After 21-years the time may have run out on the Bay Bears stay in Mobile.
It’s no surprise to anyone that has gone to a game that the stands aren’t nearly as filled as they once were. You can blame that on many things, including the lack of a competitive team, the HOT weather, bad drainage on the field, poor stadium, high concession prices, local government having their hand in every decision….and we can go on and on. The problem really is…no one is coming to see the team play.
(My daughter’s got ME tickets to a game because their school partnered with the Bay Bears. IF they reached their reading goals we would get tickets to the game. They reached their goals!)
Since I’ve moved back to Mobile in 2015 I’ve been to exactly 22 games! I’ve gotten to know a lot of the staff and often enjoy the hot-sticky summer-nights hanging at the Hank with my family. My son, Tyler, LOVES to watch every aspect of this team. If they were to move away we would have to drive to Pensacola to see a professional baseball game. (Yes, I’m VERY aware that their stadium is a lot nicer, and everything else that comes with it.) BUT, there’s one thing, and it’s a pretty big thing. It’s not Mobile!
The MOBILE Bay Bears might be leaving!!!!! WHAT!?!
(Yeah, that’s me and Teddy and baby bear!)
The information that has leaked out is that there are investment groups interested in moving the Bay Bears to Huntsville, Baton Rouge and Savannah. The Bay Bears General Manager, Chris Morgan, has denied the report that the team is being sold.
Also dropping a statement is the mayor’s office. Saying, “We have worked hard for the past three years to make needed repairs and improvements to Hank Aaron Stadium.” The statement continues, “We are in contact with the ownership and our goal is to keep the team in Mobile. We won’t speculate on private business negotiations.”
Of course that’s what they mayor’s office is going to say! They’re not going to say, “UH, the stadium is in bad need of several repairs and we don’t think it’s as big of a priority as other people do, so we’re investing as little as we can to keep the team interested in staying where we think they should stay because it’s the right thing to do.”
That would be a great statement though, right? Sandy? Right?
I’ll be the first to tell you that I hate politics, so I refuse to get into a discussion about what’s happening here and how it could be fixed if this or that would be taken care of. Listen…I’m a consumer of this product. My son has chosen to fall in love with this product because it was presented to him at the right time. Does that not mean anything to the “right people?” It should!
(Tyler enjoying his first time ever on the field of a professional baseball field!)
(Tyler and I hanging out together during the game. Having a laugh. One of THOUSANDS we’ve had at the Hank!)
If I were in the Bay Bears front office and knew another city was interested in my team and they were able to provide me with a check-list of my “needs” AND “wants” and it made business sense, then….well, sorry Mobile, you would lose your team. But does it have to come to that? Is not having a baseball team in Mobile not worth it anymore? Because – let’s be honest here – it should! Hank Aaron is just one of FIVE people that have made the Hall of Fame that call Mobile home! More H.O.F. members were born in Mobile than any other city in the country….that includes New York and Los Angeles!
If the Bay Bears walk away from Mobile, that will close the door on 130 plus years of baseball history in this city!
This isn’t just news…this is heart-breaking, tremendously upsetting news!
(ALL PHOTO CREDITS BELONG TO ME: SID KELLY)
This story was written by me, and reflect only MY opinion on this particular topic, not that of WABD, Cumulus or any of its advertisers.
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