Crushers Leaving Western Baseball League
Published on October 26, 2002 under Western Baseball League (WBL)
Sonoma County Crushers News Release
ROHNERT PARK, CA - SONOMA COUNTY CRUSHERS TEAM PRESIDENT BOB FLETCHER ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE CRUSHERS HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM THE WESTERN BASEBALL LEAGUE(WBL) AND ARE EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS FOR BRINGING BASEBALL TO THE NORTH BAY IN 2003.
"WE INFORMED THE WBL OF OUR DECISION TO NOT PLAY IN 2003 ON OCTOBER 10 PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE INSTABILITY OF SEVERAL OWNERSHIP GROUPS. DURING OUR EIGHT YEARS IN THE WBL, WE HAVE WEATHERED OVER 25 OWNERSHIP/LOCATION CHANGES, BUT WE FELT THE PROSPECTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL 2003 LEAGUE WERE NEGLIGIBLE. WE WERE SADDENED BY THIS SITUATION BUT IN REALITY HAD NO CHOICE."
LOOKING FORWARD, WE HAVE INITIATED FORMAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE TO EXPLORE BRINGING AN AFFILIATED MINOR LEAGUE FRANCHISE TO SONOMA COUNTY. THE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE HAS BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND REPUTATION THAT THE CRUSHERS' ORGANIZATION, OUR FANS, AND OUR SPONSORS HAVE EARNED. OUR NOMINATION BY FORBES MAGAZINE AS "THE BEST AFTERNOON OF BASEBALL IN AMERICA" WAS ALSO NOTED.
SECONDLY, TO START ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR A NEW STADIUM BY 2005, WE HAVE OBTAINED A VERY SIGNIFICANT NAMING-RIGHTS COMMITMENT THAT WE FEEL WILL INFUSE ENERGY AND SUPPORT TO BRINGING A NEW AND EXCITING VENUE TO SONOMA COUNTY. WE WELCOME SUPPORT ON THIS INITIATIVE.
WE HOPE AND EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON PLAYING IN 2003 BY DECEMBER. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT AND ENCOURAGE SEASON TICKET ORDERS FOR THE 2003 SEASON. IF WE DO NOT FIELD A TEAM IN 1993, WE WILL QUICKLY REFUND ALL TICKET PAYMENTS
MOST ESPECIALLY, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR FANS AND SPONSORS FOR THEIR MARVELOUS SUPPORT THESE PAST EIGHT YEARS. IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US. WE HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE GROWING THE CRUSHER TRADITION OF FUN AND AFFORDABLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT FOR MANY MORE YEARS. WISH US LUCK!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT THE CRUSHERS' OFFICE AT ROHNERT PARK STADIUM BY CALLING (707) 588-8300.
Western Baseball League Stories from October 26, 2002
- Crushers Leaving Western Baseball League - Sonoma County Crushers
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