Dave Rosenfield Steps Aside as Tides General Manager

Norfolk, Va. - Dave Rosenfield, longtime general manager of the Norfolk Tides will begin his slow route to retirement by stepping aside as the club's day-to-day operations boss. After 50 years as the face of baseball in Hampton Roads, he has decided it's time to name a successor.

Tides President, Ken Young announced that Joe Gregory, executive vice-president of the Norfolk Admirals will fill in the role as General Manager of the Tides with Rosenfield moving to an advisory role as executive vice-president of the Tides. "The idea to make this move was Dave's and no one else's," Young said at the press conference held at Hits at the Park Restuarant at Harbor Park. "I am healthy, I am happy and realize that 50 years in baseball here has been very generous to me," said Rosenfield. "It's time to take a step to the side and let some younger talent take over. I am very pleased that Joe will be coming to the Tides as the General Manager. He has proven to be an effective sports franchise operator and Ken and I have the utmost confidence he will succeed here."

Rosenfield pointed out that the decision had nothing to do with a recent heart operation and said he is feeling much better than he was prior to a non-invasive surgical procedure at the Cleveland Clinic.

Young also said he didn't have to look far for a replacement. "Joe Gregory has proven to us that he deserves the opportunity to lead both teams in this market. He has established relationships with many sponsors who have applauded his efforts in service and the fan experience he has engineered with the Admirals. We see a very simple transition for Joe who has worked with Dave going into his fourth year of hockey in Norfolk." The Admirals open at home Friday night at Scope against the Charlotte Checkers.

Gregory added he is looking forward to working with the Tides staff that he's come to know well since he moved from Youngstown, Ohio to the area. "The Tides staff will remain intact and I'm sure we will continue to work in concert keeping the fan experience in mind and keeping downtown Norfolk a quality sports entertainment destination. I grew up visiting the beaches here every year in this area since I was five-years old and you always want to have a job where you spent time vacationing."

Rosenfield will maintain an office at Harbor Park for the foreseeable future to assist Gregory in the team's operation.