right now “we are creating the Round Rock WHATABURGER FIELD ROUND ROCK EXPRESS SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS SUGAR LAND SKEETERS standing in concession lines for fresh-squeezed lemonade or Express Hall of Fame,” he adds. “We’ll have an alumni weekend shrimp boats with sweet potato fries, patrons never lose sight in August, and the first inductee will be Jackie Moore, the team’s of the game. “Ken Schrom is our team president and a former first manager,” with additional inductees being chosen by fan major league pitcher,” explains Matt Rogers, senior director vote. It’s all about the fans, says Almendarez. “We want to take Take us out to the ball of communications. “He’s been here from the beginning of people away, for three hours, from whatever is going on in their game. That’s what we’ll the franchise,” including setting franchise records for victories lives and enjoy a game.” in 2012 and 2013. For its 10th season, the Hooks have a new be singing from April to Daktronics 972-square-foot video board. The sizable kids’ play SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS September, when Texas area features a full size Little League field, basketball court and Nelson Wolff Stadium, 5757 U.S. 90, San Antonio 210.675.7275 | samissions.com minor league teams a swimming pool. The field continues to commemorate its past with architectural touches including the scoreboard framed Photography courtesy of the San Antonio Missions are winding up to throw by antique cotton presses. And the name of the stadium club Director of public relations Rich Weimert has just finished another great season where Hooks season ticket holders can enjoy the area before a business luncheon sales presentation to show off Wolff Stadi- and during games? The Cotton Club, of course. um’s hospitality areas, including two new hospitality suites and of affordable, feel-good family fun, tons of special ROUND ROCK EXPRESS events, and ties to worthy Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock charitable causes. Try 512.255.2255 | rrexpress.com some traditional ballpark Photography courtesy of the Round Rock Express fare for a birthday party, a Major league icon and native corporate event, or just to Texan Nolan Ryan’s famous fastball CORPUS CHRISTI WHATABURGER FIELD spend a day with friends, — he was regularly clocked at more than 100mph — earned him the and you’ll be a hit (plus CORPUS CHRISTI you would never know its his- nickname “The Ryan Express,” and the boys of summer are HOOKS tory: the ballpark is the site of with its 15th anniversary season, the so darn cute). This travel Whataburger Field, 734 E. long-ago cotton warehouses team he co-owns is more than living Port Avenue, Corpus Christi at the Port of Corpus Christi. up to its moniker. As a Triple-A af- season, stop at one of 361.561.4677 | cchooks.com Today, the $25 million field is filiate of the Texas Rangers — “I like these fields of dreams to Photography courtesy of the home to the Hooks, Double- to say we’re the Baby Rangers,” says Corpus Christi Hooks A Texas League affiliate of the enjoy America’s favorite general manager Chris Almendarez To look at beautiful, ultra- Houston Astros, and it’s fa- — this baby is on the move. Re- pastime. Play ball! modern Whataburger Field, mous for its signature feature: cently ranked at #3 on Forbes’ list of NELSON WOLFF STADIUM 62 URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO urbanhomemagazine.com urbanhomemagazine.com URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO 63 a new patio setting. It helps that the Double-A affiliate of the hosts a variety of non-baseball activities: graduations, proms, San Diego Padres has 13 Texas League Championship wins. cricket tournaments, worship services and more. At about 100 “That’s a big part of our marketing,” says Weimert. The team feet above the field, the Texas-shaped scoreboard is one of the also has two of the most unusual mascots — the tasty Bal- largest in minor league baseball. Burns says they “really put a lapeno and Henry the Puffy Taco — but which make perfect focus on family entertainment. We recognize that people are sense in the Tex-Mex food paradise of San Antonio. As for re- looking for a safe, affordable place to take their family.” The tail, Weimert describes one of their hottest items. “We usually grounds feature a huge playground, covered swimming pool get new uniforms each year so we will sometimes sell last year’s for kids’ birthday parties, and a carousel.” Unlike other teams, team jerseys, if the player doesn’t buy it himself.” Their big they hold spring training at their facility, and at press time the promotion this year will be Hall of Fame jerseys from Brooks spotlight was on NBA star Tracy McGrady’s mission to pitch Robinson, Billy Williams, Joe Morgan and Dennis Eckersley. for the Skeeters. In addition to the Insperity Club, the ball- In a city that’s basketball-crazy, how do the Missions hold their park has 21 skyboxes and four individual party suites that stay own? Just fine, says Weimert. “The Spurs have been incredibly pretty busy. “Everybody in Sugar Land really got on board successful, and because they’re always advancing far into the with this project early on.” Burns says that the league is look- playoffs, they cut into a lot of our season.” But it doesn’t deter ing into expansion. “We’re definitely looking at more Atlantic diehard fans. “You see a lot of people who are just baseball peo- League independent teams coming into Texas.” v ple who love coming to the ballpark.” They’re going to love it even more: The city has poured approximately $750,000 into redoing — among other things — the bathrooms all over the PLAY (MORE) BALL! ballpark. To which we say, thank you. Need more baseball? Texas has it. Here are a few more teams worth a look and worth the drive. SUGAR LAND SKEETERS Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS 281.240.4487 | sugarlandskeeters.com Southwest University Park, Downtown El Paso Photography courtesy of the Sugar Land Skeeters 915.533.BASE | epchihuahuas.com. The new kids on the baseball block — their inaugural season The newest Triple-A baseball team in the country and the was in 2012 — the Sugar Land Skeeters are not affiliated with Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. All kinds of special event venues. FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS Dr. Pepper Ballpark, 7300 Rough Riders, Frisco 972.731.9200 | ridersbaseball.com. Know some kids who want a chance to play like a big leaguer? The 2014 Frisco RoughRiders Baseball Academy will be held June 25-27 for children ages 9-12. MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS Security Bank Ballpark, CONSTELLATION FIELD 5514 Champions Drive, Midland 432.520.2255 | midlandrockhounds.org one major league team. “We are independent,” says M.J. Burns, Free, year-round tours give a behind-the-scenes look at a pro ball marketing and communications director. “We operate out of the club. For reservations, 432.520.2255. Atlantic League of Professional Baseball [atlanticleague.com], an independent league with independent owners.” Constellation For more information on minor league baseball, visit the official Field is a brand new, $37 million state-of-the-art ballpark that site at milb.com. 64 URBAN HOME AUSTIN – SAN ANTONIO urbanhomemagazine.com.