The American Association independent baseball league, which the Lincoln Saltdogs are a part of, has confirmed that Omaha is a new "home territory," for the independent baseball league, possibly in 2011.
KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 12:00 am
It’s a long way from the Lincoln Saltdogs playing a July 4 series against the archrival Omaha Buffets for the first-half title in the American Association.
There are no Buffets or any other new Omaha pro independent baseball nicknames, but there is motion in that direction.
The Saltdogs are a member of the American Association, which has confirmed that Omaha is a new “home territory,” for the independent baseball league, possibly in 2011.
“We already have a stadium going up and all along we’ve wanted to have more than just the College World Series,” said Roger Dixon, president of MECA, which runs Qwest Center Omaha. “I think an American Association team would be a good fit. Like Nebraska and Creighton in baseball and basketball.”
Charlie Meyer, president of the Saltdogs, said an Omaha franchise in the league “would be fine with us.” He added, “A natural rivalry. It would be great for the league.” Miles Wolff, commissioner of the AA, said a new Omaha team would have to schedule around Creighton and the College World Series. But the league would make moves to help that work out.
The CWS is moving from Rosenblatt Stadium to a new $120 million downtown stadium in 2011. Rosenblatt Stadium will be torn down. The current occupant, the Omaha Royals are not going to play in the new downtown park. The Omaha Royals, a Triple-A minor league farm club for the Kansas City Royals, have expressed interest in playing in a yet to be funded or planned stadium in Sarpy County, presumably in Papillion.
Wolff said that would not be a factor in pursuing an ownership group for an Omaha AA team. He added that the required charge of $6 for parking would not be a factor either, even though that was one of the Royals’ arguments against moving downtown. “Geographically and in terms of prestige, Omaha would be a great place for another team in our league,” he said.
The American Association charges $750,000 for an expansion franchise.
The American Association has teams in Sioux Falls, S.D.; Sioux City, Iowa; St. Paul, Minn.; Wichita, Kan.; Pensacola, Fla.; Shreveport, La.; and three teams in Texas: El Paso, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie.
Briefly
The contract of Saltdog right-handed pitcher Chris Cullen was purchased late last month by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Cullen became the third member of the Saltdogs to be picked up by a major-league organization in 2008, following in the footsteps of shortstop Anthony Contreras and pitcher Jason Jarvis.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.