OTBA Beaverless In 2029

by I.M. Apigg, staff writer

It was something that the few remaining Beavers fans knew was coming when the franchise was sold.  The team is going to be packing up and heading for a new field of dreams.  The new ownership of the team announced that starting with the 2019 season, the team will be heading south to Nashville, Tennessee.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the support of the business community we had hoped to find when the franchise was purchased,” team owner Jason Wert told reporters.  “Attendance has been down the last three years and it doesn’t look like it will be picking up any time soon.   Relocation was something that was foremost in our mind but the Bloomington area really didn’t give us a compelling reason to stay.”

Wert, the former Springfield owner who returned to the league after a leadership change in the league office, announced the team would be named the Nashville Watchmen.  They unveiled a black, white and grey logo.

“It has nothing to do with the book or the movie,” Wert said.  “Although it does embody a bit of the spirit of people watching out for each other and protecting each other.”

The team also announced that all the minor league franchises will be changing locations as well.

“We felt it was time for a new day for the entire organization from top to bottom,” Wert said.

The new minor league teams will be the Louisville (KY) Patriots in AAA, Birmingham (AL) Night Stalkers in AA, Knoxville (TN) Cooks in A and the High Point (NC) Missions in the rookie league.

“The team’s in serious financial troubles,” Wert said.  “We hope to be able to build a competitive team before the 2034 or 2035 seasons.  Given the state of the club, it will be a real stretch to bring a winning team before them.  We’re thankful Nashville is so open to being a part of the rebuilding process.”