Queen City Sports and Entertainment, owners of Regina Pats, announced the acquisition of Red Sox Friday
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The Regina Red Sox go from non -profit property to private property.
Queen City Sports and Entertainment – The owners of the Western Hockey League Regina Pats – announced the acquisition of the Red Sox of the Canadian Western Baseball League at a press conference on Friday.
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“When Queen City Sports and Entertainment was originally founded, it was our mission to be clear that we wanted to revitalize the historic franchises in Regina,” said Shaun Semple, CEO of Queen City Sports and Entertainment, a subsidiary in exclusive property of the Brandt group group. “And invest in their success.
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“By bringing them together, this allows us to take some of the resources we have – ticketing, sales of goods, marketing – and combine all of this to really push (Red Sox) more.
While the Red Sox have never had financial problems in the past 20 years, team president Gary Brotzel said this decision was important to remain competitive in the WCBL.
“The common denominator of success in the WCBL is private property,” said Brotzel, who, with Bernie Eiswirth, founded the club in 2005. “The teams that have moved away from the non -profit voluntary model thrive.
“Especially the Alberta teams and recently with Saskatoon berries on board, they simply push the League to new levels.
“It was clear to me that it was time for us to also spend this model.”
After buying Pats from the Parker family in 2014, Queen City Sports and Entertainment has invested “tens of millions” in the hockey club in the past decade, according to Semple.
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He hopes that the acquisition of Red Sox will also bring the baseball club to another level.
“Everything he needs, he will get,” said Semple. “This is what we did with the Pats.”
“I am looking a lot to have these resources,” added Brotzel, who will stay with the club and will be in charge of baseball operations once the sale. “It’s been 20 years to cringe and try to balance the book each year.
“I did all the sales and run literally between me and Sharon (Clarke, executive director). We don’t have much help and we both watched to go out, so I can’t wait to help. ”
Pending the approval of the League, the agreement will officially end on October 1, at the end of the club’s exercise.
The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Semple noted that he wanted to help the Red Sox to build a new stadium, which has been a project in preparation for several years after the partnership with Alan Simpson of Living Sky Sports and Entertainment.
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“This is not a news that AL has been working on a stadium for several years here,” said Semple. “When I watch Currie Field where they play today, there are obviously improvements that can be made (but) when you look at the other teams in the league and what investments there, obviously, a new stadium is required to really hire fans, provide them with the environment and so on.
“At this point, we are ready to invest in the new stadium and help the city to make it.”
Originally founded in 1913, the Red Sox are the oldest Baseball franchise in Canada according to the club. Currently, the team plays Currie Field, a stadium built in 1968 which includes 420 seats and an additional room for 350 in the stands.
In 2021, The Red Sox published concept plans For a baseball stadium of 3,500 places to build in railway sites along the Dewdney avenue in Regina. The project price was estimated between $ 22 and 25 million.
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“From the point of view of fans, we will do everything we can and provide all the resources that the team needs to make sure they have world class experience every time they come,” said Semple. “We can do it in the current stadium but in a new stadium, I think we can do much more.
“I think Al and I are both ready to invest in a new stadium with a private investment and not to ask the city to do everything.”
Next week, a new feasibility study for a new stadium should be published.
“The project is evolving as the project is advancing,” said Simpson. “I think that important change is that, as Shaun has mentioned, there is a desire among him and I work on it and see if something can be done.”
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