May 11, 2016 at 11:20 AM
Reports: Agreement in place for sale of Lowell Spinners
According to reports, Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber has reached an agreement to sell the team to Dave Heller. Heller is President and co-owner of Main Street Baseball, LLC, a group that owns four other minor league baseball teams, including the Wilmington (Del.) Blue Rocks, a former Red Sox affiliate. The news was first reported by Robert Mills of the Lowell Sun, and was confirmed by Baseball America.
Along with Main Street Baseball, Heller is the President of the political consulting firm Main Street Communications, out of Washington, D.C.
Weber bought the team in 1997, a year after it had moved from Elmira, N.Y., and he oversaw the successful opening of LeLacheur Park in 1998. The Spinners have sold out every home game since 1999. Weber had announced he was selling the team in September 2015.
According to Ballpark Digest, the agreement follows "spirited bidding" for the franchise, and the Sun reports that a group of local businessmen backed out of an agreement to purchase the team earlier this year.
While the purchase-and-sale agreement is in place, the sale is not final until it receives the approval of the New York-Penn League, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball. According to the Sun, team officials have told the city that they would like to discuss a long-term lease for LeLacheur Park, which would commit the franchise to staying in Lowell.
In addition to the Blue Rocks (Royals, High A, Carolina League, purchased in 2014), Main Street Baseball also owns the High Desert Mavericks (Rangers, High A, California League, purchased in 2010), Quad City River Bandits (Astros, Low A, Midwest League, purchased in 2007), and Billings Mustangs (Reds, Rookie, Pioneer League, purchased in 2014). Ballpark Digest notes that Main Street Baseball has either performed renovations or has renovations in the works at three of the four stadiums in which its teams play.
Main Street Baseball had attempted to buy the Double-A Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League last year, planning to move the club to Wilmington and making a contingent deal to sell the Blue Rocks, but the deal fell through and a settlement was dropped after it reportedly became clear that the Eastern League would not approve the relocation of the club.
While the purchase-and-sale agreement is in place, the sale is not final until it receives the approval of the New York-Penn League, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball. According to the Sun, team officials have told the city that they would like to discuss a long-term lease for LeLacheur Park, which would commit the franchise to staying in Lowell.
In addition to the Blue Rocks (Royals, High A, Carolina League, purchased in 2014), Main Street Baseball also owns the High Desert Mavericks (Rangers, High A, California League, purchased in 2010), Quad City River Bandits (Astros, Low A, Midwest League, purchased in 2007), and Billings Mustangs (Reds, Rookie, Pioneer League, purchased in 2014). Ballpark Digest notes that Main Street Baseball has either performed renovations or has renovations in the works at three of the four stadiums in which its teams play.
Main Street Baseball had attempted to buy the Double-A Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League last year, planning to move the club to Wilmington and making a contingent deal to sell the Blue Rocks, but the deal fell through and a settlement was dropped after it reportedly became clear that the Eastern League would not approve the relocation of the club.