Biloxi MS getting Affiliated Baseball

[19braves77]

The plan is to secure a AA Southern League team for play by 2014. Stadium is being given to the baseball group courtesy of a local casino that uses the land for a dollar a year. Stadium estimated cost is 36 million will a large portion of that being funded by BP money from the oil spill. Three weeks ago a SL official was quoted in Pensacola saying that the Sl goal is to have the South division all long I10 to cut back on travel cost.

I heard three rumors on how they are securing a AA team:

A. Huntsville Stars will be moving to Biloxi

B. Jackson Generals will be moving to Biloxi

C. Either the Jacksonville Suns or Birmingham Barons will be moving to Biloxi and moving up to AAA ball. AAA teams rumored to be up for sale are the New Orlean Zephres and Nashville Sounds.

I doubt they have this stadium ready by 2014. Your looking at having to secure bonds in the next thirty days and start construction by July in the middle of Hurricane season. Either way this is going to make for some interesting baseball trips if it does get done.

[JaxRed]

90% speculation on my part but what the heck..... I was told 2-3 years ago by the Suns owner that he had been offered a AAA franchise but he had turned it down. I think at the time it was one in the NW (Tacoma or someone).

But Jax and New Orleans are both Miami franchises which MIGHT make things smoother.

[19braves77]

Biloxi voted on the stadium and it passed. They also announced that the purchase of a Southern League team for relocation is a 100% done deal. Going to be a long year for anybody associated with the Mobile Baybears. Jackson Generals, and the Huntsville Stars. I would hate to be in ticket sales after today for those teams.

[muddie]

Biloxi voted on the stadium and it passed. They also announced that the purchase of a Southern League team for relocation is a 100% done deal. Going to be a long year for anybody associated with the Mobile Baybears. Jackson Generals, and the Huntsville Stars. I would hate to be in ticket sales after today for those teams.

I believe the most likely of current teams to move eventually is Huntsville. The owner doesn't want to relocate so we'll see how that plays out. However, if I'm reading things correctly, Huntsville's lease expires after the 2014 season. Jackson's lease on the park is seven more years out and the SL prez frowns on broken leases. Back to Biloxi...The Biloxi Sun reports that the architectural plans will be submitted in February 2014. This from an October 16th article. Huntsville has been the lowest attendance consistently for years. A semi-educated guess would be that they are the team most likely to move. Should be an interesting saga to follow.

[JaxRed]

The Suns GM talked about AAA and the Biloxi deal. He generally seemed to not know which team it would be but leaned towards Huntsville. Announcer asked if Mobile had good park and he basically said it was a dump.

When Richmond lost their AAA franchise to Gwinnett County, it could have come to Jax, except Braves wanted ownership of the team. And the AAA team they were offered straight up a few years back was Tacoma.

[19braves77]

Problem with Mobile is they have a lease that still goes to 2022 and the Baybears dont pay hardly anything. With that deal, they dont keep much either.

[bluewahoo]

Looking like new team will be in Biloxi start of 2015 season. More than like Huntsville but time will tell.

[JaxRed]

And the winner (loser) is Huntsville

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2...rs_will_r.html

[corkedbat]

My dream would be to have the Lexington Legends somehow move up to A+ and bring the Reds franchise back from Bakersfield. Sadly though that ain't a'gonna happen. I'd even settle for a Reds affiliate in the same league as the Legends that would come to town a couple of times a season, but that ain't happening either.

[19braves77]

I am excited about Biloxi getting a team. I was hoping the Brewers would get booted out of the SL but it looks like they will be rewarded for their loyalty to the city of Huntsville.

[muddie]

And the winner (loser) is Huntsville

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2...rs_will_r.html

After reading the article I have to ask, does anybody really believe Huntsville would get another team? This is the exact saga that played out in Kinston as the clock ticked down on their team as they prepared to move out of town...all the talk was about getting a new team. Ain't 't going to happen in Kinston and in spite of the article, don't see any reason for Huntsville to get another team either. Attendance was horrible...why subject another franchise to this?

[19braves77]

The Southern League kinda operates and thinks like its 1996. Huntsville was a key stopping point for Jacksonville when you had teams in Jackson TN, Port City, Zebulon,NC and Greenville and then for Mobile later on. Ask any bus traveler of a Southern League team and they will tell you Montgomery is the key city now with travel. Also, the Southern League doesnt do any more three and four game series with a return trip for each team.

Any hints of baseball returning to Huntsville probably is the Southern league not killing the 2014 season any more for the Stars with season tickets holders. You got a lot of season tickets holders that still owe 50% on tickets. Some will come out to prove that Huntsville is a baseball city next season.

[alezy]

Progress is being made with the new addition to the fur-herd around here.