Mik 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 I've played in this stadium and I know at least Al will be interested.... The Red Barons will play baseball in 2005. That's the word from Lackawanna County majority commissioners after news the team's debt could put the minor league franchise in jeopardy. The International League contacted the Red Baron's general manager with worries about the team's debt: $650,000 in unpaid bills. It's a debt the league said could put the franchise in jeopardy if it's not paid. But the majority commissioners said they will do everything they can to keep baseball in Lackawanna County. Red Barons baseball has become a tradition at the Lackawanna County Stadium but rising debt has made the team's future uncertain. One day after writing a letter to the Stadium Authority saying the franchise is in jeopardy, Lackawanna County majority commissioners Robert Cordaro and A.J. Munchak talked about the issue. "We will correct it. Bob and I will correct it. There will be baseball in 2005. Positively, there will be baseball in 2005. ," Munchak said assuredly. The International League said it could pull the franchise: that's one extreme. The other is to leave the team alone and let the Stadium Authority work on paying off the bills. For the second time this year, Cordaro is asking the head of the Stadium Authority to step down so the county can begin reorganizing and work on the debt. Members of the Stadium Authority were unavailable for comment. The president of the International League said he considers the $650,000 in unpaid bills very serious. Cordaro and Munchak are worried that won't be the final tally. They said by January the debt could be closer to $800,000. "We know there will be more than $650,000 in bills. We don't know what they'll do in the interim," added Cordaro. The International League expects to get more financial information from the Red Barons in the next few days. It will make a decision about the team's future sometime next week. Never in the league's 125 year history has a team lost its franchise. But the league president said the stakes are much higher now, when more than half a million dollars is involved. WNEP.com - local news station Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2004 Damn. The region already lost the Allentown Ambassadors last year. Without the Red Barons, the closest baseball team to me would be the New Jersey Cardinals in Sussux County. It took us 40 years to get this team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 I'm in a similar boat as you. The Ottawa Lynx are always threatening to move, but at least next season is guaranteed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 That stinks. I hope Montreal gets a AAA team. They have loyal baseball fans there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2004 Montreal had a CBL team last year (well, for half a year, as long as the league was around), but had no home park and played all their games on the road. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
