I Might Buy A Baseball Team. Seriously.

So, there's a semipro, well-attended, long-standing baseball league in my neck of the woods. The local team is up for sale.

I seriously want to buy it.

The asking price is within my budget.

I have previsouly covered the team/league for three seasons. I think I know what would and wouldn't work; what the team needs to do to succeed.

Man, I want to buy this thing. But I know it's just fantasy.

Pretend you could afford a small minor league team, what kind of promos would you run? What type of Bill Veeck-esque stuff would you do?

 

Get some backers and buy the thing.
Why the hell not?

 

You have no idea how badly I want to.

I'm running potential backers through my head as I type.

 

People want to own sports teams, they are rich people toys.
Have controlling interest and sell the other 49 percent in 5 and 1 percent blocks.
You'll raise a ton of cash that way and with widespread community involvement, people will have a vested interest in supporting the team.

Do it.

 

This is our chance! The Sports Journalists dot Commers!

I'll buy a share.

 

If you buy it, who'll cover it?

 

Go to this:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/seminar.jsp

Good luck. Play ball!

 

Buy it and move the team to Richmond.

$1 food night
Cheap beer in certain innings or when a certain song plays on the PA
I love watching people try to do things on the field (kids race, hit a home run from second base, catch a water balloon, etc...)
$10 to sit next to the field, $5 seats everywhere else.

 

I did this about 10 years ago...bought into an A-ball franchise as an investor. The group was headed by a couple guys with deep pockets who just wanted a toy, and they could afford the losses they took.

It's a blast, but keep in mind you're not just buying the team. You're buying a lot of legal stuff and liability and expenses and unforseen costs. It's all on you.

I agree completely with Jay, buy it and sell limited partnerships. Especially if you can get local business owners on board, people who want to invest in the community.

 

I'm sure right here on SportsJournalists.com you could sell a good chunk of that remaining 49% in 5% blocks.
Do what others have said and buy it.
Then follow Jay's suggestion and sell off a chunk (or all of) 49% of the team in small blocks so you'll have enough capital to pay salaries, pay for insurance on the ballpark, etc. It will also guarantee you controlling interest in the team.

 

Ace*, because he'll finally be good enough to cover the team he partly owns.

* His stories will still not run in the Plain Dealer...

 

Hot Pants and Halter Top Night

They don't have promotions like that a ballgames anymore.