Yuma Scorpions Add Local Ownership

August 18, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Yuma Scorpions News Release


(Yuma, Az, August 18, 2010). Diamond Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the Yuma Scorpions for the last six seasons, announced today that a local group headed by Yuma businessman Jim McDermott, owner of aviation company Let's Fly, has purchased a minority ownership stake in the team with an option of buying a controlling interest prior to next season. This action will give the team the necessary support needed to recover from the abandonment of the affiliation deal and lack of fulfillment of financial obligations by Golden Glove Professional Baseball and the Venezuelan Baseball Federation earlier this summer that had responsibility for the baseball operations of the club this season.

"We are thrilled to have Jim McDermott and his group as part of the ownership of the Yuma Scorpions," said Diamond Sports CEO David Kaval. "Jim has been a long-time business partner of the Scorpions, president of the Scorpions booster club, and is a very successful long-time member of the Yuma community."

The deal provides McDermott's group time to work with the existing front office staff the remainder of this season and to decide whether or not to execute an option for full purchase of the team in the off-season to give long-term stability to the team playing in Yuma.

"The Yuma Scorpions are one of the best values for family entertainment that we have and I believe it is important for the community to keep them here," said McDermott. "There is no better way to do that than to have them locally owned and operated and I have received tremendous support for this from potential investors, business sponsors and fans. We intend to fix the problems caused by Golden Glove Professional Baseball and the Venezuelan Baseball Federation and keep the team as a quality of life asset for Yuma for the long haul."

As part of this commitment and to gauge community support, the games next Sunday and Monday's will be held back in the main Desert Sun Stadium at the Ray Kroc Complex and will be a Support the Scorpions Day. Sunday will be a double header against the Tucson Toros. It will include the launch of a new and improved Booster Club, a new Kids Club, fundraiser programs for youth and charitable organizations, and opportunities for fans to get involved with the team as volunteers, business partners, or potential owners. Jim McDermott will address the crowd as will Diamond Sports representatives.

In addition, although not part of this deal, the amateur Arizona Winter and Arizona Summer Leagues that are run by Diamond Sports are making a long-term commitment to Yuma and will not relocate out of the city in the foreseeable future. The two pro showcase leagues drive approximately $6M in economic impact for the city of Yuma and are the largest purchasers of hotel rooms and restaurant meals in Yuma with the exception of the military.



Golden Baseball League Stories from August 18, 2010


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