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2020 Minor League Baseball Season canceled

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Fox Cities Stadium

Major League Baseball has informed Minor League Baseball that it will not be providing its affiliated Minor League teams with players for the 2020 season.  As expected, the result forced Minor League Baseball to officially cancel its 2020 campaign.

“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner.  “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable entertainment.”

The cancellation of the season comes at a difficult time for Minor League teams, many of which are simply trying to stay afloat financially.

“Each club is different as you know, but overall, we are in need of some help,” said O’Conner.  “We’ve [Read more…]

Minor League teams waiting for season to be canceled (AUDIO)

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Fox Cities Stadium

As Major League Baseball and the players association continue to negotiate a possible return to the field this summer, minor league teams have been left behind with little hope of a baseball season.

The Milwaukee Brewers single-A affiliate, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are among the teams around the country that are expecting to hear of a cancellation to the season soon.

Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav told WRN on Monday that there’s no way minor league teams could have a season without fans in the stands.  Zerjav said they’re already losing money and it would be worse playing games without fans.

The Timber Rattlers officially opened back up on Monday, but Zerjav said they’re focussing their efforts on finding other ways to generate revenue, other than playing baseball games.

The Timber Rattlers home field (Fox Cities Stadium) has banquet facilities and has hosted weddings in the past.  They’re cooking up fish fry’s on Friday nights and doing other meal deals for fans.  They also own and manage the Northwoods League team in Fond du lac (Dock Spiders) and Zerjav is confident that team will start play on July 1.

In the meantime, the Rattlers are waiting for Major League Baseball to pull the plug on their season.  Zerjav said it’s not a matter of if, but more likely when.

AUDIO: Rob Zerjav said there’s too many things stacked against minor league teams to play this season :15

AUDIO: Rob Zerjav says they can’t afford to play games without fans :07

AUDIO: Rob Zerjav said it hasn’t happened yet, but cancellation is pretty much a done deal :09

Brewers announce player development extension

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Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav

Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced a four-year player development contract extension with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League through the 2020 season.  The announcement was made jointly by Brewers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Doug Melvin and Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav.

The 2015 season will mark the seventh season of affiliation between the Brewers and Timber Rattlers.  The partnership officially began on October 1, 2008 as part of a four-year agreement.

This past season, the Timber Rattlers went 72-67 during the regular season and qualified for the postseason after clinching a second-half Wild Card berth in the Midwest League’s Western Division.  It marked Wisconsin’s second postseason appearance over the past three seasons.  In 2012, the Timber Rattlers won the Midwest League Championship.

AUDIO: Bill Scott discusses the new Player Development deal with the Brewers 5:18

 

 

Timber Rattlers rained out again!

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For the third straight day, the Milwaukee Brewers single-A affiliate, Wisconsin Timber

Rob Zerjav

Rob Zerjav

Rattlers are pulling the plug on their scheduled game at Fox Cities Stadium because of rain, snow and cold.

The Timber Rattlers lost Tuesday’s game because of rain.  They then scheduled a doubleheader against Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, only to lose that game to ice, rain and snow.  Now today’s series opener against Kane County has been scratched to rain and cold.

They’ll try to play a doubleheader on Friday night with once again, more rain in the forecast.

I talked with Timber Rattlers President Rob Zerjav about the teams string of weather postponed games.

AUDIO: Rattlers Pres. Rob Zerjav on weather issues 3:05

Fox Cities Stadium rennovation headed for finish line

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Snow still covers Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ home opener is less than a month away

Fox Cities Stadium Renovation

Fox Cities Stadium Renovation

(April 8th).  The teams $6.2-million stadium rennovation is on target for completion by opening day.

Team President Rob Zerjav detailed the offseason project.  The major addition to the stadium will be a second level behind home plate that is to include six suites and a club level with seating for 250.  The new club level will be available to groups and individual fans during games.  Additionally, the club level will double as banquet space during non-baseball events and may be used 365 days a year.

The renovations will also include:

– An expanded team store that will double the size of the current store
– Expansion of two concession stands that will increase points of sale by 50%
– Additional restrooms that will double the number currently available
– An expanded customer service center
– A larger administrative office
– An improved home clubhouse that will include a new player lounge, a new meeting area, and expansions to the weight room, the training room, and coaches offices
– Additional storage areas for team, food and beverage, and merchandise
– Replacing the current cement block facade of the stadium

AUDIO: Team Pres. Rob Zerjav updates Renovation project 6:18

Timber Rattlers to receive top Minor League Award

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Minor League Baseball announced the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are the

Rob Zerjav

winners of the National Larry MacPhail Award, which symbolizes the top promotional effort in Minor League Baseball.

The Timber Rattlers are the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Minor League Baseball President, Pat O’Conner said, “Wisconsin’s use of various social media to promote themselves, especially through their mobile web site that allows fans to interact during games, as well as throughout the off-season, merits their selection as the winner of the Larry MacPhail award.”

The trophy will be given to Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday, December 6.

Timber Rattlers receive honors

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Usually when there’s success on the field, you don’t have to go very far to find

Rob Zerjav / Photo Credit to Wis. Timber Rattlers

that a part of that success came from the support off the field. 

So it’s no surprise that two days after the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers won their first Midwest League Championship, the organization was given the 2012 Larry MacPhail award.  Team President and General Manager Rob Zerjav was also selected the Midwest League’s Executive of the year.

By winning the Midwest League Award, Wisconsin is up for the National Larry MacPhail promotional trophy as well. 

The national winner will be named at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.

Timber Rattlers break ground for new expansion project

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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers broke ground on Wednesday for a $5.5 million expansion project at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.

The major addition to the stadium will be a second level behind home plate that is to include six suites and a club level with seating for 250.  The new club level will be available to groups and individual fans during games.  Additionally, the club level will double as banquet space during non-baseball events and may be used all year. [Read more…]