Snapper officials continue their quest for new park
(Published Thursday, April 5, 2007 11:23:00 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By John McPoland Gazette staff
BELOIT-The Beloit Snappers are still actively working to find a site and financing for a new stadium.
That's the word from Dennis Conerton, chairman of the Snappers' board of directors.
The team appeared on the verge of breaking free of Pohlman Field last year, but a controversial Rock County land swap fell through, killing the team's hopes of relocating to a new stadium site near the Avalon Road exit on Interstate 90/39.
"We're not giving up," Conerton said at Tuesday night's Meet the Snappers event in Beloit. "The Avalon Road exit would have been perfect."
The franchise is now re-visiting previous locations, including one in the Gateway project east of Beloit and another piece of property along Interstate 90/39 closer to the Illinois border.
"We truly want to keep the team in the area," Conerton said. "We've been talking with the city of Beloit and the town of Beloit and even the people in the town of Turtle."
Conerton said last year's debate did provide a couple positives.
"All of the publicity helped to generate several new sponsors for us this year," he said. "Our season ticket sales are also up. Financially, we can make it season to season. We really need a new stadium to keep up with the rest of the teams in the Midwest League."
Because of the Professional Baseball Agreement between teams in the majors and minors, the Snappers are not in danger of losing their franchise this decade. When the agreement expires, however, there has been talk of Major League Baseball teams reducing the number of minor league teams they support.
Conerton said reducing the number of farm teams could put the Beloit franchise in jeopardy.
