Excerpted from the Community and Neighbourhoods Committee agenda for Tuesday, September 27, 2011
SUMMIT PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
David Martin, President and General Manager of Summit Professional Baseball, contacted the City of London Parks and Recreation, Community Services Department to request the development of a licence agreement for the use of Labatt Park by September 15, 2011 to meet Frontier Professional Baseball requirements.
The late request was the result of a failed negotiation with a U.S. location and a search for a new home for the team. The positive publicity surrounding Labatt Park prompted the interest in London.
Summit Professional Baseball is represented by David Martin who has over 20 years of experience in the baseball industry on and off the field. He founded and owns three successful baseball industry companies and he purports to be an accomplished marketer and promoter of baseball.
He has consulted and created fan experience environments and themed marketing campaigns for fourteen major league teams.
This is Mr. Martin’s first foray into baseball team ownership and he is confident that he can bring his baseball experience and marketing skills to London to create a successful franchise in this community.
Labatt Park has been home to three professional baseball organizations over the past 30 years. A Frontier League franchise known as the London Werewolves used Labatt Park from 1999 to 2002. The current proposed franchise will participate as an Eastern Division team in the Frontier League. (Frontier League background information Appendix B) The Administration’s overall approach has been to identify key success factors which arise from London’s past experience with professional baseball as well as our understanding of Council’s direction.
LICENCE AGREEMENT
The licence agreement has built on the general terms and conditions of the former Werewolves Frontier League agreement and is updated as required to protect the interests of the City. (The By-law and Agreement are attached as Appendix A)
NON EXCLUSIVE USE
The agreement allows for 48 home games, play off and practice dates for professional baseball. As in the past, 18 dates for intercounty baseball (London Majors) will be accommodated through a scheduling process allowing both the London Majors and the Summit Professional Baseball to call Labatt Park their home field. Displaced from the park will be London minor baseball teams who will be accommodated within the field availability of the baseball system of city fields.
BASEBALL COMMUNITY COMMENTARY
The London Majors have expressed concerns regarding the introduction of another pro-ball team and the City’s ability to support both professional baseball and intercounty league play. As one of the long time users of the ball park dating back decades we note their concerns.
The London Badgers Baseball Association represents a large number of the competitive minor baseball players in the city. They are the other prominent user of Labatt Park. Discussions with the Chair have resulted in a position of support for the inclusion of professional baseball in the mix of users at Labatt Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Commercial/Professional baseball use of Labatt Park requires the user pay 100% of the direct operating cost of their use of the facility.
Community use of Labatt Park is heavily subsidized where current users pay only a portion of the cost of operating Labatt Park.
Summit Professional Baseball LLC team will pay significantly more than the users that will be displaced. The estimated net difference in revenue and expense for Pro ball over current amateur use is $25,000.
Summit Professional Baseball LLC team will also make a donation of $23,000 which will be used to support the purchase and installation of a new scoreboard.
CONCLUSION
Labatt Park, the oldest, continuously used ball park in the world, and recently voted “Canada’s favourite ball park” is a 5,200 seat stadium that is not being used to its capacity.
Current users can be accommodated in the Labatt Park schedule or in the system of available baseball fields. (Norm Aldridge Field/City Wide/Dan Pulham Field)
The reintroduction of professional baseball will add another level of baseball to the sport and entertainment fabric for London.
I want to the first (hopefully I'm not) to welcome Mr. Martin and his team to the City of London. As an avid baseball fan, I can't wait have the Frontier League in town. Please ignore all the criticism and crap your hearing from some folks. The majority of London wants more than just Majors baseball. 'Professional' ball would be nice for a change.You can count on me to be at the games.
Cheers,
Paul
