Rich Baseball announces Wranglers' move to Springdale for '08

Springdale AR - Robert E. Rich, Jr., chairman of the board of Rich Products Corporation in Buffalo, NY, joined Springdale Mayor Jerre M. Van Hoose and other dignitaries here Wednesday to sign a 20-year stadium lease between Rich Baseball and the City of Sprindale.

Rich Baseball, which owns three affiliated minor league baseball teams including the Double-A Wichita Wranglers, officially announced its plans to relocate its Wichita team to Springdale's new stadium for the 2008 Texas League season. The team is part of the Kansas City Royals' farm system.

Springdale voters approved a $50 million bond issue in July that paved the way for a municipally owned stadium to be built at the southwest corner of Watkins Avenue and 56th Street. HOK Sports of Kansas City, Mo., has been selected as the stadium's architecture firm.

Joining Rich for the announcement was Mindy Rich, Vice-Chairman for Rich Products Corporation and President of Rich Entertainment Group and Jonathan Dandes, President of Rich Baseball. Also participating in the announcement was David Glass, owner and CEO of the Kansas City Royals, Dan Glass, President of the Royals, and Dayton Moore, the Royals' Senior Vice President/Baseball Operations and General Manager.

Springdale's team will play in the Texas League and join the Arkansas Travelers, Tulsa Drillers and Springfield Cardinals in the league's Northern Division. Tom Kayser, President of the Texas League of Professional Baseball Clubs, also participated in the Wednesday event. The Frisco RoughRiders, San Antonio Missions, Corpus Christi Hooks and Midland Rockhounds comprise the Texas League's Southern Division.