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Subject: News About Columbia Author: Frontier League Fan [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 16:13:49 10/29/02 Tue http://digmo.com:8080/digmo.nsf/slugs/1029minors FIRST PITCH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND Greg and Lisa Wendt, principal co-owners of Columbia's new minor league baseball team, look over MU's Simmons Field, where the team will play next summer. More than a year ago, St. Louis native Gary Wendt researched places across Missouri in search of the best home for minor league baseball. "Hands down, it came up Columbia," said Wendt, president of Columbia Professional Baseball. Standing with city officials on Monday, Wendt announced that a Frontier League franchise would play its first game in Columbia on Memorial Day weekend in 2003. "We started this process about 16 months ago, and it's nice to see this finally come to fruition," Wendt said. "We look forward to working with the community and, at the same time, building a franchise we can all be proud of." Mayor Darwin Hindman said he was excited about the future of baseball in Columbia. "This is going to be a great thing about Columbia," Hindman said. "The community, the state, the county — everybody is a winner." Wendt said his company has four goals: to field a competitive team, provide family entertainment, give back to the community and profit from the investment. A family of four should be able to buy tickets, hot dogs and beverages for less than $30, Wendt said. In early October, the city, MU and Columbia Professional Baseball completed a five-year lease of Taylor Stadium and Simmons Field, ending nine months of negotiations. Looking back at that journey, Wendt thanked many people on Monday, including Hindman, City Manager Ray Beck, MU Chancellor Richard Wallace and Director of Athletics Mike Alden. "These people have shown some vision and cooperated fully through this ordeal," Wendt said. He also made special mention of Gene McArtor, senior assistant athletic director, who negotiated the lease on behalf of the university. McArtor was "sometimes tough but always very fair in this negotiation," Wendt said. After completing the lease, Columbia Professional Baseball sought a team for the field. On Oct. 22, league owners unanimously approved Columbia Professional Baseball's purchase of the Canton (Ohio) Coyotes franchise and its relocation to Columbia. Greg Wendt, Gary Wendt's brother and a principal owner of Columbia Professional Baseball, declined to say how much the company paid for the franchise. Greg Wendt's wife, Lisa Wendt, is the other principal owner. The team is likely to drop the "Coyotes" nickname, Gary Wendt said. The general manager, whom Wendt plans to announce in the near future, will help pick a name. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]