New LI Ducks owner promises stability and more fun
Frank Boulton, who created the Ducks, sold the team to REV Entertainment, the sports and entertainment branch of the Texas Rangers.
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For the first time since their inception 25 years ago, the Long Island Ducks have new owners.
Frank Boulton, who created the Ducks, sold the team to REV Entertainment, the sports and entertainment branch of the Texas Rangers.
"We didn't buy the LI Ducks because we saw an opportunity to change things. We bought the LI Ducks because we think it is and unbelievable institution," said REV Entertainment president Sean Decker at a new conference Thursday at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip.
Decker is a former independent league baseball umpire ("Don't hold that against me," he told News12), who says he has long admired the Ducks' operation and reputation in the Atlantic League. He said talks to buy the team started "more than a year ago."
He would not disclose the financial terms of the deal but said REV Entertainment is not moving the team.
"There is no intention of doing anything with moving the team in terms of geography or league, etc. We are here to be exactly where they are today," said Decker.
But Decker believes the Ducks have room to grow, and says REV Entertainment, which owns three other independent baseball teams, will help with marketing, sponsorship and sales. He also said no one employed with the Ducks will lose their job.
One area Decker and REV Entertainment VP of sports management Madison Sanfilippo said they look forward to expanding is better ways to use the ballpark for events, especially when there is no baseball being played.
"You can have really big food truck festivals, house bands and they are here as part of a margarita festival or wine festival. You can have light shows in the parking lot. You can have car shows out there. One of our ballparks has a dog show," said Sanfilippo.
Ducks founder Frank Boulton said he never put a for sale sign on the team, but at 75-years old he said it's time for new ownership. He said he turned down offers from private-equity firms in the past because that's not the direction he wanted to pursue. He wanted "baseball people who can build on the legacy we've built here. "
"People have trusted me here with the Ducks for a long time," Boulton added. "Our fans our sponsors and my feeling really is these are the right guys."
