The Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team has new owners, but the franchise is staying in the family.
The Rocks announced Thursday Clark Minker and Main Street Baseball have purchased the club. Main Street Baseball, which owns minor league teams in Davenport, IA (Quad Cities River Bandits), Adelando, CA (High Desert Mavericks), and and Billings Mt (Billings Mustangs), will hold the majority stake in the team. Minker will be its Managing Partner.
Minker is son of Matt Minker, a long time team owner before his death seven years ago. Matt Minker’s construction company built Frawley Stadium and Clark says keeping the Minker name involved with the Blue Rocks was crucial.
“I want everyone in Wilmington to know how much this club, this stadium and this town mean to me," said Minker. "It’s my home. It’s where I grew up. It’s been in our family 23 years. And its going to remain that way for a very long time."
And the younger Minker and Main Street Baseball say their goal is to reinvigorate the 23-year old franchise as they begin a new chapter in the team’s history.
[caption id="attachment_70964" align="alignright" width="300"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/rocks-owners.jpgNew Blue Rocks owners Clark Minker (left) and Dave Heller discuss their plans for the franchise at Frawley Stadium.[/caption]
Main Street Baseball president Dave Heller says his priority is to give fans of this 23 year old franchise a new and improved stadium experience
“I think when they come to Frawley Stadium it ought to be one of the finest minor league ballparks in the entire country – and right now, it’s not and we want to make it that," said Heller. "This is about the entire park and how do we make it sing. How do we make it the most fun affordable, family friendly experience in the entire region.
Their plan – still in development – includes new promotions and giveaways, and most notably a Frawley Stadium facelift. Possible stadium changes include creating a concourse that wraps completely around the stadium and the addition of an iconic feature – such a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel. They do not expect to add more seating.
The goal is to unveil major changes and renovations in 2016, the team’s 25th anniversary season.
The new owners say team management will remain the same with Chris Kemple staying on as General Manager and they do not anticipate any move form Single-A to Double-A short term.
