Swing likely will be getting new owners
When the first pitch of the 2007 baseball season flies from the pitcher’s hand to the catcher’s mitt, the Swing of the Quad-Cities likely will have new owners.
Main Street Baseball — a Florida-based company that owns the Class A Columbus (Ga.) Catfish — has a signed agreement to buy the Swing franchise from Kevin Krause and Seventh Inning Stretch and is in negotiations with Davenport officials to lease city-owned John O’Donnell Stadium.
The organization still needs approval of the lease agreement with the city, and it requires the OK of the Midwest League, the National Association of Minor League Baseball and baseball commissioner Bud Selig.
Main Street’s owners, Bob Herrfeldt and Dave Heller, would not disclose the sale amount Thursday. Krause could not be reached for comment.
That sounds about right.
Helter said he looks forward to owning a team that plays home games in the renovated riverfront stadium.“It’s the best of both worlds,” he said. “You have a historic stadium with a beautiful brick finish and a view that is unequaled anywhere in minor league baseball. You have these things and, with the renovation done just a couple years ago, you also have (premium seating) suites, the 360-degree concourse and nicer amenities.”
Heller’s partner, Herrfeldt, has a history of success that includes increasing teams’ attendance and working with new stadiums. He is the former vice president of stadium operations for the Class AAA Sacramento River Cats, who led all of minor league baseball in attendance during the first two years of their existence, including the season when they drew 900,000 fans to the Pacific Coast League club’s games in 2001.
We'll see how this goes. In the meantime, check in on the Catfish at their homepage.
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