Global Spectrum Thursday officially finalized a deal to become the "new management group" for the Triple-A PCL Memphis Redbirds and AutoZone Park, according to Phil Stukenborg of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. Global Spectrum COO John Page confirmed that the company will "take over from Blues City Baseball, a move essentially ending the involvement" of Redbirds co-Founder Dean Jernigan. The team and AutoZone Park are "not being sold," and the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation (MRBF) will "remain in its ownership role." MRBF President Ray Pohlman said that Global Spectrum's role will be to "get the franchise's 'financial house in order,'" and Page said that his company is "prepared for the challenge." Page said that "one of Global's immediate tasks will be evaluating the operation, including staffing." Redbirds President of Baseball Operations Dave Chase is "expected to remain throughout the season," and Page said that a GM "will be named within the next 10 days." Page: "The staff that's in place now, there are agreements with the foundation. We're still in the process of evaluating all the positions to see who's doing what." Pohlman said that the agreement with the foundation is that the "current staff remains in place for 30 days under Blues City Baseball payroll." Stukenborg notes the Redbirds are "required to make" $5.4M annual bond payments to U.S. Bank, but have "struggled recently to make them." Page said that the "opportunity to get involved with the Redbirds was initiated through" Triple-A PCL Albuquerque Isotopes President Ken Young ( Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/17 ).
 |
