New Investor Group to Purchase Bluefish
November 30, 2005 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CONN. (Nov. 30, 2005) The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced that Get Hooked!, LLC, an investor group of Fairfield County business people, has purchased the team. The group's mission is to bring winning baseball and family fun to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
"We are a county-wide ownership group whose members believe the Bridgeport Bluefish are a great asset not only to Bridgeport but the entire region," Jack McGregor, co-chair of the Board of Directors of Get Hooked!, LLC said. "We will reach out to Fairfield County as well as New Haven County and from the Valley north to Waterbury and Danbury. We want to assure our fans that the Bluefish are here and here to stay."
Michael Kramer of New Canaan, the group's other co-chair said, "The Bluefish offer terrific baseball and great entertainment. We are bringing to the Bluefish new resources and a fresh perspective to ensure that the team continues to play winning baseball and just as importantly, continues to be the great community partner that Bridgeport and the region have come to know."
Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi called today's announcement, "Terrific news for Bridgeport, for Fairfield County, and for baseball fans. The new owners have solid financial resources led by Bridgeport residents and supported by investors from throughout Fairfield County, which is critical to the team's success."
Mary-Jane Foster of Bridgeport, who will be the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bluefish, said her first act as CEO will be to personally call every current season ticket and suite holder and every current and former advertiser to determine how better to serve all the team's stakeholders. "We will be fan and client focused," she said. "I'm going to thank them for their past support and ask what they'd like to see us do for them. Our front office and game-day staff will be eager and ready to welcome everyone to the Bluefish experience at Harbor Yard. Our home opener is Wednesday evening, May 3 at 7:05."
Frank Boulton, chairman of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, LLC, to which the Bluefish belong, said the league has appreciated Mickey Herbert, from whom Get Hooked! LLC purchased the team. Noting that McGregor and Foster were founders of the Bluefish, he said that "having them back is kind of like âBack to the Future.'"
Concerning the other members of the new ownership group, Boulton said, "I've met several of the other investors and we're excited to have them in our league. They bring the kind of experience and knowledge our league needs. They are the kind of local ownership group that will make our league continue to thrive."
Foster also said all senior Bluefish staff members as well as Charlie Dowd, general manager of the team since its inception, will remain in their positions. Tom Kushner, another member of the investment group and on the Management Board said there will be more promotional nights and more activities on the field between innings as well as events beyond baseball for fans of all ages in the ballpark.
Kushner said, "We're going to give our fans the baseball they deserve by winning on the field and going the extra mile to surprise them with some entertainment they haven't seen before."
Tom D'Addario of Shelton, an investor and also a member of the Management Board, whose father Mario was an original investor in the Bluefish, said "This is a group of people who know sports, bring a corporate and financial sensibility to the game, and are committed to maintaining the Bluefish presence in the Bridgeport community. The Bluefish are a measure of how far Bridgeport has progressed."
Tom Schneider, an investor and member of the Management Board from Westport said, "This is absolutely a group effort with energy and support coming from all across the county in support of the Bluefish and we have every confidence that working together we can make the Bluefish a major success."
The members of Get Hooked, LLC, include:
Tom D'Addario of Shelton, owner, D'Addario Buick, Nissan.
Melissa DiNardo of Fairfield , Peter DiNardo Enterprises
Richard Fields of Westchester, NY
Mary-Jane Foster of Bridgeport, an original co-founder of the Bluefish and a
managing partner of Freeborn Investors, LLC and Westchester Baseball, LLC
Michael Kramer of New Canaan, founder of Kramer Capital Partners
Thomas N. Kushner of New Canaan
Jack E. McGregor of Bridgeport, an original co-founder of the Bluefish, Of Counsel
to Cohen & Wolf and a managing partner of Freeborn Investors, LLC and Westchester
Baseball, LLC
Sandy Montag of Westchester County, NY, senior vice president and managing
director, IMG Broadcasting
Douglas Millowitz of New York City
James E. Murphy of Greenwich, founder of Murphy & Co.; managing director of
marketing and communications for Accenture.
Thomas P. Schneider of Westport
David Selznick of Westchester County, NY, an original Bluefish investor
Peter Trager of New Canaan
Michael Whalen of Trumbull
The Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball Club, a charter team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, plays its home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, located off Exit 27 of I-95 on the corner of Broad Street and South Frontage Road in Bridgeport. The Bluefish lead the league in franchise attendance, having drawn one million fans faster than any other team in Connecticut minor league history. 2006 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 203-345-4800. Visit the Bluefish on-line at www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
Atlantic League Stories from November 30, 2005
- New Investor Group to Purchase Bluefish - Bridgeport Bluefish
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.
