Post by kinsm on Jun 21, 2017 21:51:50 GMT -5
By Danny Wild / MiLB.com | June 21, 2017 3:55 PM ET
The Minor League landscape will look a little different in 2019 after an ownership group announced plans to relocate three teams on Wednesday.
The Double-A San Antonio Missions will pack up and leave for Amarillo, Texas, as part of the Elmore Group's move to shift several of its clubs in three states. The Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox will move into San Antonio, and the Rookie-level Helena Brewers will take their take place in Colorado Springs.
This flurry of moves was announced after the Elmore Group finalized plans for a new $45.5 million ballpark in downtown Amarillo. This will mark the first time an affiliated club has called Amarillo home since 1982.
"We are very excited," D.G. Elmore, the group's chairman, said at a news conference on Wednesday, according to the Amarillo Globe-News. "We have moved teams at various times in our 36-year history of owning ballclubs, and as I reflect, I don't think there is a time we have seen the level of business support like this."
The team in San Antonio will become a Triple-A club, while the new Amarillo squad will take the Missions' place in the Double-A Texas League. Both the Sky Sox and Brewers are currently affiliated with Milwaukee, while the Missions are a Padres affiliate.
The reshuffling of teams comes as a bit of a surprise, although it had been rumored for quite some time. The move will put a Pioneer League club -- Helena -- into a comparatively large ballpark in Colorado, as Security Service Field's 8,500-seat capacity will dwarf all other stadiums in the circuit. The Sky Sox have struggled to draw fans at the Triple-A level, however, especially during the first two months of the season when cold temperatures and even snow are common occurrences. The Sky Sox currently rank last in total and average attendance in the Pacific Coast League.
"The Pioneer Baseball League schedule is a much better fit for this climate here, as the schedule begins in June and runs into early September, a time where fewer games will be impacted by weather and fans will be able to enjoy the ballgames throughout the summer months," said Elmore in a statement released by the Sky Sox.
San Antonio's Wolff Stadium boasts a 9,200-person capacity, but the long-term plan is to secure funding for a new ballpark for the now Triple-A Missions.
"I am thrilled to be able to lead the Missions and our fan base into a new era of professional baseball in San Antonio," said Missions president Burl Yarbrough in a statement. "While we have not yet determined what the specific baseball stadium needs are to advance to Triple-A, nor have we secured private sector development partners or a stadium development plan, we will begin that process immediately."
PCL president Branch Rickey also said the move felt right.
"To anticipate bringing the highest classification of Minor League Baseball to San Antonio recognizes the Elmore Sports Group's and the PCL's convictions that Triple-A baseball is seen as a natural fit here," he said in a statement.
Helena's move to Colorado Springs means the team's stadium, Kindrick Field, will likely be without a team in 2019.
"Despite the news, we still have two more seasons in Helena and it will be business as usual," Helena general manager Paul Fetz said. "We will continue to give our fans and sponsors a great value and experience."
The Minor League landscape will look a little different in 2019 after an ownership group announced plans to relocate three teams on Wednesday.
The Double-A San Antonio Missions will pack up and leave for Amarillo, Texas, as part of the Elmore Group's move to shift several of its clubs in three states. The Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox will move into San Antonio, and the Rookie-level Helena Brewers will take their take place in Colorado Springs.
This flurry of moves was announced after the Elmore Group finalized plans for a new $45.5 million ballpark in downtown Amarillo. This will mark the first time an affiliated club has called Amarillo home since 1982.
"We are very excited," D.G. Elmore, the group's chairman, said at a news conference on Wednesday, according to the Amarillo Globe-News. "We have moved teams at various times in our 36-year history of owning ballclubs, and as I reflect, I don't think there is a time we have seen the level of business support like this."
The team in San Antonio will become a Triple-A club, while the new Amarillo squad will take the Missions' place in the Double-A Texas League. Both the Sky Sox and Brewers are currently affiliated with Milwaukee, while the Missions are a Padres affiliate.
The reshuffling of teams comes as a bit of a surprise, although it had been rumored for quite some time. The move will put a Pioneer League club -- Helena -- into a comparatively large ballpark in Colorado, as Security Service Field's 8,500-seat capacity will dwarf all other stadiums in the circuit. The Sky Sox have struggled to draw fans at the Triple-A level, however, especially during the first two months of the season when cold temperatures and even snow are common occurrences. The Sky Sox currently rank last in total and average attendance in the Pacific Coast League.
"The Pioneer Baseball League schedule is a much better fit for this climate here, as the schedule begins in June and runs into early September, a time where fewer games will be impacted by weather and fans will be able to enjoy the ballgames throughout the summer months," said Elmore in a statement released by the Sky Sox.
San Antonio's Wolff Stadium boasts a 9,200-person capacity, but the long-term plan is to secure funding for a new ballpark for the now Triple-A Missions.
"I am thrilled to be able to lead the Missions and our fan base into a new era of professional baseball in San Antonio," said Missions president Burl Yarbrough in a statement. "While we have not yet determined what the specific baseball stadium needs are to advance to Triple-A, nor have we secured private sector development partners or a stadium development plan, we will begin that process immediately."
PCL president Branch Rickey also said the move felt right.
"To anticipate bringing the highest classification of Minor League Baseball to San Antonio recognizes the Elmore Sports Group's and the PCL's convictions that Triple-A baseball is seen as a natural fit here," he said in a statement.
Helena's move to Colorado Springs means the team's stadium, Kindrick Field, will likely be without a team in 2019.
"Despite the news, we still have two more seasons in Helena and it will be business as usual," Helena general manager Paul Fetz said. "We will continue to give our fans and sponsors a great value and experience."