Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game Awarded to Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) - With excitement building for the Charlotte Knights' inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark, the Knights proclaimed that the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game is coming to Charlotte on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. President/CEO of Minor League Baseball Pat O'Conner, President of the International League Randy Mobley, Vice-President of Marketing for Gildan Retail Rob Packard, as well as other executives from the Charlotte area were on-hand for the announcement on Tuesday in Uptown Charlotte.
"We are very pleased to bring the 'World Series' of Minor League Baseball to the city of Charlotte" said Charlotte Knights Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski. "This three-day event will showcase the city of Charlotte on a national stage and it will bring in fans from across the county."
The Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game pits the champions of the International League against champions of the Pacific Coast League in a one-game, winner-take-all match-up. The 2014 version is the 9th installment in the series and the Pacific Coast League leads the overall series 5-3. The game will be televised live to a national audience on the NBC Sports Network beginning at 7 p.m.
"Hosting the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game will be a tremendous way for the Charlotte Knights to conclude their first season in a new stadium," said Pat O'Conner, President & CEO of Minor League Baseball."The Knights will be able to showcase their first class facility, as well as the Queen City, to a national television audience during one of our crown jewel events."
"Bringing special baseball events to a new Uptown ballpark was always part of the plan being discussed publically by Dan Rajkowski and team ownership," stated International League President Randy Mobley. "Triple-A Baseball is excited to partner with the Knights and Gildan Activewear to help make this come true in 2014.
Mobley added, "With the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game coming to town it will be yet another opportunity for Charlotte to shine in a national spotlight. Baseball executives from the 29 other Triple-A franchises will be in attendance and the NBC Sports Network will be airing the game live. The excitement emanating from Uptown Charlotte is certain to be on full display."
The Triple-A National Championship Game debuted in its current one-game format in 2006. The Triple-A World Series, Triple-A Classic and Las Vegas Triple-A World Series all served as predecessors to the current championship event.
The International League has captured the Triple-A National Championship in three of the past four seasons with Omaha beating Durham last year by a score of 2-1. The 2013 game was hosted by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA in front of 9,602 fans. The highest attended championship game took place in 2006 in Oklahoma City, OK and saw 12,572 fans walk through the gates. Overall, the game has drawn 73,983 fans over the course of its eight years.
Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game all-time results:
2006: Tucson 5, Toledo 2
2007: Sacramento 7, Richmond 1
2008: Sacramento 4, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 1
2009: Durham 5, Memphis 4
2010: Columbus 12, Tacoma 6
2011: Columbus 8, Omaha 3
2012: Reno 10, Pawtucket 3
2013: Omaha 2, Durham 1
"Gildan is honored again to be an official part of this great American tradition as a proud sponsor of Triple-A Baseball and its 30 teams. Entering our third year as title sponsor of the Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, we are excited for the upcoming season and thrilled it culminates in Charlotte's beautiful, new BB&T Ballpark in its inaugural season," said Rob Packard, Vice-President Marketing, Gildan Retail. "For Gildan, North Carolina holds major importance. This year, we are making a nearly $250 million investment in our yarn spinning facilities in the State, spurring jobs and the economy. Gildan is looking forward to again enhancing this truly fun, family experience throughout the season and during the Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game."
Tickets for the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game will go on sale at a later date.
The Knights will open BB&T Ballpark on Friday night, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. against the Norfolk Tides. Season tickets for the 2014 inaugural season at BB&T Ballpark are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at (980) 207-0079, by email at [email protected], or in person by stopping by the Knights Uptown Offices located at Packard Place, 222 South Church Street, 3rd floor, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. For more information about Charlotte Knights Baseball, log on to www.charlotteknights.com.