GreensBoro Grasshoppers replacing WV Power as Pirate affilia

johnfluharty · Post by **johnfluharty** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:37 pm

https://www.greensboro.com/sports/grass ... a5edd.html

BenM · Post by **BenM** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:05 pm

Greensboro just finished its 11th losing season in 16 years as a Marlins affiliate. Even so, the Hoppers led the South Atlantic League in paid attendance for the second consecutive year, selling 322,156 tickets.

They did that going 60-76 this season. Impressive.

Instead, the Marlins (who were previously in Greenboro) have landed in Iowa with the Clinton LumberKings of the Class-A Midwest League. Clinton’s last tenant, the Seattle Mariners, moves to Charleston, W.Va., to replace the Pirates with the West Virginia Power.

Musical chairs!

I feel bad for Pirates fans in WV.

Ecbucs · Post by **Ecbucs** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:15 pm

I wonder why the Pirates wanted to move (and why the Power didn't want to stay with them).

the article does say better weather, centrally located in league (to make travel easier) and attendance, over 2 times went West Virginia drew.

INbuc · Post by **INbuc** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:22 pm

Two things I read yesterday: Greensboro had about 3 times the attendance, and 2) the city is more centrally located within the league, which will significantly cutdown travel times for the team.

mouse · Post by **mouse** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:35 pm

Minor league teams seem to move quite a bit. It seems like every year there are multiple switches. Any thought on why that is?

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 8:12 pm

Sounds like the big losers will be those counting on ticket sales in Morgantown

DemDog · Post by **DemDog** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 9:11 pm

0C2B20034E0 wrote: Greensboro just finished its 11th losing season in 16 years as a Marlins affiliate. Even so, the Hoppers led the South Atlantic League in paid attendance for the second consecutive year, selling 322,156 tickets.

They did that going 60-76 this season. Impressive.

Instead, the Marlins (who were previously in Greenboro) have landed in Iowa with the Clinton LumberKings of the Class-A Midwest League. Clinton’s last tenant, the Seattle Mariners, moves to Charleston, W.Va., to replace the Pirates with the West Virginia Power.

Musical chairs!

I feel bad for Pirates fans in WV.

Glad it was not my beloved WV BlackBears.

Maybe Nutting can bring in the marketing and management folks from Greensboro to do something to drive up Bucco attendance. They should come cheap!

DemDog · Post by **DemDog** » Sun Sep 23, 2018 9:15 pm

586A66667240636A67626D6A0B0 wrote: Sounds like the big losers will be those counting on ticket sales in Morgantown

See my post above. It is not the Morgantown team that is being moved. It is the A league full season team from Charleston WV. Morgantown is A- Short Season team.

ChitownBucco · Post by **ChitownBucco** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 1:47 am

will be different