Red Hawks Leaving OKC?

[Plutonic Panda]

This would really suck.

RedHawks Leaving Oklahoma City? - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

[adaniel]

I always thought it was a HUGE mistake for the RedHawks to affiliate with the Astros. The Astros stink and this area has been solid Texas Rangers and St Louis Cardinals territory; nobody watches or cares about the Astros outside of Harris County, much less outside Texas.

Its a shame the RedHawks should pay for their problems as they still draw good crowds despite the Thunder here now. It sounds as if the president of the RedHawks is going to try and keep the team here if its possible.

[bluedogok]

Who owns the team now? If it isn't Crane then he can move the affiliation just like Hicks did moving the Rangers AA affiliation from Tulsa to Frisco but he can't move the whole team. The Redhawks would have to find another affiliation or go independent.

I also thought swapping affiliations was a bad idea for the Redhawks, the only people that it served was Nolan Ryan and the Rangers since he (and his sons) already owned the team in Round Rock.

[OKCisOK4me]

You can take our RedHawks but you'll never take our SWB/AT&T/WhateverItUsedToBeCalled/Chicakshaw/Casino/Bingo Ballpark! lololololol

[BoulderSooner]

Who owns the team now? If it isn't Crane then he can move the affiliation just like Hicks did moving the Rangers AA affiliation from Tulsa to Frisco but he can't move the whole team. The Redhawks would have to find another affiliation or go independent.

I also thought swapping affiliations was a bad idea for the Redhawks, the only people that it served was Nolan Ryan and the Rangers since he (and his sons) already owned the team in Round Rock.

another example of bad/irresponsible reporting Mandalay entertainment owns the redhawks .. the astros owner can't move them as you said we could lose them as a affliate but we would get a new agreement shortly there after

[HangryHippo]

Good god, is decent journalism really that hard? Crane can't move a team he doesn't own...

[MustangGT]

Good god, is decent journalism really that hard?

In this town it is as rare as finding diamonds in the OK River.

[SoonerDave]

I think there is at least one more year to run in the affiliation agreement between the Redhawks and the Astros organization. I think they signed a two-year contract that started last year.

Agree with the thoughts that the alignment was a horrible fit once the Rangers bailed out. Been a looooong time since the Astros were relevant.

I'm not nearly familiar enough with MLB to know which teams might be candidates to have their affiliations moved to OKC. I know there's a pretty sizable St. Louis following down here...

Man, this is an opportunity for a huge ball-drop for OKC. I'm hoping Mandalay/OKC/powers-that-be are watching this and keeping their ducks lined up. Losing minor league baseball would be a huge black eye for OKC, in my opinion. The thought of the AttaBellaSickiChaw Ballpark going empty just makes me ill.

[icecold]

I'm not nearly familiar enough with MLB to know which teams might be candidates to have their affiliations moved to OKC. I know there's a pretty sizable St. Louis following down here...

I dont see St. Louis moving their AAA from Memphis or their AA from Springfield. To me, I think OKC is married to one of the Texas teams. KC won't leave Omaha and the Rockies wont leave Colorado Springs (plus AA team is already the Drillers). Wish the Red Hawks were still with the Rangers and Astros down in Round Rock. Makes the most sense for all involved. With the latest spat between Ryan and others in Rangers ownership, maybe he will go back to the Astros and things can get flipped back.

[Plutonic Panda]

So there's nothing to really worry about as far as the Red Hawks leaving is concerned. I don't really pay attention to them, it just seems like it would be bad for the city if that happened. Maybe not though.

[Plutonic Panda]

RedHawks Owner, GM Optimistic About Team's Future - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

[ljbab728]

Oklahoma City RedHawks: Astros might move Triple-A affiliation out of OKC | News OK

Regardless of the Major League affiliation, the RedHawks will remain in Oklahoma City and play at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

“This is a viable business that’s staying here,” said RedHawks president and general manager Michael Byrnes. “We may have a different partner down the road if that’s what the Astros want to explore, but the RedHawks as an organization will continue to be in Bricktown.”

[TechArch]

Also lost on News9 is that the Houston Astros owner would need to get a new ownership group at The Woodlands and build a stadium. That means at least 2 to 3 years until this is anywhere near a possibility.

[Richard at Remax]

They can't even pay people to go to the Astros games in Houston, what makes them think people want to go see the AAA team

[Snowman]

Also lost on News9 is that the Houston Astros owner would need to get a new ownership group at The Woodlands and build a stadium. That means at least 2 to 3 years until this is anywhere near a possibility.

Unless he is owning the team in The Woodlands it seems like a hard sell to get owners to choose there, pretty much the market is people not willing to drive the 30 miles to Downtown Houston to watch better teams or people not willing to pay admission for a major league game.

[bluedogok]

I would think Crane would pull a Hicks and own the team and the stadium like Hicks did in Frisco. I still don't see a significant benefit in it.

[TechArch]

Even if he does own the team, he still has to build a stadium. Those take a little bit of time to get opened.

[bluedogok]

Even if he does own the team, he still has to build a stadium. Those take a little bit of time to get opened.

The only way he could get one going quickly would be to play at Rice or UofH or maybe a high school stadium until a stadium is built.