Oestrike Stadium, home to Eastern Michigan University's
defending Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament champion
Eagles, also will be home for the 2009 season to the Midwest
Sliders, an independent professional baseball club competing
in the Frontier League
EMU Athletics Director Derrick Gragg and Midwest Sliders
President and Director of Team Personnel Rob Hilliard made
the announcement jointly Oct. 9.
 |
MINOR ADJUSTMENT: The Midwest Sliders
of
the Frontier League will play a 45-game home
schedule at Oestrike Stadium during 2009. |
The Sliders, purchased last January by Baseball Heroes
of Oakland County, LP, operated in 2008 as a travel squad,
playing all 96 games on the road. The Oakland County-based
ownership group plans to start construction on a 3,900-seat
stadium next spring in Waterford Township. After the ballpark's
completion, the club will be renamed the Oakland County
Cruisers.
"For the upcoming Frontier League season, we want
to bring the club as close as possible to Oakland County
while playing in a first-class facility," Hilliard
said.
"We're extremely pleased to call EMU home for the
2009 season and look forward to bringing this affordable,
family entertainment activity to the greater Ypsilanti-Ann
Arbor area," Hilliard said, adding that he, Vice President & General
Manager Bill Terlecky and Manager & Player Development
Director Eric Coleman were anxious to meet with Ypsilanti
officials, members of the local business community and
area residents.
"We've had a long and rich baseball tradition here
at EMU and have always prided ourselves on putting our
best foot forward," said Gragg. "We believe Rob
and his staff are knowledgeable baseball people and good
folks who will fit in well, both on campus and in the surrounding
community."
According to Hilliard, the club will be called the Midwest
Sliders of Ypsilanti for 2009, taking a page from MLB's
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The cap will include a "Y" in
its design.
The ball club is releasing its 2009 Frontier League schedule
and will soon begin to offer promotional packages to area
businesses. Plans also are underway to add portable food
and beverage carts, souvenir stands and other fan-friendly
amenities. Together, with an in-game entertainment program,
Midwest Sliders games at Oestrike Stadium will take on
all of the trappings of a typical minor league ball game.
"Every aspect of our operation is being developed
in concert with EMU's Athletic Department and head coach
Jay Alexander," said Hilliard, who stressed the importance
of cooperation, coordination and communication as the Sliders
assume the role of tenant.
The ball club has set ticket prices for its 45-game home
schedule, which begins with a three-game series against
two-time defending Frontier League champion Windy City
Thunderbolts May 29-31, 2009. Grandstand reserved seating
is $8 for adults and $7 for children 12 years of age and
under, as well as for senior citizens age 55 and over and
Eastern Michigan University students. Season ticket, 12-game
flex pack, weekday pick six and the Baker's Dozen ticket
packages are available. All packages are available for
online purchase. For more information, go to www.cruisersbaseball.com.
