Earlier today, the Batavia Muckdogs and St. Louis Cardinals announced a new two-year Player Development Contract (PDC). The Muckdogs became the Cardinals' Short Season (A) Affiliate in the 2007 season, and this agreement will extend the relationship until the completion of the 2012 season. Additionally, Red Wing Management, LLC reportedly will continue to operate the Muckdogs.
The Muckdogs are owned by the non-profit organization, Genesee County Baseball Club (GCBC). Three years ago, the GCBC faced $150,000 in debt. The members of the GCBC asked Red Wing Management (owners of the Rochester Red Wings of the AAA International League) to pay off the debt and operate the Batavia franchise. In August, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that the team has lost close to $400,000 over the previous two seasons and will be losing anywhere up to $140,000 this year. As a result, the two groups are looking to sell the team for the going NYPL rate of $4 million.
The agreement between GCBC and Red Wing Management calls for Red Wing to net 5% of the total sale price for each year they operate the Muckdogs. If the team does sell for $4 million next season than Red Wing will earn $800,000.
The huge economic debt, low team sponsorship, and low fan attendence (Batavia is lowest in the NYPL at 1,016 fans per game, while Brooklyn leads the League with 7,147), had caused people to speculate that Red Wing Management would get out of their partnership with GCBC and the Cardinals would seek an affiliation with another team. Today's news puts a rest to those stories for now.
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