100 Days Away from Opening Day, B-Mets Announce They are Here to Stay
BINGHAMTON,
NY - Evans Street Baseball Inc., headed by John Hughes, announced today
that they have completed the purchase of the Binghamton Mets from the
Binghamton Mets Baseball Club, Inc. The Double-A baseball team,
affiliated with the New York Mets, is a member of the Eastern League and
has been based in Binghamton, New York, for 24 years.
Broome
County's favorite Binghamton Mets are here to stay well beyond the
current 25 Year Silver Anniversary. New ownership has pledged to keep
the team in Binghamton and expand the B-Mets' experience for families,
students, businesses, and the New York Mets. Evans Street Baseball is
thrilled the management team will be kept in place.
"We
are excited to have been able to secure Jim Weed and the staff to
ensure continuity and the opportunity to grow from a solid foundation,"
noted Hughes.
The
Binghamton Mets will continue to play at NYSEG Stadium and provide an
exciting atmosphere for loyal fans. Mr. Hughes said, "Having a Double-A,
New York Major League Baseball affiliate in the Southern Tier is a
tremendous opportunity, so great attention will be focused to ensure the
team has top-grade facilities and the infrastructure necessary to
develop Major League talent."
"We
want to be a contributor to the rebirth of the Southern Tier and create
a memorable, unique, fun, and affordable fan experience each and every
time," said Mr. Hughes. "As a leader who takes an active hands-on
approach, I am committed to upgrading the fan experience, improving
community outreach programs, and establishing NYSEG Stadium as a
community jewel."
Exciting
improvement plans will be announced over the next few months with
several presented during the Hot Stove session for season ticket holders
and corporate sponsors in March.
Retiring
B-Mets President Michael Urda and partners Bill and David Maines and
George Scherer expressed their thanks to all the B-Mets' local fans,
sponsors, players and coaches, New York Mets front office staff,
dedicated B-Met staff led by General Manager Jim Weed, and local
political leaders for their overwhelming support over the past 20 years.
Michael
Urda said, "It has been an honor to be the guardian of the B-Mets
baseball franchise for the past two decades, and we are pleased to turn
over the keys to a man with great values: John Hughes."
Hughes,
a husband and father of three children, owns a successful international
consulting company. The attraction of owning a team near family in
Buffalo, NY and Westchester County, NY, was a compelling draw during the
acquisition process. He and his family plan to spend parts of the
summer in the area enjoying the Finger Lakes.
With
its storied tradition, the Binghamton Mets have been a part of the
fabric of the Southern Tier for generations and one of the driving
forces behind the New York Mets.
The
25-man 2015 Mets World Series roster consisted of 16 individuals who
played in Binghamton. Since 1992, over 250 Major League players wore a
B-Mets uniform at some point in their career. Along with numerous
division championships, the team won the Eastern League Championship in
1992, 1994, and 2014.
The B Mets open the silver season on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 6:35 at
NYSEG Stadium against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Season tickets and
mini packs are on sale now and may be purchased in person at NYSEG
stadium or by visiting www.bmets.com or calling (607) 723-METS.
Be sure to follow the B-Mets all offseason long on Facebook, Twitter and at the team's official website (www.bmets.com).