As we correctly predicted back on October 9 on www.aabfan.com, the name for the new indy pro Frontier League team in Schaumburg (IL) is the “Schaumburg Boomers.” The team will begin play at the former Alexian Field next season. Visit the team’s new website here.
PRESS RELEASE – The Schaumburg Boomers, an expansion franchise in the Independent Frontier League, unveiled the club’s logo and jersey at the Team Launch Party held at the Schaumburg Baseball Stadium Tuesday evening. Prominent Chicago Attorney and co-owner (along with his wife Lindy) of another minor league team since 2008, the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Pat Salvi purchased a 100% stake in a Schaumburg franchise in September 2011.
“This community is very deserving of a real top-rate franchise and entertainment in the way of minor league baseball,” said Salvi. “We have very high expectations with regards to the quality of play and we’re going to really have excellent entertainment. It’s going to be a blast to come to a baseball game here (in Schaumburg) next summer and for all the summers following.”
The Schaumburg Boomers name comes from a nickname for the male Greater Prairie Chicken. Once found abundantly on the prairies of Illinois and throughout the Midwest and parts of Canada, the Greater Prairie Chicken now has a conservation rating of “vulnerable.” A boomer has a yellow-orange comb over its eyes and dark, elongated head feathers that can be raised along the neck in addition to circular, orange neck patches on the side of the neck which are inflated during lekking. The “booming call” produced by the male Greater Prairie Chicken can be heard up to a mile away during the mating season. Female prairie chickens have shorter head feathers and lack the yellow comb and orange neck patch.
“The Schaumburg Boomers are proud to honor this truly interesting creature as the symbol for our organization and we’re also extremely excited about the possibilities about the potential fun, exciting baseball tie-ins we have with the Boomers name,” said Andy Viano, the Boomers President and General Manager.
In addition to the Boomers Owner/CEO, longtime Schaumburg Village President Al Larson, President and General Manager of the Schaumburg Boomers Andy Viano and Deputy Commissioner of the Frontier League Steve Tahsler also addressed the crowd which consisted of Village of Schaumburg officials, Schaumburg Park District officials, community business leaders, season ticket holders already signed on for 2012, the entire Boomers Front Office and other intrigued members of the community.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with our launch event and are truly grateful to the Village of Schaumburg, the Schaumburg Park District, our Season Ticket Holders and the greater Schaumburg Business Community for their support this evening,” Viano said. “We cannot wait for Opening Day on May 25th and look forward to baseball in Schaumburg for many years to come!”
For more information on the Schaumburg Boomers, visit the club’s brand new website, www.boomersbaseball.com, developed by Streamline Technologies. Streamline Technologies specializes in website and ticketing solutions for college athletics and professional sports teams and for more information visit www.streamlinetechnologies.com.
More Info: Founded in 2011, the Schaumburg Boomers, named after the male Greater Prairie Chicken, are bringing the fun and excitement of professional baseball back to Schaumburg, Illinois in 2012. Prominent Chicago Attorney and Owner of the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Pat Salvi purchased his second minor league baseball team in August 2011 and the Boomers are set to compete in the Independent Frontier League with a 96 game schedule beginning in May 2012.
ballparkbiz.wordpress.com 
The owners stated they wanted a name that was fun and different, so they came up with the nickname for the “Greater Prairie Chicken” or “Boomer”. I can see them having a lot of fun with this in Schaumburg (great mascot options and a new chicken dance with the prairie chicken stomp added).
But let the Boomers be forewarned that the other teams around the league will also have a lot of fun with this one. I can already see Gateway’s Izzy the Grizzlie dragging a rubber chicken around GCS Ballpark as the crowd chants the new anti-Boomer rally cry . .
“BOOMERS – TASTES LIKE CHICKEN . . . TASTES LIKE CHICKEN”
“BOOMERS – TASTES LIKE CHICKEN . . . TASTES LIKE CHICKEN”
And just like that folks, another “St. Louis/Chicago” rivalry is born.
Welcome to the league Schaumburg.
Speaking of a rubber chicken, having a Rally Rubber Prairie Chicken would be pretty funny.
Alan
Not terrible, applies to the area and somewhat to the sport. Better than some of the things popping up these days – Blue Wahoos?
Dig the Blue Wahoos!
Alan
You guys may have been right but for the wrong reasons…you lucked into it
The name was the prediction. The kangaroo was the speculation because we could find no other animal with the boomer name. We were correct on the name not because of luck but very good sleuthing. Quite frankly, in the name game, we’ve only been wrong once. In that instance, we uncovered the mascot, not the team name.
Alan
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe they can use the nickname “P-Chicks” (Prairie Chickens) similar to how the Reading Phillies use “R-Phils.” I think it would be catchy.
Alan