Expedition League’s Sioux Falls Team Unveils Name and Logo

PRESS RELEASE – The Expedition League’s Sioux Falls affiliate, which will begin play in May of 2020, has announced the team’s name and unveiled the official logo. The team name is the Sioux Falls Sunfish and the logo has been released. The sunfish, or bluegill, is a popular panfish throughout the Sioux Falls region and all of South Dakota. Anyone who has fished for sunfish knows how much fun it is to catch them and what a beautiful fish it is.

Butte Still Waiting on Expedition League

Plans to bring an Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) baseball franchise to Butte (MT) haven’t panned out so far, even though the city has enthusiastically embraced the idea of hosting one of the college-level summer teams. The hold-up has been finding at least one other Montana city to join, but Expedition League President Steve Wagner says he’s had very promising talks with several of them.  Read more here.

Jackalopes Won’t Play in 2020

In May, the Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) announced that a team would be launched in Rapid City (SD), where the league offices are located.  League president Steve Wagner is now saying that team was still at least one more year away.  Securing funding for necessary stadium upgrades is the problem.  Read more here.

Expedition League Expands to Sioux Falls

The Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) has announced that it is expanding to Sioux Falls (SD). The yet-to-be-named team will play at Augustana’s Karras Park, as did the Sioux Falls Pilots and Gold, summer college league teams that folded after one season. Baseball front-office veteran Bill Larsen will serve as the club’s general manager.  Read more and watch video here.

Expedition League Targeting Laramie

Laramie’s (WY) demographics, Cowboy Field on the campus of the University of Wyoming, and a 14-year run for the former Laramie Colts (Summer Collegiate, Rocky Mountain Baseball League/Mountain Collegiate Baseball League) could make the city next up in the expansion of the Expedition League (Summer Collegiate).  Read more here.  Read about Colts here.

Butte Plays Waiting Game with Expedition League

Butte (MT) will have to wait at least another year for Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) baseball, because efforts to put companion teams in Helena and Bozeman haven’t panned out.  Read more here.

Start-Up Expedition League Wraps Up Regular Season, Playoffs Underway

The start-up Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) wrapped up its first regular season this past weekend with all eight teams still in operation.  If you have experienced this new league and attended any games, feel free to share your feedback here in comments or via e-mail at contact@ballparkbiz.com.  In the meantime, view attendance numbers here.  Read more here.

Expedition League Awarded $250K Forgivable Loan to Bring Team to Fremont (NE)

The Fremont (NE) City Council approved a $250,000 forgivable loan to the first-year Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) to improve Moeller Field and bring a new franchise to the Omaha-area community.  Read more here.

Expedition League Makes Pitch in Rapid City

The first-year Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) presented a proposal to the Rapid City Parks and Recreation board at its meeting Thursday night to renovate McKeague Field and bring an expansion franchise to town.  Read more and watch news report here.  McKeague Field is right next to Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium, home of the Post 22 American Legion team, which we assume is not too keen on the idea.

Let the Games Begin: Start-Up Expedition League Kicks Off Inaugural Season Friday

Will the start-up Expedition League solidify a long-term place in the summer collegiate baseball landscape?  The test begins Friday, May 25, as all eight (8) teams across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming will take the field for the circuit’s inaugural Opening Day.  We’ll be watching closely.  Feel free to share with us photos and experiences tonight and as the season progresses.  Good luck to all.  View schedule here.  View map here.

Start-Up Expedition League Targets Grand Forks, Not So Fast Says Editorial Board

Grand Forks (ND) has gone nearly 20 years without a summer collegiate baseball team operating out of Kraft Field.  Steve Wagner wants to end that streak.  He is president of the Expedition League (Summer Collegiate), a start-up circuit set to launch its first season later this month.  Read more here.  The Grand Forks Herald editorial board disagrees.  Read more here.

Start-Up Expedition League Targets Montana for Expansion, We Have Thoughts

The start-up circuit hasn’t yet played a game, but Expedition League (Summer Collegiate) founder Scott Wagner is already targeting Butte, Bozeman and Helena in Montana for expansion in 2019, along with Sheridan in Wyoming, Rapid City in South Dakota and Brandon in Manitoba.  The league plans to begin play this season in eight cities located in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Wagner Searching for Expedition League Markets

Minneapolis-based businessman Steve Wagner, who was recently in Columbus (NE) to pitch his proposed Expedition League, has been trolling the Dakotas for potential ballparks and markets, including Astoria Field in Dickinson (ND) and Kraft Field in Grand Forks (ND).  Read more here.

Proposed New Summer Collegiate League on Deck

Steve Wagner, president of a proposed, yet-to-be-named summer collegiate league that would begin play in 2016, met with the Columbus (NE) Board of Parks Commissioners this week to pitch the idea of bringing a franchise to Pawnee Park Field.  Wagner is reportedly targeting markets in Nebraska, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wyoming.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.