Colorado Springs Yuck

[Mr Southpaw]

I have been reading in multiple threads about how CS is not a good AAA site. What are the Brewers other options? Is a stadium like the one in Madison even an option. It seems like a pretty cool stadium. Here is a link....

 

http://northwoodsleague.com/madison-mallards/

 

Maybe make Appleton the AAA and move the A team somewhere else. I don't know the details of what is require. Does anybody else?

[MrTPlush]

Madison is definitely not a possible option. Look up the locations of AAA teams, they are all away from MLB teams except three. The ones within 2 hours or so of an MLB team draw quite below average. Yes I am sure there are other factors, but putting yourself close to the big league market doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

Though I am sure Madison could support it. The Mallards have the largest collegiate summer ball attendence if I remember right drawing close to 7k a game. Which would be a decent AAA attendence. Still I think the goal is to expand into different markets...not compete with yourself.

[Kelbysdaddy]

There is also no AAA league in the Midwest (Midwest league is low-a) so they can't just throw them in anywhere. With a few exceptions, minor league teams are independently owned and have contracts with milb leagues that guarantee them a place in the league. I'm sure Colorado springs can't be worse the the Beloit snappers field.

[dacbrewers]

It would be nice if the Brewers purchased a AAA team and built a facility as good as the one in Appleton and soon to be Biloxi. It's sad that your low A team currently and for years has had the best facility in the organization. For years the double and triple A teams have played at the worst stadiums in the minor leagues...Joe Davis and Greer were beyond bad.

[wildcat2237]

It would be nice if the Brewers purchased a AAA team and built a facility as good as the one in Appleton and soon to be Biloxi. It's sad that your low A team currently and for years has had the best facility in the organization. For years the double and triple A teams have played at the worst stadiums in the minor leagues...Joe Davis and Greer were beyond bad.

 

The brewers thought they had a good facility in Nashville and got completely screwed by the Athletics and the Nashville ownership.

 

That said. The Brewers consistently trotted out a horrid team in Nashville so I'm not shocked those people didnt want the Brewers around.

[homer]

Yeah, Nashville sort of boned the Brewers big time.

[Mass Haas]

AAA stadiums must seat a minimum of 10,000.

[trwi7]

Nashville didn't bone the Brewers at all. Come on.

[homer]

Nashville didn't bone the Brewers at all. Come on.

 

 

Even amid rumors that the Sounds were poised to drop the Brewers for a partnership with the Oakland A's, Melvin heard the same. He says the Brewers offered to play preseason exhibition games in Nashville, and even to invest in the club if it helped move the sides toward an extension of their PDC.

Those overtures were declined without explanation, according to Melvin. He says he asked Sounds ownership three weeks ago, "If you're leaning toward not having us, just give us a heads up so we don't lose out on something else."

"There was one out there that we would have liked to have gone to, we might have been able to go to," Melvin said, "and now we lost out on it."

 

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/95157658/brewers-general-manager-doug-melvin-miffed-by-breakup-with-triple-a-affiliate

[brewmann04]

this will be a two year and done here .

[jerichoholicninja]

this will be a two year and done here .

 

Well someone else needs to want to have the Brewers for that to work. I don't know what MLB franchises will be "free agents" in two years but I would guess the Brewers are probably near the bottom of the list in terms of attractiveness.

[trwi7]

Nashville didn't bone the Brewers at all. Come on.

 

 

Even amid rumors that the Sounds were poised to drop the Brewers for a partnership with the Oakland A's, Melvin heard the same. He says the Brewers offered to play preseason exhibition games in Nashville, and even to invest in the club if it helped move the sides toward an extension of their PDC.

Those overtures were declined without explanation, according to Melvin. He says he asked Sounds ownership three weeks ago, "If you're leaning toward not having us, just give us a heads up so we don't lose out on something else."

"There was one out there that we would have liked to have gone to, we might have been able to go to," Melvin said, "and now we lost out on it."

 

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/95157658/brewers-general-manager-doug-melvin-miffed-by-breakup-with-triple-a-affiliate

 

I'm just going back to a post I made on this back in September.

 

The Brewers did this to themselves by giving Nashville terrible teams, teams that were so bad they no longer wanted to affiliate with the Brewers. Melvin also said they had opportunities to leave Nashville but stayed in the hopes that Nashville would be able to get a new stadium and want the Brewers to be apart of it. That's an error in judgment on the Brewers' part. Instead of getting out and getting into a vastly superior situation earlier, they ended up in again some of the worst facilities in the PCL and they have no one to blame but themselves.

[TheCrew07]

Here's the thing, the Brewers were completely reactionary as usual, waiting to do something until the bitter end when they had to make a move and it was too little too late.

 

I've long advocated buying part of the ownership in their minor league franchises (if not buying them outright) and putting down roots. In the case of the Sounds instead of doing it in the mid 2000s as the location is basically geographically perfect, partnering up and working together towards a new stadium, the Brewers gave them bad teams and stood on the sidelines waiting for something happen. Sure people from the organization would bag on the stadium to the Nashville media, but I'm not sure that was productive and/or had the desired effect.

 

I would like to see the Brewers buy into the T-Rats, there's no better place for them in A ball. In A+ I'm fairly indifferent, I find the FSL irritating with all of the rain outs, I'd rather a team in the Carolina League as the California League doesn't interest me at all. At AA Biloxi could be interesting, depending on how things go this year I would probably be on board with buying into the franchise.

 

I hope the Brewers only spend 2 years in Colorado Springs, I'd actually like to get back to the IL but we'll have to see.

 

Helena is the only other venue and while the stadium there sucks, I'm not sure that matters for 3 months of Rookie ball, and I honestly like the folks who cover the team there. I'm not in favor of a move but I don't really see anything being done stadium wise either.

[Mr Southpaw]

The Atlanta Braves just built a stadium in Gwinnett County (northeast suburbs of Atlanta) and moved their AAA about three years ago. Why can't the Brewers just do the same in a city of their choice?

[MrTPlush]

The Atlanta Braves just built a stadium in Gwinnett County (northeast suburbs of Atlanta) and moved their AAA about three years ago. Why can't the Brewers just do the same in a city of their choice?

 

You have to find an interested team first and when it comes to a AAA team that is a huge investment. Then you have to deal with the politics involved and another million roadblocks. I don't know how many cities with investors are looking to invest millions in a baseball team.

 

And in the Braves case I think they own the team. Does Attanasio have any interest in investing millions in a AAA team?

 

They COULD do it, but would they really want to?

[Mass Haas]

I'd actually like to get back to the IL but we'll have to see.

 

In this most recent affiliation shuffle, not a single International League team swapped out their relationship. Naturally, that could change in 2017, but likely not in significant numbers.

[MTBrew]

TheCrew07,

Guess I would beg to differ with you about Helena "sucks".

Have you been to the ballpark here? If not, what you won't find is a cookie cutter concrete slab,

corporate excesses, whiz bang electronics or security issues.

What is here is a historical era wooden stadium in a small town setting. The seats are close to the

action, there is shade, the players are accessible and you can park for free!

The ownership and the city (it's city owned) have done a pretty darn good job in making improvements, including lighting, rebuilding the infield and clubhouses. Can they do more? Sure.

Now, having said that, I would welcome Brewer organization ownership. The front office here is old

and stale and doesn't understand what they have or the fan base.

I do know that the organization likes Helena, in large part because it is a small town. It is safe for the players, there is excellent support from the booster club and the players can concentrate on the game.

Maybe it's a demographic thing, as I grew up going to Wrigley, old Comiskey and Tiger stadium but

going to a game here is pure baseball joy. But as "they" say YMMV, however I would think most fans

of the game would enjoy the atmosphere in Helena.

[DHonks]

I can't think of a better place to spend my summer than Montana. Long days, rarely need lights, low humidity, small town feel, etc etc

[TheCrew07]

I have not been to MT since I was 8 years old MTBrew, and I should have qualified my statement regarding Helena better.

 

There are no modern player development amenities which I consider essential to athletic development, I didn't mean to insult Kendrick Field, the community, nor the fan base, I was merely trying to relay the facts succinctly and did a regrettable job of such. I've become quite fond of all things Helena Brewer related over the years without the benefit having been there in person. Helena has always been one of the best franchises; its media coverage, the incredibly informative interviews with Steve Wendt back in the day, the late night audio... just way above and beyond what we were getting out of half of our full season franchises for much of that time. We couldn't have asked for more.

[torts]

Nashville didn't bone the Brewers at all. Come on.

 

 

Even amid rumors that the Sounds were poised to drop the Brewers for a partnership with the Oakland A's, Melvin heard the same. He says the Brewers offered to play preseason exhibition games in Nashville, and even to invest in the club if it helped move the sides toward an extension of their PDC.

Those overtures were declined without explanation, according to Melvin. He says he asked Sounds ownership three weeks ago, "If you're leaning toward not having us, just give us a heads up so we don't lose out on something else."

"There was one out there that we would have liked to have gone to, we might have been able to go to," Melvin said, "and now we lost out on it."

 

http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/95157658/brewers-general-manager-doug-melvin-miffed-by-breakup-with-triple-a-affiliate

 

I'm just going back to a post I made on this back in September.

 

The Brewers did this to themselves by giving Nashville terrible teams, teams that were so bad they no longer wanted to affiliate with the Brewers. Melvin also said they had opportunities to leave Nashville but stayed in the hopes that Nashville would be able to get a new stadium and want the Brewers to be apart of it. That's an error in judgment on the Brewers' part. Instead of getting out and getting into a vastly superior situation earlier, they ended up in again some of the worst facilities in the PCL and they have no one to blame but themselves.

 

The point of owning an MLB Franchise is not to provide good minor league teams, its to provide opportunities for players to develop. Nashville was terrible for many years BECAUSE the MLB team was succeeding (due to trading top AA/AAA talent away at the time). The Brewers shouldnt feel obligated to any city to make sure they provide them a winning team, their goal is to provide MILWAUKEE a winning team.

[JohnBriggs12]

There is also no AAA league in the Midwest (Midwest league is low-a) so they can't just throw them in anywhere. With a few exceptions, minor league teams are independently owned and have contracts with milb leagues that guarantee them a place in the league. I'm sure Colorado springs can't be worse the the Beloit snappers field.

 

Last I checked Des Moines, Indianapolis, Toledo and Omaha all qualify as Midwestern cities. Can't the "Duck Pond" in Madison be enlarged to meet the 10,000 seat minimum while a more permanent facility is planned and constructed? If not Madison, how about Rockford, which now has a Frontier League team playing in a stadium that also would have to be expanded?

[igor67]

I haven't lived in Madison for quite some time, but until they got the cheap college kids the teams kept folding, so I have a hard time seeing how they could really scale up to a full AAA team, particularly without pulling people out of seats at Miller Park since it is only an hour away. Appleton probably makes a lot more sense as the population is so much higher near Green Bay and the distance is enough that I don't see there being too much competition for entertainment dollars. Geographically a Low A team in Lacrosse or Eau Claire would be a great way to showcase the team across a bigger section of the state. Lacrosse in particular might be able to do fairly well, since there really is no competition remotely close when it comes to entertainment.

[trwi7]

The point of owning an MLB Franchise is not to provide good minor league teams, its to provide opportunities for players to develop. Nashville was terrible for many years BECAUSE the MLB team was succeeding (due to trading top AA/AAA talent away at the time). The Brewers shouldnt feel obligated to any city to make sure they provide them a winning team, their goal is to provide MILWAUKEE a winning team.

 

And minor league teams still need to provide a quality experience to their fans and the easiest way to do that is a winning team. The Brewers weren't providing them with that, so they moved on. To blame Nashville for looking for a better situation is ridiculous.

[NeedMoreFans]

The Mallards draw well because the atmosphere is conductive to taking kids. The most expensive non-party area seat is $12, with other tickets being $10 and $8. I doubt an AAA team would be as affordable, so attendance would suffer. I have also never been to an AAA game, so I don't know if the game experience is more like a Northwoods League game or an MLB game. I think if they just swapped out the Mallards with an AAA team and everything else stayed the same, the team would do just fine in Madison without hurting attendance at MP.

[MrTPlush]

I don't think the location of a AAA team in Wisconsin means anything. There are a few other Midwest teams(Indianapolis, Omaha, Des Moines). On top of that there as a Seattle area AAA team that is on its own island compared to other AAA teams. Next closest to them is all the way in S. California.