Hanson ready to pick up 'new' Jaxx
Of course, that minor detail should be cleared up by next week when the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx are officially sold. Technically, Hanson will become the general manager next week. For now, he's making the rounds at West Tenn any way he can.
"I'm excited, but it's not overwhelming," Hanson said Tuesday during a quick break in his day full of meetings. "I know we have our work cut out for us."
The Diamond Jaxx's impending team sale received approvals from Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball last Thursday, and the current and incoming ownership groups hope to finalize the deal later this week. Hanson said the deal should be done by Friday.
"Basically, we're ready," he said. "We're raring to go."
West Tenn, the Southern League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners since 2007, will have new players and a new front office on the field by Opening Day in April. The new Jaxx management, however, is banking on some new faces in the seats as well. Hanson will join new team president Reese Smith III in an attempt to revive and guide the Jaxx back to Southern League success. The Diamond Jaxx, in Jackson, Tenn., ranked last in the Southern League in attendance in 2007, a glaring issue that Hanson and Smith hope to resolve.
"Right now, that's our main focus," Hanson said. "On one hand, attendance grew 20 percent last year. On the other hand, it was still lowest in the league, so I think we need to continue that growth. I'm hoping to achieve another year of growth, another 20-perfect type of number. We need to continue on the track they achieved last year."
Hanson joins the Diamond Jaxx after serving as the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex director of marketing. Smith, part of a Nashville-area ownership group, will take over as president after the sale of the club was unanimously approved by Southern League owners Dec. 5. Lawyers are ironing out the final details of the purchase.
"We've got a lot of plans in place, and we'll hit the streets on Monday with some of those things," Hanson added. "We want to ask the community and get everyone involved."
Hanson said uncertainty around the club has turned some fans off in recent years. The impending sale -- and threat of relocation -- was not good for ticket sales. Hanson, however, said he is confident the team will flourish under his leadership and remain a trademark of Jackson.
"I've been here in Jackson since 1992, so I think with that in mind, we can reach out and rally the troops," Hanson said. "We can continue the growth from last year."
On the field, West Tenn struggled through a 60-79 season and finished a half-game out of last place in the Southern League North Division last season. The club, previously owned by Bob Lozinak's ownership group, will hand over the team to new management with only a few months to prepare for Opening Day. For now, the clock is ticking on establishing a new brand of baseball in Tennessee.
"I've heard lots of ideas so far, and we're going to do some things differently," Hanson said. "Today was just my second day, but all the current staff will all be staying. They want to try a lot of different things."
All but two will remain actually. Outgoing Jaxx general manager Jeff Parker declined an offer for a new position with the team, and Lozinak -- who Hanson said has always been a good friend -- will also be out of the picture.
Lozinak's departure has fostered some rumors. According to newspaper reports, West Tenn fans have expressed concern over Smith's desires to relocate the team from Jackson. The incoming owner denies those claims and says he is confident the team will flourish in the expanding Jackson area. Pringles Park is located at 4 Fun Place in Jackson.
According to Jackson Major Jerry Gist, an extension on the contract between the city and the Diamond Jaxx organization will be discussed after the sale is completed. Currently, there is only one year remaining.
"They're having discussions right now on a longer-term lease," Hanson said, declining to speculate on the price of the team's sale.
Lozinak bought the Diamond Jaxx for around $7 million in 2002 from an ownership group headed by David Hersh. Hersh brought the Jaxx to Jackson when he moved the Double-A Memphis Chicks franchise in 1998, the year Jackson built Pringles Park.
Hanson said the team will look the same on the field in 2008, and the staff is brainstorming new promotions, entertainment and ways to attract new fans to the ballpark. Hanson also said the club will reevaluate its image, name, colors and perhaps even their logo and uniforms down the road in 2009. For now, the Jaxx are back and hungry to compete.
"I know the community, it's been very positive," Hanson said of the sale. "This will be a fresh start, a new face. I've gotten to know the new owners from Nashville a little bit. They want to get a long-term deal and stay here. I think there are a lot of positives."
Danny Wild is a contributor to MLB.com.