The O’Fallon City Council voted tonight to approve a lease with O’Fallon Baseball Associates, LLC, who will be placing a new baseball team at CarShield Field in time for the 2020 season. The new ownership group also will be responsible for day-to-day management of the stadium. The lease is for five years and includes an annual rent of $125,000, plus a minimum of $10,000 in stadium naming rights revenue for the City.
The new team, which will move to O’Fallon from their previous home in Hannibal, MO (Hannibal Hoots), will play in the Prospect League. The Prospect League is a summer collegiate wood-bat league offering family-friendly, affordable baseball entertainment and provides eligible college players experience using a wood bat in a competitive atmosphere and exposure to Major League Baseball scouts.
The Prospect League and the City of O’Fallon will jointly hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, September 27, to introduce the ownership group to the community. The press conference will be held in the City Council Chambers at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre, 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon, MO 63366. The press conference also will be shown live on the City’s website at www.ofallon.mo.us/ofallonTV.
“We are extremely excited to welcome the Prospect League to O’Fallon,” said O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy. “When we looked at the potential tenants for CarShield Field, we knew we wanted to find an ownership group that was committed to family-friendly fun and who will invest in marketing the team and the stadium as a destination. The stadium is a true jewel in our City, and we are excited to have great baseball in there for years to come.”
“We are grateful to Mayor Bill Hennessy and the O’Fallon City Council for welcoming us to O’Fallon,” said Richard DeStefane. “O’Fallon is an ideal location for the Prospect League and our organization, and we look forward to meeting the residents and business community. We are committed to putting a great product on the field, and more importantly, becoming an integral part of the City and all of St. Charles County.”
“The Prospect League is proud to announce that unanimous approval has been granted to allow the Hannibal membership to be re-located to O’Fallon, Missouri, for the 2020 season and beyond,” Prospect League Commissioner Dennis Bastien said. “This process began when we were asked to submit an RFP early this past spring. Many, many meetings, conversations and presentations followed.
“When the Rascals elected to cease operations at the conclusion of this just-completed season, we were ready, willing and able to make O’Fallon our newest home. I cannot thank Mayor Hennessy, the City Council, Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Springer and her amazing committee enough for the time, effort, co-operation and energy they all have shown through this process. They have been wonderful to work with. CarShield Field will now be the home to exciting summer collegiate baseball!”
