Baseball in Fort Wayne

I’ve written previously about what the Harrison Square development potentially means for the future of Minor League Baseball in Fort Wayne. It could mean many changes, from parent club to Minor League level. While most of that is still in the air, it now appears very likely that 2008 will be the last season for the Fort Wayne Wizards.

In 2009, they will usher in a new era that is likely to include a new team name. In their newsletter that was sent out earlier today, the Wizards announced a new website and a contest to suggest potential new names for the team.

Beginning on Sunday June 15, fans can go online to HarrisonSquareFortWayne.com and suggest names for the team, one of which may be adopted when the team begins play at the new ballpark in April 2009. When the allotted name submission time has expired, team executives and industry professionals will review the submissions to determine the name and identity of the team starting with the 2009 season.

“2009 will begin a new era for baseball in the Fort Wayne area,” stated Jason Freier of Hardball Capital, the team’s ownership group. “This new downtown ballpark will be one of the best in all professional baseball and something the community will be proud to call their own. This team is a part of the community and we want the community to have a hand in establishing the identity of this team.”

“Numerous people have asked us about the name over the years and the inquiries have been more frequent since the new downtown ballpark was announced,” said Wizards’ General Manager Mike Nutter. “More and more we realized that a lot of our fans and partners would like to see a name that is more identifiably and uniquely ‘Fort Wayne.’ If we do change, we would love to have a team name that connects with the community, represents some of the rich history and tradition of leadership and innovation that exemplifies Fort Wayne and that celebrates where we’ve been as a community as well as where we’re going in the future. We know our fans can be very creative and, with their help, we think we’ll come up with something great.”

Bragging rights over a new team name would not be the only benefit available to fans. The team will select one contest participant to receive a prize package that will include season tickets for the 2009 season, a shopping spree in the team store and the opportunity to throw a ceremonial first pitch at the new ballpark on Opening Day 2009.

Community members interested in making their suggestions, or simply learning more about the Harrison Square project, can visit HarrisonSquareFortWayne.com. Submissions are being accepted now through Monday, June 30^th.

The new website features videos, articles and information about the new ballpark, the condos, the retail areas, parking and more.

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