Express Move One Step Closer to Major League Baseball
October 23, 2003 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
Round Rock (Texas) â The Dell Diamond will have a new look in 2004 with the addition of a new Home Run Porch and six luxury suites in left field, and the Round Rock Express itself will have a new look in 2005 moving up to the highest level of minor league baseball. Reid Ryan, CEO and President of the Express, announced today that the team has reached an agreement to purchase the Edmonton Trappers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and will relocate the team to Round Rock in 2005.
"This is a great day for Central Texas baseball fans," Ryan stated. "This brings us one step closer to Major League Baseball."
Although the team will participate in the Pacific Coast League's 16-team division, the name will remain the Round Rock Express. The Express Double-A franchise will move to Corpus Christi in 2005 and play in the Texas League under a new name.
"Fans will get a chance to see players from 15 other organizations now instead of just seven," said Express General Manager Jay Miller. "These players are one step away from the big leagues, they're just waiting for their opportunity," Miller added, "I think our fans will really enjoy this level of baseball." Miller was the general manager of the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs before coming to Round Rock.
Triple-A baseball has a 144-game season compared to Double-A baseball's 140- game season, so Express fans will have 72 home games to enjoy instead of 70. The Pacific Coast League celebrated it's 100th birthday last year, starting play in 1903. The league is currently divided into four, four-team divisions, but with the addition of Round Rock the league could be realigned.
"Although we are sorry to part ways with the first class operation in Edmonton, the PCL gains outstanding leadership and a very positive and successful atmosphere in Round Rock," said Pacific Coast League President Branch B. Rickey. "There are also significant advantages to bringing in an Austin area franchise which is much more geographically central to the league than is Edmonton."
Fans will have the opportunity to see players from the Astros, Rangers, Cubs, Cardinals, Giants, Dodgers and Diamondbacks and many others as they make their way to the big leagues.
Although the Express will go up a level, the prices at The Dell Diamond will not. "Even though we're going up to Triple-A, our main focus will still be affordable, family entertainment," said Express co-owner Don Sanders.
The Express will now be in direct competition with their main attendance rivals, Memphis and Sacramento. The trio has finished 1-2-3 in minor league attendance over the past four years.
"The Austin / Round Rock area has dictated that we are a Triple-A market," Ryan said. "Now we will be competing on the field with the same cities that we are competing against for economic development."
The current PCL divisions, with Major League affiliation in perentheses:
CENTRAL DIVISON Albuquerque (Marlins) Colorado Springs (Rockies) Iowa (Cubs) Omaha (Royals)
EAST DIVISION Nashville (Pirates) New Orleans (Astros) Oklahoma (Rangers) Memphis (Cardinals)
NORTH DIVISION Edmonton (Expos) Portland (Padres) Salt Lake (Angels) Tacoma (Mariners)
SOUTH DIVISION Sacramento (A's) Las Vegas (Dodgers) Tucson (Diamondbacks) Fresno (Giants)
Pacific Coast League Stories from October 23, 2003
- Edmonton Trapper Baseball Club Sold - Edmonton Trappers
- Express Announces Personnel Moves - Round Rock Express
- Express Move One Step Closer to Major League Baseball - Round Rock Express
- Express to Hold Press Conference - Round Rock Express
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
