Professional baseball is coming back to the Central Florida region next year in nearby Kissimmee featuring the minor league Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in the Florida State League.
The big announcement was made by Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington, at the beginning of the month on July 1 during a press conference at Osceola County Stadium.
“It’s exciting to be able to announce that we are keeping professional sports in Osceola County,” Arrington said. “We have a proud pro baseball tradition. One of my best childhood memories is watching my Pittsburgh Pirates during Spring Training, seeing a home run and being able to go after the ball. Minor League baseball is a good value for families and folks are excited to have a team. It’s also a way to connect with our visitors, who will be able to enjoy games from April through September.”
This new team coming to town, is relocating from Brevard County having played there since 1994 and are known as the Manatees. One of the owners, Dr. Tom Winters is an orthopedic surgeon in Orlando.
What is even more exciting is fans could be a part of history.
To attract local fans and gain interest in the new team, the minor league affiliate will hold a naming rights contest voted by the fans. If you are interested in participating , the website is http://probaseballbackincentralflorida.com.
The first round of the contest ended Wednesday on July 13, with fans having the opportunity to submit their new team name. For the next round, starting July 18 the top 6 submissions will be available to vote on by the general public.
Minor league baseball is notorious for having crazy and wacky names, such as the Savannah Bananas, Montgomery Biscuits (the former Orlando Rays), Richmond Flying Squirrels, and Akron Rubber Ducks. So basically anything is fair game when it comes to a team name.
Team President Joe Harrington, wants to focus on giving back to this community.
“We are thrilled to be in Central Florida. This is a great, growing market with a passionate and diverse fan base,” said Joe Harrington, president of the team in a press release. “This is Central Florida’s team. The team will be branded locally. We’ll be engaged in the community year round and will focus on being a focal point of this community.”
It has been almost two decades, 16 years to be exact, since Kissimmee last had a minor league team play there. In 2000, the Kissimmee Cobras were a minor league baseball Class A Florida State League team for the Houston Astros.
Kissimmee is no stranger to the Astros. The Astros held spring training at Osceola County Stadium for more than 30 years dating back to 1985.
The Astros will have a new home in 2017 however. The reason for the move, is because of a brand new baseball complex that was recently built in West Palm Beach. The new complex will host both the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals major league franchises, who will have their Spring Trainings there starting next year. And with the Atlanta Braves unlikely to renew their lease with Disney, there is a very real possibility Orlando would be without any baseball outside of summer college leagues at all.
Osceola City Commissioner pointed out the importance of having a minor league baseball team in this area for family residents and tourists, who can enjoy America’s pastime all summer long.
Keeping minor league baseball in the area was a priority for Osceola County in making this bid.
There are 160 minor league teams around the country, with only 12 of them in the Florida State League.
Don Miers, Osceola County’s director of sports and event facilities, echoes how important it is to have baseball in this area and is thinking big when it comes to a possible future major league team in the Central Florida region, with the closest being the Tampa Bay Rays and instate rival Miami Marlins down south.
“It keeps professional baseball alive in Osceola County,” Miers told Stephen Ruiz of the Orlando Sentinel. “Where it is not a major-league team and spring training, it is a minor-league team affiliated with the major leagues. It helps keep our foot in the door for any hopes in the future with major-league folks.”
Kissimmee, batter up! It is time to step up to the plate.
So excited for the new team! Just picked our vote for the name as well. That’s pretty cool that they are letting the fans choose. Do you know if tickets went on sale already?