When Major League Baseball took over Minor League Baseball, it did away with rules against an ownership group owning more than one team in any league. Diamond Baseball Holdings, a group owned by sports and entertainment agency Endeavor and its private equity investor Silver Lake, has swooped in and purchased a whole host of teams.
This week, they finally got around to purchasing a White Sox affiliate by buying the Birmingham Barons, who had previously been owned by the Logan family since 2005.
The Birmingham Barons today announced their sale to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select minor league baseball clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB). DBH will carry on the long and rich history of Barons baseball in Birmingham, with the club to remain the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, led by General Manager & President Jonathan Nelson and the current front office staff at Regions Field. Current owners Jeff and Stan Logan will remain involved with the club in an advisory capacity.
“Our family is deeply grateful for the passionate support of Barons fans and the greater Birmingham community. We are so proud of what we’ve all been able to build here together,” said Don, Jeff, and Stan Logan, owners of the Birmingham Barons. “It’s the right time for us to pass the baton to Pat, Peter, and the rest of the DBH team, who we know will preserve and celebrate the fan experience and community connection that defines the Barons.”
It's unclear what great plans Diamond Baseball Holdings plans to do with these acquisitions, but the advantages laid out in a 2021 article in The Athletic suggest there's value in simply having an entertainment venue in sizable cities.
While MLB last year took more control over MiLB, the basic economics of owning a minor league team had long been set: Player pay is covered by the mother club; the minor league team pays a fee to MLB and then makes its money on gate, concessions and sponsorships. Licensing and merchandise, media and national sponsorship have not been major factors to date.
For Endeavor, which is a public company, the deal is a chance to add cash flow and combine operations with its other businesses. Learfield executives can work on minor league deals, and Professional Bull Riders events and concerts can occur in minor league stadiums. Endeavor’s hospitality wing, On Location, could offer more premium amenities at all-star games and championships.
Nashville 5, Charlotte 3
- José Rodríguez went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Oscar Colás struck out twice during an 0-for-5 night in his return to Triple-A.
- Adam Hackenberg, 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Yoelqui Céspedes went 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
- Cristian Mena: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
Notes:
*Mena's control didn't seem as bad as the walk total would suggest. His Statcast strike zone didn't seem to align perfectly with the strike zones drawn up by the ABS.
Birmingham 5, Chattanooga 3
- Alsander Womack went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Colson Montgomery, 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Bryan Ramos, 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Wilfred Veras went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
- Edgar Quero, 0-for-3 with a walk.
- Tim Elko homered, singled twice and struck out once.
- Luis Mieses went 1-for-4 with a double and two strikeouts.
- Terrell Tatum, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Ky Bush: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 WP, 49 of 77 pitches for strikes.
