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July 25, 2003MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Stadium, team in TC's future?Project estimated at some $6 millionByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Apparently, three strikes and you're not out - not when it comes to bringing minor league baseball to Traverse City. More than nine years after the first of three different groups tried and failed to bring professional baseball to the area, Leelanau County residents John and Leslye Wuerfel hope to deliver that elusive home run.
The parcel would have to be re-zoned, however, since it is designated Agricultural Open Space. William Swanson, township planner for Elmwood Township, discussed the issue at a special meeting earlier this week - much to the surprise of the Wuerfels. "I'm pretty sold that we can make it happen, but we're talking about this (publicly) a little sooner than planned," said John Wuerfel, who had hoped to keep the news under wraps until plans were more concrete. "We're doing this for one reason: minor league baseball is the best family entertainment out there, and we think this is something this community will embrace." How sure is Wuerfel? So sure that he plans to purchase the land, build the stadium and finance a team with his own money. He estimates the price tag to be $6 million. "I'm not asking for anything," Wuerfel said. "I'm not asking for tax money. I'm not asking for tax breaks. I'm not asking for a bonding proposal. "I was fortunate to make some good (financial) decisions in my life, and I'd like to give something back." The Wuerfels, whose youngest son, Jason, just completed his fourth and final season as a member of the University of Michigan baseball team, said they have been planning and researching the venture for the past year and a half. They would like to purchase a team in the independent Frontier League - which means they would not be affiliated with any Major League organization - and hope to begin play in May of 2005. The Frontier League currently has 12 teams in seven states - Michigan (Kalamazoo), Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Pennsylvania. The teams are made up of primarily undrafted college players and players with some minor league experience who have been let go by their teams. Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee, who has spoken to the Wuerfels over the phone but has never met them personally, said Thursday from his office in Zanesville, Ohio, that "Traverse City has been on my radar screen since as far back as 1996." "I've never been there, but I've heard so many great things about it," Lee said. "We anxious to pursue the possibility of a team there. "The market sounds absolutely perfect - strong local ownership and a history of great community involvement. That's exactly what we're looking for." The Frontier League plays a 90-game schedule that begins in late May and finishes August 31. Teams have a salary limit of $60,000, which is split between 22-24 players. Leslye Wuerfel said that even though the team's schedule just happens to coincide with Traverse City's busiest tourist season, the club will cater to local fans first and foremost. Wuerfel also said she would like the team to have both "Traverse City" and some form of "Cherry" - a fruit synonymous with the area - in its name, as opposed to a regional moniker like the Grand Traverse Loggers or Resorters. "It's important to us to make this a Traverse City community team," she said. "Sure, we'll draw tourists, but we want people in the area to feel like this team is theirs." The Wuerfels also realize the importance of creating a kid-friendly mascot. Last summer, Jason Wuerfel played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the Northwoods League, which is made up of collegiate players much like the Cape Cod League. The team's mascot, "Woody the Woodchuck," was more popular than the players, Leslye Wuerfel said. "Whatever we chose has to be something fun," she said. "Someone the kids can't wait to see." John Wuerfel said he has already spent "countless hours" drawing up plans for a stadium that he hopes will also include several buildings that will be used to conduct clinics and practices during the winter. He also envisions the stadium will host high school tournaments or concerts during the spring and summer when the Frontier League team is on the road. Tickets will range from $2 for a lawn seat to $5-7 for reserved and box seats. The plan also calls for 24 luxury boxes. Wuerfel also said children age 10 and under will be admitted free. "Any kid who can get up there to the ballpark gets to see a game," he said. "We're not leaving anyone standing on the outside looking in." Wuerfel said if Elmwood Township fails to re-zone the land in Leelanau County, the family has several other sites in mind. "I hope we can work things out," he said. "I think it's a win-win situation for all of us. Traverse City and minor league baseball are perfect for each other."
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