Is Chillicothe In or Out in 09???

[GBearFan]

It look’s like there is a distinct possibility that the Chillicothe Paints may be out of the Frontier League as early as next season. I for one, hope that is not the case, but as the author of a recent article in the Chillicothe Gazette put it, “the Frontier League has outgrown Chillicothe”. The organization’s operating budget is 3 times smaller than some teams in the league. They play in a small park that’s off the beaten path a few miles outside of town. Not enough fans show up to games to make this organization a viable competitive business in the current structure of the FL.

The FL owners have a deadline of July 30th to declare their intent to return to the league next season. Chillicothe owner (and FL board chairman) Chris Hanners stated that he will request an extension of that deadline so that he may evaluate his options.

If Hanners opts to not return next year, that may be a good thing for the league. There is currently no team scheduled to join the league with Avon in 09. If the Paints bow out, Avon can replace them in the East Division without the need for a travel team or a “temp” team at a college site. The league can then play with 12 teams and have more time to work on an entry partner for Normal in 2010.

The Paints’ organization has done an outstanding job for the past 16 years and has adapted to and addressed many issues that it faced during that time. Chillicothe has played an instrumental role in the success of the Frontier League. Now it seems like they will become the next victim of the league’s success.

[Jones]

I think you maybe right. The Paints have been last in attendance all year, and I was trying to figure out why they would want to do an unbalanced schedule (with 13 teams) in 2009. With a team leaving that would keep 12 teams with Avon coming into the fold . I also think the FL has out grown Chillicothe and it is sad because that organization has taken care of the players and opposing teams that have come in to their to play. I am predicting that a Northern League team joins the FL for the 2010 season along with the Normal, IL. I will not be surprised to see the FL at 18 teams in the next 4-5 years.

[ca]

is trying to establish a summer collegiate league which may be better suited for chillicothe nevertheless an fl exit would be sad . as for finding an 10' partner in expansion for normal that will be a TALL task to say the least

[rtm457]

A viable option would be to move the Chillicothe franchise to Columbus. The Clippers are vacating Cooper Stadium after the season. Why not Columbus?

[Minor League Man]

ca, you got it! Summer collegiate leagues are the future of baseball...don't know why OSC doesn't cover them! (I love my Mallards, Bullfrogs, Woodchucks, Loggers, & Express)

rtm457, I heard Cooper Stadium was going to be torn down...Kinda hard to play there when the park's not up anymore.

[patmc16]

The Clippers are vacating Cooper Stadium after the season. Why not Columbus?

Because the Clippers are not vacating Columbus. They are just moving a mile or so away to their new stadium in the arena district. In Columbus in the summer they would have to compete with the Clippers and the Crew. Between the Clippers in a new stadium with some players who are a sniff away from the majors and the Paints at Cooper, people would most likely follow the Clippers. I don't think price would make a difference. I'm sure the Clippers will be a little more expensive at Huntington but an adult can get into a game this year for $6. The Paints general admission tickets are also $6 this season. I can only assume prices would go up at the Coop versus Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe.

Much like no indy team showed interest in Ned Skeldon when the Toledo Mudhens moved to their new stadium, I couldn't see one being interested in Cooper with the Clippers near by.

[rtm457]

I agree with some of what you say, but I anticipate with the new stadium, that the Clippers will be like the Dayton Dragons and sell out each game. So that leaves plenty of baseball fans with nowhere to go. Look at the other Frontier League teams, look at St. Louis, they support two Frontier League teams plus the Cardinals. Chicago supports two Frontier League teams if you count Rockford. Cleveland will support Avon next year. Cincinnati supports Florence. So we need to give Columbus more credit than they have gotten. With creative scheduling where you don't conflict with both teams I think it would work.

[GBearFan]

Chillicothe owner, Chris Hanners stated in a recent radio interview that the Paints WILL play in Chillicothe next season.

We just don't know if it will be as part of the FL or as part of a new collegiate wood-bat league that would play in several of the smaller markets that were once members of the FL. Either way, the Paints plan to play at V. A. Memorial next season.

[Fez]

I went to several FL games in their first two seasons and it was quite fun --but very low budget. I'm surprised Chillicothe has survived this long -but good for them. RIP Zanesville Greys.

[GBearFan]

Well that's it. The Chillicothe Paints have played their final game as a member of the Frontier League.

After 16 seasons, the final "original" member of the league is gone. The team's owner, Chris Hanners, is waiting until the end of the league playoffs to make an "official" announcement but in several interviews in Ohio newspapers, he's made his intentions clear. The team will go on, but not as a member of the FL.

With the Paints out for 2009 and the delays at the University of Illinois to field a team until at least 2010, the Frontier League looks to be at 12 teams again next season with the addition of Avon.

[bengalbill]

With Chillicothe moving to the "Prospects League", looking at their teams shows five Frontier League cities/stadiums in the eleven team league. Springfield and DuBois County in the west and Chillicothe, Richmond and Slippery Rock in the east. It's a wood bat College Summer League combining the Central Illinois College League (5 teams plus a previous expansion team) with five new franchises in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

I was bummed to lose the last charter member of our league but in today's news in OSC, owner Chris Hanners explains it realistically. The Paints were the lowest in attendence and this move looks to him as the best move for both his team and the league.

So that brings up the question, who else joins in 2010 when Normal/ Bloomington begins Frontier League play? Will it be another move or a 14th franchise? And does that leave Washington too far east geographically?

This Frontier League evolution is pretty interesting isn't it? It's not the way I would have liked to see it happen. But economically and feasibility-wise, they've (the league) done a good job haven't they?