Could Braves Be Looking To Add New Minor League Team
by gondeee on Dec 6, 2011 3:15 PM EST
in Braves Minor League News
Email
Print
The Atlanta Braves own all but one of their minor league affiliates, hence why just about every Braves minor league team is the CityName Braves. The lone exception is the Lynchburg Hillcats. The Braves signed a four-year Player Development contract with Lynchburg prior to last year, which makes them the Braves Advanced-A affiliate through the 2014 season. The Braves could be laying the groundwork for what comes after that.
The Wilmington, North Carolina, Star News reports this interesting bit of news:
Former Atlanta Braves Manager Bobby Cox traveled to Wilmington a couple weeks ago to meet with local elected leaders and talk about baseball in the Port City.
Councilman Kevin O'Grady said Tuesday that Cox and other Braves officials dined with a couple council members and New Hanover County commissioners. He said there were not enough elected leaders to require public notice of the meeting.
He did not divulge details but said the dinner was a "general discussion" about baseball in Wilmington.
The article goes on to note that a stadium in downtown Wilmington has been discussed for several years, but the usual refrain of lack of funding has been a reason it hasn't gone anywhere.
Far be it for me to speculate about the state of politics in Wilmington, so beyond this specific spot for a team I believe this gives us a clear insight into what the Braves are thinking regarding their last independent minor league affiliate. They want to bring their Class-A Advanced team into the CityName Braves family of organization-owned teams -- whether it be Wilmington or somewhere else. That type of conversation would need to get started now, especially if the Braves want a new minor league ballpark for this affiliate -- as I'm sure they do.
We'll keep an eye on this, and see if anything else develops.
16 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Dreaming...
The Portland area is looking to build a single-A stadium for a new NWL team.
Bring MLB to Portland.
Personally, I like it better when minor league teams have their own unique name/logo/mascot, I’ll miss that if we get the Wilmington Braves.
Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."
I think this would be cool. Wilmington has always been one my favorites cities I’ve visited and this would give me another excuse to go and spend a day whenever I’m in NC.
Lead off walks usually lead to runs, unless they don't. -Joe Simpson
If you don't like the way the Atlanta Braves are playing, then you don't like baseball. -Chuck Tanner
I think Greensboro or Winston might be open to the Braves- Greensboro could support an A+ team easily (or even AA)
There’s already a Minor League team in Greensboro – The Grasshoppers. And they apparently have a very good beer special on Thursdays according to my cousin.
Lead off walks usually lead to runs, unless they don't. -Joe Simpson
If you don't like the way the Atlanta Braves are playing, then you don't like baseball. -Chuck Tanner
not really a fan
As a long time richmonder, I was never a fan of how the Richmond Braves were ran. Now I feel that a locally owned and operated team is better. I may be way off with this comment because I’m not very knowledgeable in this subject though
I <3 Runz
by JHey1212 on Dec 6, 2011 4:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions
YES!!!
As a resident of Wilmington I have been hearing rumors about this but never actually thought it would happen. I know his granddaughter goes to UNCW as I have met her before in class and she said Skip loves visiting the area whenever the chance arises.
If you don’t know about the area, one sport Wilmingtonians love is baseball. Our summer league team, the Sharks pack to stands every year, especially on dollar beer Thursdays. And having no advanced sports teams in the area, if they brought a team here they would rake in the dough.
lets move back to Myrtle Beach
buy out Chuck Greenberg. Speaking from many years of experience in the area, the community really enjoyed the Braves there and was very upset when Texas moved in. It was also top choice for rehab stints. And rangers project isn’t going well at all
Spring Training is the greatest thing that can't end soon enough
Please make it happen!!!!
This would be so awesome for me as a Wilmington resident. Make it happen!!!!
Go Braves, Canes, Tarheels and Panthers. That is all.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Roy Oswalt doesn’t need to save the Rangers, he only needs to provide insurance and depth
- James Loney: Umpires should call pitches from behind mound — and be robots with replay
- Magglio Ordonez set to retire after 15 seasons
- Barry Bonds thinks it will be ‘very sad’ if he doesn’t get into the Hall on his first try
- Chris Johnson’s glove webbing had a Spidey sense at Coors Field — for one play, at least
