I Might Buy A Baseball Team. Seriously.

[Pete Incaviglia]

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?

 

[JayFarrar]

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

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

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.

 

[JayFarrar]

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.

 

[mustangj17]

This is our chance! The Sports Journalists dot Commers!

I'll buy a share.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

If you buy it, who'll cover it?

 

[Screwball]

Go to this:

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

Good luck. Play ball!

 

[93Devil]

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.

 

[21]

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.

 

[EStreetJoe]

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.

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.

 

[JayFarrar]

If you buy it, who'll cover it?

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...

 

[Armchair_QB]

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?

Hot Pants and Halter Top Night

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

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

If you buy it, who'll cover it?

Not me! I'm in news now!

 

[21]

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?

Hot Pants and Halter Top Night

Even semi-pro players shouldn't have to wear hot pants and halter tops.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

I know this is a quibble, a minor matter, but does the team make any money?

 

[Armchair_QB]

 

[RickStain]

Do it! You probably will lose your investment, but it will be fun!

 

[RedSmithClone]

I say do a bikini night. Any woman who wears a bikini gets entered into a lottery for one free tan a month for one year at a local tanning salon. They all will receive a free slush and sun tan lotion rub down - of course those are by the owner and his SportsJournalists.com friends.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

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?

Check out the Washington (Pa.) Wild. It's a successful semi-pro team that has a lot of great promotions.

 

[93Devil]

Ink is outed...