So what about Huntsville/Biloxi? Latest: Rain isn't helping

[Mass Haas]

Well, this is an encouraging tweet from Mississippi sportswriter Creg Stephenson:

 

"Biloxi owner Ken Young says team will "most likely" remain Milwaukee Brewers affiliate, but final decision won't come til September."

 

It's going to be a long wait for confirmation, but that's the first indication of any kind on the matter.

 

Now because it's an existing relationship, the Biloxi ownership group (and Nashville's, for that matter), don't have to wait until September to extend the relationship, they could do so at any time. Certainly the Biloxi folks want to get to know the Brewers, and thankfully current Stars GM Buck Rogers continues to tout their virtues.

 

The longer Nashville waits, that will get a little antsy, though.

 

***

 

Creg also tweets info on Biloxi baseball's Twitter account and web site, should you wish to follow or add to your favorites.

[Mass Haas]

From Wikipedia:

 

Beau Rivage is a waterfront casino resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. Beau Rivage was rebuilt and re-opened in 2006, a year after Hurricane Katrina.

 

***

 

The new Biloxi ballpark will be called "MGM Park at Beau Rivage", or by most (certainly us here), simply MGM Park.

[AlMaFi]

Hey there. I'm the dude who wrote that fanpost for BCB. Thanks for reading it through. It was certainly long-winded, as the original intention was an article rather than fanpost. I was originally going to pitch it to a regional publisher, but decided that it would be best served by going right to people who are most likely to actually care/know about the Brewers' farm system. Plus, I wouldn't have to take the time to revise/trim that piece.

 

A few of you were wondering why I assumed that the Nashville PDC would be renewed, and I want to clarify that I did not assume this would happen. (in fact, from that article: "I probably should not make this assumption")

 

I've had a hunch that this relationship will continue, and I think that's mostly from observing what happened in September 2012. If you remember, the Sounds and Crew were stalemating and Melvin was talking about facilities and such. It went on for while, but at a certain point it became obvious that there would be a renewal. Why? Because neither team had anybody else to turn to. The Sounds might prefer a PDC with a team like the Braves or Cardinals, but it isn't going to happen. The Crew may prefer another club, but which? There may be more options this fall, and I'll mention those below.

 

I'm jumping in here because I want to share a few thoughts/updates and see what Brewerfan minor forum regulars think.

 

- Interesting news that Melvin and Morris have been invited to the Sulphur Dell groundbreaking. If the invitation is accepted, that's as good as a handshake agreement, right?

 

- If not, what other AAA scenarios are we looking at? I would love to see Albuquerque or Salt Lake with the Brewers, but I don't think either will happen. The Mets got burned when they lost Buffalo to Toronto in 2012, and their default was Las Vegas. This year, the Twins and Red Wings have an expiring PDC. Though it would not be surprising in the least to see these two teams renew, it's within the realm of reason to suggest that Rochester and the Mets may have mutual admiration. This could free up the Vegas option, but I'd prefer the Sounds over that train wreck (or should I say UFO wreck) in the desert any day. At least I can watch the Sounds games online--even if their visual broadcast consists of one stationery camera in the press box that makes Caleb Gindl look like an ant.

 

- But there is one entertaining scenario that involves a return to old AAA friend, the New Orleans Zephyrs; as their PDC with the Marlins lapses this year as well. NOLA is a stone's throw from Biloxi.

 

- Back to the subject of Double-A. It sounds like Biloxi might be in our future, and if so let's celebrate it. If not, let's hope for another Tennessee team. I've officially given up on Richmond and all other Eastern League teams. I had an email exchange earlier this week with Ben Hill from MiLB.com, and he said, "one thing regarding Richmond is that there won’t be a new stadium there until 2016 (at the very, very earliest). So if the Brewers ended up there they’d once again have their Double-A team operating in one of the worst facilities at that level." Yep. Ben is a little more in the loop, whereas I'm just a regular reader of ballparkbiz. Their stadium deal has hit all kinds of snags, so let's say goodbye to the Squirrels.

 

Please post your thoughts on any/all of these subjects. Curious to hear some more Brewer fan viewpoints.

[brewmann04]

I think Biloxi and the Crew will be done,bit i still think the Brewers and Nashville will be a match.

[Mass Haas]

I would love to see Albuquerque or Salt Lake with the Brewers, but I don't think either will happen.

 

Welcome to the forum here.

 

Just curious on why you'd like to see the Brewers AAA affiliation move to a less-neutral offensive environment than Nashville (more difficult to analyze true level of production on the field), less convenient for AAA / AA proximity to each other (convenient for roving instructors, transfers, etc.), and moving to a later time zone.

[AlMaFi]

Thank you for the welcome.

 

You've got me back to defending my original position that the Sounds are the best fit/best option for the Crew. I completely agree with and acknowledge the points you've made about proximity to AA club, time zone, etc. As far as ballpark factors and such, I'll admit that I'm more of an "eye-test" fan than an advanced stats guy.

 

The reasons that I "love" Albuquerque and Salt Lake include: high-quality stadium/facilities, large crowds, quality TV broadcast, etc. These teams just have a mojo that I think can benefit the parent club in more intangible ways. Despite ballpark factors, the Angels and Dodgers have no qualms about sending their top prospects through these cities.

 

With that said, I still like Nashville better and hope that the Sulphur Dell project produces results similar to other more successful PCL teams--especially if the Brewers PDC continues. Since it is winter and we're looking a wide range of possibilities (fantasies) there are multiple wacky scenarios to consider before September. Just working with expiring PDCs at the Double A and Triple A levels, we can have some fun. If we bring expiring PDCs for High-A into the picture, it gets even more hairy. How about these for 2015, in order of least likely to most likely:

 

The Eastern Seaboard Plan. AAA-Durham, AA-Richmond, High-A Carolina league team

The Great Lakes Plan. AAA-Rochester, AA-Erie

The Wild West Plan (aka the 80s/90s Dodgers plan) AAA-Albuquerque, AA-San Antonio, high-A Cali league team?

The Gulf Plan. AAA-New Orleans, AA-Biloxi, High-A FSL team

The Tennessee Plan. AAA-Nashville, AA-Smokies/Lookouts/Generals

The Likely Plan. AAA-Nashville, AA-Biloxi, High-A Brevard County or new FSL team

 

My vote would go to either the Gulf Plan or the Tennessee Plan. I'm guessing that the Marlins and Zephyrs renew, and could probably say the same out the Cubs and Smokies. Why do have a sneaking suspicion that if Milwaukee and Hunstville/Biloxi part ways, we will end up with the Jackson Generals?

 

The first three have little possibility for the Brewers. Rochester will sign with either the Twins or Mets. The Bulls will likely renew with the Rays, but let's say there's a switch to the Marlins...then Tampa and NOLA are a lock. The Padres will have even more incentive to continue with the Missions now that their AAA club is in El Paso.

 

I guess this is a very long-winded way of saying, "what options actually exist?" Plenty of teams grouse and gripe about facilities, but due to limited options the major league clubs often have little leverage. It's kind of like Cleveland Browns' head coaching search. You fire a guy, watch as all your dream replacements fade away, and end up with a new guy who is roughly equivalent to the guy you fired in the first place. Why not just stick with the first guy? Go Sounds!

[Mass Haas]

Via Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times --

 

Huntsville Stars' new owner: The key for future of baseball in the city is support in 2014 season

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Tense times between the city and Stars ownership in this lame-duck season

[Mass Haas]

So this is pretty classy.

 

Former Huntsville Star Ray Thoma: Create memories for yourself and the players this season

[Mass Haas]

Maybe it's a lame duck season for Huntsville Stars, but it doesn't have to be the last one

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

[Mass Haas]

Here's a nice feature story on Stars' GM Buck Rogers -- here's hoping he's asked to move to Biloxi with the Huntsville club in 2015.

 

Just one day later, this article --

 

Biloxi minor league baseball club to introduce team's general manager Tuesday

 

Hopefully it's Buck...

 

And today, this --

 

Buck Rogers to be named GM for Biloxi's new minor league baseball team

By AJ Giardina, WLOX

 

BILOXI, MS - WLOX has learned from a reliable source that Buck Rogers, the Huntsville Stars general manager, will be named the GM of Biloxi's minor league team on Tuesday afternoon at 1:00.

 

Rogers has built a reputation over the past 13 years for over the top promotions. He held a "Car Survivor" contest where fans could win an automobile by living in it.

 

His wife Babs, is the Stars assistant general manager and she has family in Biloxi.

 

WLOX will be covering the Biloxi baseball news conference and we'll get to know the real Buck Rogers.

 

***

 

That's great news for Buck, a longtime friend and supporter of what we do here at Brewerfan. Congratulations! Buck will move on to very new (and welcome) challenges, working within a brand new facility to an energized fanbase.

 

While not etched in stone, based on Buck's longtime praise for his relationships with Brewers staff, it is as close to a given as can be that the Biloxi ownership group will lock in Milwaukee as its partner for at minimum the 2015-16 seasons.

 

As for Nashville, we have not gone digging for news yet. Surely Sounds ownership wants to see a competitive AAA club on the field. That being said, being associated with a successful big league club has its allure, and if the team in Milwaukee goes on to make this a magical campaign (15-5 is a good start), then that can't hurt as a selling point.

[brewmann04]

so it looking good for the Brewers and Biloxi but more unsure of Nashville at this point.

[Mass Haas]

Out with the old, in with the old: Huntsville GM Buck Rogers to keep job after Biloxi move

By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com

 

BILOXI, Mississippi -- After interviewing a number of qualified candidates, many from inside the baseball world, Biloxi baseball President Ken Young decided the best man to be general manager's of the new Biloxi minor league franchise was the one who already had it.

 

Young announced Tuesday that Buck Rogers, General Manager of the Huntsville Stars, will serve in the same capacity after the team moves to Biloxi for the 2015 season.

 

"We interviewed a lot of people, but it kept coming back to Buck's passion, his knowledge of the game," Young told The Mississippi Press after a Tuesday afternoon press conference at the Biloxi Visitor's Center. "We put him through the same interview process as everyone else. He came to the top. He stood out."

 

Rogers, 54, is a native of Wisconsin, but is familiar with the Mississippi coast. He and his wife, Babs, met at Edgewater Mall in 1986, he said. Babs Rogers is a native of Gulfport and graduated from Harrison Central High School.

 

"I am stoked. I am fired up," he said, thanking Young and the rest of the ownership group for having "trust and faith" in him.

 

"We're going to make it the best experience you can have at a minor league game," he said. The City of Biloxi is building the team a $36 million stadium adjacent to the Beau Rivage.

 

Rogers said he will spend much of the summer in Biloxi, assembling a staff and preparing for the move at the conclusion of the current season -- one which currently finds the Stars sitting atop their division in the Southern League.

 

"I've always believed you surround yourself with the best people possible," Rogers said about the challenge of running the team this season and preparing for a move. "They will execute and gets things done."

 

After the press conference, Rogers said coming to a new market, a new stadium, with a new team name and new logo is like a kid having "Christmas, New Year's and Mardi Gras all rolled into one."

 

Despite being a native of Wisconsin, Rogers is a fan of (brace yourselves, Saints fans) the Minnesota Vikings. With little prompting, he can recite a litany of excuses as to why his beloved Vikes lost the 2009 NFC Championship Game to the Saints.

 

He spent 14 years in the U.S. Army -- most of those as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. He served in combat, participating in the invasion of Panama in December 1989.

 

Rogers began attending minor league baseball games while stationed at Ft. Bragg. After a severe parachuting accident, he was discharged from the Army and was hired on the staff of a farm team in the former Montreal Expos organization.

 

He went on to work in the Chicago Cubs organization for three years, then back to the Expos organization the same year they moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Nationals.

 

Rogers was hired as General Manger of the Huntsville franchise -- a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate -- in 2009.

 

He is already acclimating himself to the area and flawlessly pronounced the names "Saucier" and "Gautier" for those attending the press conference.

 

Young said the announcement of Rogers staying on as GM was just the first in the "evolution" of Biloxi baseball leading to the start of play next spring.

 

"You're going to see a lot of things coming out of Biloxi baseball in the coming months," Young said.

 

A contest to name the team will likely begin in about 10 days, when the team sends out a press release announcing the start of the campaign. Fans will be able to submit their suggestions to an online site.

 

From those submitted, five will be chosen by team officials and then voted on by the public.

 

Young also said about 16-20 people will be hired to the front office staff, with the total number of jobs created by the team, including part-time/seasonal employees, will be around 200.

 

Rogers said the Stars have a young team with excellent pitching, not much power but timely hitting and would love nothing more than to see them with a Southern League title in their final year in Huntsville.

 

"We want to leave Huntsville on a good note," he said, "but Biloxi is our future."

 

Ken Young (left), President of the new Biloxi minor league baseball franchise, speaks during a Tuesday press conference as newly-announced General Manager Buck Rogers looks on. (Warren Kulo photo/Gulflive.com)

 

http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width620/img/sports_impact/photo/14756966-mmmain.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi baseball GM excited to launch in brand new market

by Danielle Thomas, WLOX.com

 

BILOXI, MS - Buck Rogers will be the face of Biloxi baseball. On Tuesday, team officials announced the current general manager of the Huntsville Stars has been hired to be the GM when the Stars move to Biloxi.

 

The Biloxi Baseball Club did a lot of interviews while looking for a general manager. Owners said the most important qualities were credibility and knowledge. They said it was that, along with Buck Rogers' passion and enthusiasm, that won him the top job in Biloxi baseball.

 

Building Biloxi as a market for minor league baseball is about more than the bricks and mortar of a new stadium. Those in the business say to be successful, it also takes a general manager who knows how to lead.

 

"Anything to do with ticket sales and promotions, concessions, advertising and marketing, he oversees all of those areas and basically operates the franchise for the ownership group," former MLB player Barry Lyons said of Rogers. "He is the man in charge. So he has a lot of responsibility. His days are pretty long, especially during the season. But when you have a good general manager in place, it shows."

 

General Manager Buck Rogers has many years of experience in entertaining fans, but he said coming to Biloxi will be a whole new ballgame.

 

"From a general manager's point of view, to go into a new market, with a new stadium, with a new name, with a new logo, with new excitement is - imagine being 10 years old with Christmas, birthday, New Year's and Fourth of July all rolled in to one," said Rogers. "That's what it equates to opening up a new ballpark."

 

Rogers said he'll be able to juggle his job as the new Biloxi GM while still in that role in Huntsville because of the support he has in Alabama.

 

"The staff. You've got to have some great baseball experience," Rogers said. "There's a lot of people who want to work in baseball who don't know what they're getting into. The long days. Ten days at a time without a day off. Sometimes going in at seven in the morning and not leaving until one in the morning. You're off six hours and you're back. So you've got to shower, sleep and get back to work."

 

Now that a GM has been selected, the Biloxi baseball club said the next step will be naming the team and its mascot. In a few months, people will be asked to submit ideas online. Those will be narrowed down to the top five, and South Mississippians can vote on their favorite.

 

"Certainly something that reflects the area is very important," Biloxi Baseball Club President Ken Young said. "The other thing is that we also need something that will be fun for the fans."

 

"It's going to be something that's unique to Biloxi and the Gulf Coast and it will be something that the people will embrace," said Rogers. "They'll love wearing the logo. We've got a design team that's above reproach and when the time comes and we put it all together, it will market itself. You watch and see."

 

Rogers said more than 900 people have signed up for information about season tickets. He said that shows Biloxi baseball already has a large amount of support.

[And That]

Good for Buck - I'd be curious to know how much more money he'll have to work with in Biloxi as opposed to Huntsville.

[Mass Haas]

Ballpark Digest --

 

Speaking of the team name: The contest will consist of two phases, the first now underway. During the first phase, fans will be able to submit their suggestions for the new team’s name for approximately three weeks. Nominations can be submitted through the official website of the franchise.

 

As part of the process, fans will be asked to write a brief description as to why they are suggesting their specific name. "We are looking for creative names that reflect the culture and essence of this community," Rogers said. "Biloxi will absolutely be a part of the name, but we are looking for a team name that really captures the heart and soul of the entire Gulf Coast community."

 

Following the nomination period, the top suggestions will be narrowed to a short list of five finalists. Fans will then be able to vote for their favorite. The date when the final voting will begin is forthcoming.

[jjgott]

Ballpark Digest --

 

Speaking of the team name: The contest will consist of two phases, the first now underway. During the first phase, fans will be able to submit their suggestions for the new team’s name for approximately three weeks. Nominations can be submitted through the official website of the franchise.

 

As part of the process, fans will be asked to write a brief description as to why they are suggesting their specific name. "We are looking for creative names that reflect the culture and essence of this community,"

 

The Biloxi Floating Casinos!

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi with contractor issues, falling behind on construction.

[Mass Haas]

Approximately 4,000 names submitted for Biloxi Double-A team

[Mass Haas]

So what's the backup location if the stadium isn't ready early in 2015? Huntsville? Opening weeks-long road trip? This stadium will need to go up as quickly as any we've read about...

 

Biloxi stadium construction "could" begin July 21

 

"The agreement with the team calls for the city to pay a $10,000 penalty for each home game that can't be played in the new stadium for the 2015 season."

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi baseball owners not overly worried about potential lag in stadium construction

Stadium architects indicate stadium is not likely to be completed until mid-May 2015, some five weeks after the Southern League baseball season begins

by Creg Stephenson, blog.gulflive.com

 

Despite architects' estimates that the new Biloxi minor league baseball stadium would not be ready until more than a month into the 2015 season, team part-owner Tim Bennett said Thursday the project has not reached the "worrisome" stage.

 

Bennett pointed to Trustmark Park in Pearl, the construction of which he was intimately involved in nearly 10 years ago. That stadium was somewhat larger than the planned MGM Park in Biloxi, and was completed in 11 months, he said.

 

"We're happy with the actions that are being taken with the project, time-wise and budget-wise," Bennett said. "The park in Pearl is probably 20 percent larger than the one down here, with 22 suites and a full-service restaurant. ... We had to build infrastructure for the roads to get in, going from a two-lane to a five-lane, and put in access points from Hwy. 80 to get into the stadium. We basically built that one from a bowl in the ground.

 

"This one is pre-fab, 15 suites. The infrastructure and road work are good. Most of the site work is already done. So I feel pretty confident we'll be able to play ball in a reasonable amount of time."

 

According to WLOX-TV, Stadium architects told the Biloxi City Council Tuesday night that the stadium is not likely to be completed until mid-May 2015, some five weeks after the Southern League baseball season begins. Ground has been broken on the stadium grounds across U.S. 90 from Beau Rivage, but major construction has yet to begin.

 

If the stadium is not ready for the start of the season, the city of Biloxi owes the team $10,000 for each game not played in the ballpark. Bennett said contingency plans are in place, either to play several road games to begin the season or to play in a stadium that is not quite completed.

 

"We're happy with the actions that are being taken with the project, time-wise and budget-wise." --- team part-owner Tim Bennett

 

"Out of 10 teams in the league, five are going to start on the road anyway," Bennett said. "Obviously, we'll be one of those teams that have to start out on the road. If we have to play an extended number of games --- and by that, I mean an extra five-game series or so --- on the road to start the season, that would be fine.

 

"We also have what is called a 'temporary certificate of occupancy,' so as long as the stadium is safe and we have all of our bathrooms installed, as long as we (meet) the fire and inspection code, we can play there. We may not have all the paint on the park and may not be 100 percent (completed), but as long as the fans are safe, we can play a series or two at home. Once we go back out on the road, they can continue to work."

[Mass Haas]

Just a tad pricy if you plan on visiting Biloxi next season...

[Mass Haas]

Ben Hill of MiLB.com --

 

On the Road: Not Much of a Goodbye in Huntsville

[Mass Haas]

The latest on the progress now being made in Biloxi

[Mass Haas]

Many new updates here, quite the story:

 

Biloxi stadium budget concerns leave door open for Stars' return to Huntsville in 2015

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

The Southern League playoffs in September might not be the final chapter in the Huntsville Stars' history after all.

 

The Stars have been sold and a move to Biloxi, Miss., for the 2015 season has been approved by the Southern League.

 

However, Biloxi city officials learned Wednesday that the lowest contractor bid for a new stadium was at $32.27 million, some $5 million more than the initial budget. Though land has been cleared for a new ballpark adjacent to the Beau Rivage Casino, construction has not begun.

 

It is unlikely but a "possibility" that the team might play in Huntsville in 2015, team owner Ken Young told AL.com.

 

The Stars have one year remaining on their lease with the city of Huntsville for the use of Joe Davis. City officials are aware that what once appeared to be an advantage for the city to at least receive some financial restitution for the Stars' departure might now become a disadvantage in having to continue the operation of a stadium and make appropriate investments to continue play, hosting a team in a second "lame-duck" season.

 

The departure of the current franchise is imminent, whether following the 2014 playoffs (the Stars won the first-half Southern League North title to earn a berth in postseason) or after 2015.

 

As has been frequently reported, local leaders remain confident another franchise can be obtained within two or three years, likely to play in a downtown stadium and still playing in the Class AA Southern League.

 

Mayor Tommy Battle has met with Pat O'Connor, president of Minor League Baseball, and the mayor said any serious potential owners of a future Huntsville team are being directed to deal with O'Connor's office.

 

The construction budget figures provided to Biloxi officials left Mayor A.J. Holloway "disappointed," according to Biloxi TV station WLOX.

 

"We're going to look at it, see what we can cut and what we can't cut, and we might have to go through the process again," Holloway said.

 

"We don't know what to think right now. It's pretty much out of our budget," Holloway said.

 

"We're committed to building a baseball stadium in Biloxi, and regardless of the outcome today, we'll find a way to make it work and we'll find the resources and we'll be playing baseball next year," Councilman Kenny Glavan told WLOX.

 

Exactly where the team will be playing is the question.

 

"We'll just have to wait for the construction schedule," said Buck Rogers, the Stars' general manager, who has been hired in the same capacity at Biloxi. Rogers, who is dividing his time between Huntsville and Biloxi, said it would be premature to speculate on scheduling for next year.

 

If a stadium is not completed, the city of Biloxi must pay a $10,000 fine for every game missed.

 

Construction on minor league stadiums can often be completed in less than a year, but Biloxi's construction could easily be compromised by the weather, as it's frequently in the path of violent late-summer and early-fall storms.

 

It would not be unprecedented for a team to open the season with a protracted road trip.

 

The Sacramento River Cats, a Class AAA affiliate of the Oakland A's, played nearly 40 consecutive road games, not playing at home until mid-May, because of delays in construction on a new stadium there. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Class AAA International League, played every game on the road in 2012 because of stadium construction.

 

The initial budget for the Biloxi stadium, including the infrastructure work that has already begun, was $36 million. It was being financed by a $21 million bond project by the city, which was initially met with resistance by some community leaders, and $15 million from the state's settlement with BP after the Deepwater Horizon accident, as earmarked for the construction from Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.

 

Be sure to read the comments at the end of the article, one in particular, which describes in detail the current state of Joe Davis Stadium.

 

***

 

Here's a video report on this situation out of Huntsville.

 

***

 

Here are reports out of Biloxi:

 

Huntsville mayor says Stars are welcome to stay in Alabama

 

State law could stop Biloxi from negotiating with stadium's low bidder

That link includes a worthwhile video news report to provide understanding...

 

***

 

And then finally, there's this:

 

Serious talks underway to bring new baseball team to Huntsville

Nick Lough, WAAF

 

A former Huntsville Stars owner confirmed to WAFF that serious talks are underway to bring a new minor league baseball team to Huntsville.

 

“There are conversations going on,” said Huntsville attorney Mark McDaniel.

 

McDaniel owned the Huntsville Stars from 1994 to 2001 and was the attorney for the Southern League, the league the Huntsville Stars play in, from 2001 to 2011. McDaniel was also part of a group that was unsuccessful in purchasing the Kansas City Royals several years ago.

 

The former owner wouldn’t say who contacted him about bringing a team to Huntsville, but did reveal a new ball team would cost around $16 million.

 

“Any time you’re talking about $16 million it’s pretty serious,” said McDaniel.

 

It’s unclear if there are any Southern League teams interested in moving to Huntsville. McDaniel believes it’s imperative that Huntsville build a new ballpark if they ever want another team to play in the rocket city.

 

“[Huntsville] is in need of a new ballpark and a downtown ballpark would be perfect,” said McDaniel.

 

Earlier this year, former Huntsville Stars owner Miles Prentice sold the team to a group out of Biloxi, Mississippi. The Mississippi city is currently in the process of building a new stadium and has hopes of bringing the Stars to Biloxi for the 2015 season.

 

***

 

That last link includes several more videos, in one, Huntsville's mayor indicates that he's not interested in seeing the team play half its games in Huntsville, only to move to Biloxi in the second half of the season.

 

What a mess...