The latest regarding the Batavia Muckdogs

Sources in upstate New York have added little new information regarding the status of the Batavia Muckdogs for the 2018 season.

Here is what we know:

• The operating agreement between the Genesee County Baseball Club (GCBC), owners of the Batavia Muckdogs and the Rochester Red Wings expired back in 2017.
• The Rochester Red Wings tried to negotiate an agreement to continue to operate the Muckdogs, but the New York-Penn League (NYPL) declined their offer.
• Back in December, 2017, the GCBC announced that control of the franchise was been transferred to the NYPL.
• The NYPL is seeking a buyer for the franchise. Under terms of the transfer, the Rochester Red Wings, who have managed day-to-day operations of the club since 2008, will receive 50 percent of any sale price, and the GCBC will receive the other 50 percent, minus legal fees and the 10 percent share of sale proceeds that will be kept by the league. The sale price for the team is expected to be around $6 million. The name “Muckdogs” will remain property of the GCBC.
• Sources indicate that there is currently no one at Dwyer Stadium managing operations of the Muckdogs (I confirmed this by calling the Dwyer Stadium ticket office number and there was no answer). 
• Sources indicate that the NYPL is taking over operations of the Muckdogs, but the status for the 2018 is unknown. The NYPL website has a master schedule for the 2018 season that includes Batavia.
• Sources indicate that the NYPL has made contact with Batavia officials about a one-year lease of the stadium, but nothing has been finalized.
• Sources anticipate some announcement soon from the NYPL regarding the 2018 season.

Here are articles about the situation:

The Daily News: link
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: link
The Batavian: link
auburnpub.com: link

Logo credit: MiLB.com

NY-Penn League News is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.

An Open Letter to all New York-Penn League Fans:

I am writing to request that you consider taking a road trip during the upcoming season to Batavia, New York and attend a Muckdogs game.

Batavia is the last of the original cities of the New York-Penn League, which was founded at a meeting in the Hotel Richmond in Batavia and began play in 1939 as the PONY (Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York) League.

The Muckdogs may not survive in Batavia much longer. Attendance has been down for several years and the Muckdogs averaged 806 fans per game during the 2017 season. Fan support for the Batavia franchise is needed now more than ever.

Recently, it was announced that the Rochester Red Wings will no longer manage the day to day operations of the Muckdogs and control of the team has been assumed by the New York-Penn League. See an article regarding this here. The Player Development Agreement between the Miami Marlins and Batavia expires after the 2018 season.

Please help keep minor league baseball in Batavia and take a road trip to see the Muckdogs this summer!  Muckdogs' ticket information is available here.

See you in Batavia,

#SupporttheMuckdogs

NY-Penn League News is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New York-Penn League.