A couple of Snapper stories

There is this from last week in the Beloit Daily News:

City, Snappers OK one-year deal

The Beloit City Council voted 7-0 Monday to approve a lease agreement between the City of Beloit and the Beloit Professional Baseball Association Inc.

The lease extends the use of Pohlman Field to the Beloit Snappers for an additional year, with the option of renewing it for an additional two one-year terms beyond that point.The agreement stipulates that the Association is responsible for maintaining the field and providing necessary equipment and materials, while the city will contribute $43,000 each year, subject to the approval of its annual operating budget by the City Council.

“Obviously the Snappers are back to square one with the land swap deal, so I think it's safe to say they're going to be at their home field for a while now,” City Manager Larry Arft said.

Then, there is this from Monday

Stateline residents discuss future of Beloit Snappers

The Beloit Snappers just may be one of the best hidden treasures Rock County has to offer; and if the community doesn't recognize its value soon, it's only a matter of time before the team disappears.

At least that's how one Beloit Snappers season ticket holder put it.

“I just think it's almost a hidden treasure. I think, to a certain degree maybe, the Beloit community recognizes what's there, but I don't think Rock County as a whole does. I don't think the average person, who maybe goes to three or four games a year, realizes there's a really good chance they could decide not to stay,” Sherri Haakenson, of Janesville, said.

“My concern is if we don't get a new stadium, the major league teams are going to go somewhere else and find what Beloit doesn't have to offer.”
...
“People don't realize what ballparks are looking like these days. It's easy to look at the parks of the 13 other teams in our league and then look at Pohlman Field and see what a huge difference there is. Every one has been renovated or rebuilt in the league except for ours,” Conerton said.

“We're not up to standards or what the trend has been in the last 15 years. We need to look at following that and upgrading in order to compete long-term.”

If it comes down to a new stadium versus losing the team altogether, many other Stateline Area residents and Snappers fans agree with Haakenson that a new stadium is a solid investment.

“I know the Minnesota Twins require a first-class stadium, and Pohlman Field is below standards - even Midwest standards,” said Tom Hastings, a season ticket holder and Machesney Park resident, better known as “Kaptain K” to regulars at Beloit Snappers games.

“A lot of times, when people see something that looks a little bit rundown, they think the product is rundown, too. If we could build a stadium off Interstate-90, with a high profile, I think it couldn't help but draw.”

Keeping the dream alive.