Oakland County/Avon Status?

[GBearFan]

Does anyone out there know the "real" status of the proposed 2009 FL teams in MI and OH? It's now mid-June and neither team has broken ground yet on ballparks that they claim will be ready for play next spring. Given the type of winters they have in metro Detroit and northern Ohio, things better get cracking soon or they will be coming in with Normal, IL in 2010.

[ca]

oakland county definatly needs to have a park ready for the 09 slate cause this existing club is in bad need of some stability

[GBearFan]

Well it's about time there is some news out of Ohio!

On July 1st at 11:00, Avon, OH will host a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Frontier League stadium. Avon mayor, Jim Smith and league commish, Bill Lee are scheduled to speak at this event.

The 3,500 seat ballpark (with additional lawn space for 1,500) is set to open in June of next year.

PLAY BALL!!

[patmc16]

I was at the OC Cruisers stadium site about 4-5 weeks ago. The only things that had been done are the car delarship's inventory that was being stored there had been moved and the parking lot lights had been taken down. The only real evidence that a stadium will be there is the "future home of" sign at the corner of the site. I hear groundbreaking, which was supposed to be in June, has been pushed back to early August. I think we will need a really mild winter to get it done in time. I understand there were issues with parking, which I am guessing would be shared with the mall. Since very few people shop there, I wouldn't have thought it would be a big deal. The mall is 3/4 empty. Half of the stadium site was parking space for the Sears at the mall. No one ever had to park that far away though, which is why the car dealership was using it. Looking at the virtual tour of the stadium on their website makes me thing there is still a chance it can be done in time if the weather cooperates. It seems like a pretty simple design.

[ca]

should be ypsilanti MI as normal wont be ready to go by 09' . the reason why i speak of ypsi is that easten michigan university wants to rent its pk out now to a pro team and with some renovations the fl seems to like the pk . i just hope the f; doesnt have another road team because these entities are about as embarrasing as contractions

[GBearFan]

The Cruisers’ stadium opening in June of 2009 may be in jeopardy. Due to parking issues that need to be worked out with current and potential mall owners, the ballpark groundbreaking, originally scheduled for this past June, may not occur until as late as mid-September of this year. Given the type of winters they have in Michigan, a nine month construction window may be too narrow to squeeze through. The Cruisers, currently operating as the Midwest Sliders, may be on the road again (no pun intended) for the first part of next season.

[GBearFan]

The owners of the Oakland County Cruisers have finally closed on their land purchase from the current owners of Summit Place Mall three and a half months after the anticipated May 1st closing date. The Cruisers are now looking for a “temporary home” to play the 2009 season in as their new ballpark will not be ready until 2010 (the organization has targeted mid-April 09 to BEGIN work on the new stadium).

Two current Frontier League teams played in temporary ballparks while their stadiums were under construction. In 2001, the Gateway Grizzlies played their first season at Sauget Field (and drew 28,898 fans) as GCS Stadium was not completed until 2002. Also in 2003, the Florence Freedom played their home games at Foundation Field in Hamilton, OH as Champion Window Field did not open until 2004 and was not completed until 2005.

[Morris Mott]

Being a complete road squad 2 seasons in a row would have quite an impact on the team. Not only would it drain the finances of the owners just to make it through the second season but it would hardly build a fan base in Oakland County(Waterford).

If the team was looking for a place to call home for a 2009, I'd suggest...

A) Atwood stadium in Flint, MI. With a bit of money to upgrade the place and reconfigure it for baseball I'm sure the revenue of ticket sales would be better than an all-travel team.

B) Oakland University: Extremely small field, but within their own fan base that will be attending games in 2010. Even if they lose a ton of cash playing here, at least you gotta remember they'll lose a ton of cash being an all-travel team anyways... but at least this way, they have a home base of fans already familiar with them by the time they move into their own stadium.

[ca]

shouldve moved to either emu or u of m in the metro detroit area since its a better market both on and off the field . while half of a t/bred horse track has been built by metro airport oc still hasnt found out how to stick a shovel in the ground which makes me wonder will this redcoat/slider club ever find a home ? as for rd clubs they are a financial/pr mess that need to be avoide in my opinion and if the nwl gets into ypsi/arbor as mentioned along with waukesha this could really hurt the fl/nl

[ca]

oakland county has a park much like atwood its pontiac's wisner stadium or another point stadium in johnstown

[COACHRUD]

Frontier League's Midwest Sliders to Use Oestrike Stadium for 2009 Season
For more information, contact Rob Hilliard of the Midwest Sliders at 248.320.1846


Click Here for the Schedule (PDF).

YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Oestrike Stadium, home to Eastern Michigan University's defending Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament champion Eagles, will also be home for the 2009 season to the Midwest Sliders, an independent professional baseball club competing in the Frontier League. The announcement was made jointly by EMU Athletics Director Dr. Derrick Gragg and Midwest Sliders President and Director of Team Personnel Rob Hilliard.

The Sliders, purchased last January by Baseball Heroes of Oakland County, LP, operated in 2008 as a travel squad, playing all 96 games on the road. The Oakland County-based ownership group plans to start construction on a 3,900-seat stadium next spring in Waterford Township. After the ball park's completion, the club will be renamed the Oakland County Cruisers. "For the upcoming Frontier League season, we want to bring the club as close as possible to Oakland County while playing in a first-class facility," explained Hilliard.

"We're extremely pleased to call EMU home for the 2009 season and look forward to bringing this affordable, family entertainment activity to the greater Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor area," Hilliard said, adding that he, Vice President & General Manager Bill Terlecky and Manager & Player Development Director Eric Coleman were anxious to meet with Ypsilanti officials, members of the local business community and area residents.



"We've had a long and rich baseball tradition here at EMU and have always prided ourselves on putting our best foot forward," said Dr. Gragg. "We believe Rob and his staff are knowledgeable baseball people and good folks who will fit in well, both on campus and in the surrounding community."

According to Hilliard, the club will be called the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti for 2009, taking a page from MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The cap will include a "Y" in its design.

The ball club is releasing its 2009 Frontier League schedule and will soon begin to offer promotional packages to area businesses. Plans are also underway to add portable food & beverage carts, souvenir stands and other fan-friendly amenities. Together with an in-game entertainment program, Midwest Sliders games at Oestrike Stadium will take on all of the trappings of a typical Minor League ball game.

"Every aspect of our operation is being developed in concert with EMU's Athletic Department and head coach Jay Alexander," said Hilliard, who stressed the importance of cooperation, coordination and communication as the Sliders assume the role of tenant.

The ball club has set ticket prices for its 45-game home schedule, which begins with a three-game series against two-time defending Frontier League champion Windy City Thunderbolts on Friday, May 29 (7:15 pm); Saturday, May 30 (7:15 pm); and Sunday, May 31 (2:00 pm). Grandstand reserved seating is $8.00 for adults and $7.00 for children 12 years of age and under, as well as for senior citizens age 55 and over and Eastern Michigan University students. Season ticket packages are $315 for one ticket (saving $45 off individual game-day pricing); $585 for two tickets (a $135 savings off individual game-day pricing); $810 for three tickets (a $279 total savings), and $990 for four tickets (a $450 total savings).

A 12-game Flex Pack allows fans to redeem 12 undated coupons for any Midwest Sliders home game, subject to ticket availability, and includes a free ticket to the Sunday, May 31 game with Windy City. At $72, fans realize a $32 savings off game-day ticket pricing.



A Weekday Pick Six package gives fans an opportunity to choose any six Monday thru Thursday home games for $36.00, a $12 savings off game-day ticket pricing. Finally, a Baker's Dozen program featuring a "Division Rivals" package and a "See the League" package provides fans with two options to purchase a dozen games and receive a free ticket to a 13th game.

Season tickets, Flex Packs, Weekday Pick Six packages and the Baker's Dozen program will be available for online purchase at noon, Monday, Oct. 20. Visit www.cruisersbaseball.com and click on the TICKETS section. Click on THE TEAM section for more information on the Sliders. Click on the VIRTUAL STADIUM TOUR and surf the rest of the Web site to learn more about the Oakland County Cruisers and stadium plans in Waterford.

[patmc16]

If things go well next season in Ypsilanti, I wonder if another team (expansion or relocated) could make Oestrike home for the long term? Ypsilanti and Waterford are slightly further apart than the Gateway Grizzlies and River City Rascals are now. If it can work on either end of metro St. Louis, why not metro Detroit?

[ca]

ABSOLUTELY and w/ford / ypsi would make a great rivalry . ill say this much its so nice to see something like this coming to the metro motor city and to see the oek go on the map which is long overdue . GO WHALERS N GO SLIDERS !