Rochester Loses $48K with Batavia Under Its Wings

The Triple-A Rochester Red Wings (International League) made $95,000 from their own operations and allowing the Empire State Yankees (now Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders) play 40 games at Frontier Field in 2012.  But the Wings lost $143,000 operating the Single-A Batavia Muckdogs (New York-Penn League), for a net loss of $48,000.  On a positive note, the Wing are sitting on

Star Wars Night Saturday in Rochester

The Triple-A Rochester Red Wings (International League) will take on the Triple-A (Evil) Empire State Yankees (International League) on Saturday, June 30, for “Star Wars Night.”  The Red Wings will sport Chewbacca-style jerseys, which will be auctioned off for charity.  View announcement here.

Rochester’s Frontier Field Sets Regular-Season Attendance Record (Without Red Wings)

PRESS RELEASE – Rochester’s Frontier Field today set an attendance record for a regular-season baseball game with 13,584 at the Pawtucket Red Sox – Empire State Yankees game featuring Yankees left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte. The game is officially a sellout. Rochester Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason made the announcement.

Name Change for SWB Yankees?

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement of PNC Field Monday, it was suggested that a name change could be on the horizon for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.  While the Yankees name has value, energizing the opening of a fancy new ballpark with a creative new team branding campaign is the correct model.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the Link.

SWB Yankees Sold, PNC Field Demolition to Begin Soon

Lackawanna County signed off on a deal Thursday to finally sell the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankess (International League) to the New York Yankees and Mandalay Baseball Properties for $14.6 million.  A dispute between Lackawanna and Luzerne County over the proceeds remains at issue.  Read more here.  View purchase agreement here.  Now it’s time to push the pedal to the metal to demolish and replace PNC Field, which could begin Friday.  Read more here.

Deal Close for SWB Yankees

A deal to keep the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (International League) in Northeastern Pennsyvania for the next 30 years in a rebuilt PNC Field could be signed as early as Thursday.  The final agreement is expected to be presented to the Lackawanna County Commissioners and the Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority on Wednesday night.  Read more here.

Rose to Step Down as President of SWB Yankees

PRESS RELEASE – The Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees announced today that Kristen Rose, team President, has resigned in order to relocate closer to family and take on the role of Executive Vice President of Mandalay Baseball Properties. In discussing her decision with the staff this morning, Ms. Rose said “I have enjoyed my time as President of the SWB Yankees, but have decided for

Ballpark Not the Problem in Lackawanna County

Minor league baseball executives from Bill Terlecky to Chuck Domino don’t believe replacing PNC Field with a new ballpark will necessarily fix the attendance problems for the Triple-A Wilkes-Barre Yankees (now Empire State Yankees) (International League).  We completely agree.  The lack of fan support stems from the team’s management, operations, and fan experience.  Read more here.

Pondering the Future of the SWB/Empire State Yankees

There are concerns in town that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area could actually lose the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (now Empire State Yankees), if a stadium deal does not come together shortly.  Read more here.  We have not seen the option-to-buy contract between Lackawanna County and the New York Yankees/Mandalay Baseball Properties, but we thought the deal was a mere

SWB Yankes Now Empire State Yankees, Logos Unveiled (UPDATED)

PRESS RELEASE – The Rochester Red Wings announced today that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, who will play their entire 2012 season on the road while PNC Field in Moosic, PA is renovated, will be known as the Empire State Yankees for the 2012 season.