Great American League

[Dan K]

I was trying to get an update on the Atlantic Coast League [www.atlanticcoastleague.org] and the web site link took me to the Great American League of Independent Professional Baseball [www.greatamericanleague.com].

It looks as though Michael Harden is still trying to get a league going and the GAL plans to start in 2011. Gainesville (FL) is listed as one of the first cities.

[ca]

possibilities besides gainesville could be baton rouge LA , u of virginia and ann arbor MI

[MikeH]

possibilities besides gainesville could be baton rouge LA , u of virginia and ann arbor MI

I was going to Private Message you ca and ask this question, but what the heck, since my league is being broadcast on here, I may as well ask this question publicly.

How is an Ann Arbor, MI a viable market for a league that would start in the Southern United States; an upstart league at that?

Baton Rouge, LA is fine, Charlottesville, VA (University of Virginia) could be okay, take into account we don't have teams farther West of Georgia.

For a bus league, no matter how much I were to bust my hump working deals with charter bus companies, a Michigan team would not survive in a Southern-based league.

I am interested in hearing more about this proposition of a Michigan team in the Great American League.

To Dan K, the Atlantic Coast League moniker was an idiotic move on my part, to say the least. I tried to use the original to incorporate into the rebirth of it. Fortunately, I woke up and realized a league that only ran for three weeks is NOT the image I need to be putting out there to locations, especially when looking to go into ex-SCL markets.

The Great American League is a better look for the league because of what it stands for.

On a side note, anyone following the Super Indy Baseball League who has hopes for it, I am sorry to say, do NOT get your hopes up. If he could not run a successful six team league, what makes anyone think he can run a minimum 32-team league? Let's be realistic here.

[ca]

that is called the great american league be an american league when its just a southern league ?

[MikeH]

It's not just a Southern-based league; it is starting in the South, and as everyone should know, the South is the heart of America. We are starting with a geographical centralized area, then expect to expand outward.

To have a set-up that looks like this (examples purposes only):
Baton Rouge, La.
Charlotteville, Va.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Gainesville, Fla.

Those are four locations mentioned. Now let's view the mileage chart.


Ann Arbor, Mich.
to Baton Rouge: 1,104 miles; 16 hours and 42 minutes
to Charlottesville: 575 miles; 9 hours and 50 minutes
to Gainesville: 1,039 miles; 16 hours and 1 minute

Baton Rouge, La.
to Ann Arbor: 1,104 miles; 16 hours and 42 minutes
to Charlottesville: 1,023 miles; 15 hours and 34 minutes
to Gainesville: 586 miles; 8 hours and 47 minutes

Charlottesville, Va.
to Ann Arbor: 575 miles; 9 hours and 50 minutes
to Baton Rouge: 1,023 miles; 15 hours and 34 minutes
to Gainesville: 739 miles; 11 hours and 35 minutes

Gainesville, Fla.
to Ann Arbor: 1,039 miles; 16 hours and 1 minute
to Baton Rouge: 586 miles; 8 hours and 47 minutes
to Charlottesville: 739 miles; 11 hours and 35 minutes

Charlottesville and Ann Arbor may travel back and forth to one another no problems, however, traveling to Baton Rouge and Gainesville is another story due to Transportation laws regulating driving. You are not supposed to drive for more than 8 hours at any one time. Each location is a minimum 8 and a half hours away. You are looking at a league average mileage of over 1,000 miles either way. With an estimated operating expense of about $1.4 million, you are looking at some serious traveling charges, especially if you are chartering a bus.

I will do this, just for the sake of this thread, I will do tons of research between those 4 cities, both by bus and by plane (charter or commercial), and I will post my results and see which is more feasible and more sensible.

[wellington]

Welcome back Mike. So, you are still determined to do this? I admire your tenacity.

By the way, I like the name change. Are those guys that were helping you with the ACL also on board with your new league?

How's your league going to operate? League run? Franchises?

[MikeH]

Welcome back Mike. So, you are still determined to do this? I admire your tenacity.

By the way, I like the name change. Are those guys that were helping you with the ACL also on board with your new league?

How's your league going to operate? League run? Franchises?

Hey Wellington,

Long time no see. How have you been?

I am still giving it a shot. Last year kind of threw us for a loop due to the economy.

The guys who were with me are no longer. Greg Balec went to leave me for the SIB and Kearse and I just parted ways.

The league is now being formatted as an office, and not a corporation. There is no President, CEO, CFO, CDO, etc. It is merely the Commissioner, Director of Baseball Operations, Director of Player Development and Director of Travel & Accommodations.

We are going to operate under a different set of by-laws and the most important, the players have security and protection. We are not the typical indy league where players will be signed for 1 year with an option for another year. We will sign players long-term if needed.

We are still looking at 6 franchises with about a 70-game schedule. If you want more information, just email me.