Syracuse Mets Enter Next Chapter Under New Ownership, Diamond Baseball Holdings

SYRACUSE, NY (December 10, 2024) – Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select minor league clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB), today announced it has entered into an agreement with affiliates of Cohen Private Ventures to purchase the Syracuse Mets, which will remain the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets going forward. The club will retain its front office staff and continue to be led by General Manager Jason Smorol.

As part of the transaction, DBH has also purchased the New York Mets’ High-A affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones. The Syracuse Mets and Cyclones join the franchise’s Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, on the DBH roster.

"The New York Mets are deeply grateful to the staff and players of the Syracuse Mets and Brooklyn Cyclones. These franchises have created two of the best fan-bases in Minor League Baseball and we are excited to continue our affiliation with these cities,” said M. Scott Havens, President of Business Operations, New York Mets. “With their acquisition by DBH, both clubs will have greater dedicated resources and player development tools to set them up for successful seasons for years to come.”

The Syracuse Mets have one of the most storied histories in all of Minor League Baseball (MiLB). The franchise has played in the International League in all but five years since its inaugural season in 1934 and became an affiliate of the big-league Mets in 2019. After the acquisition closes, fans in Syracuse will continue cheering for their team at NBT Bank Stadium, which has served as the team’s home since it first opened in 1997.

“We are excited to grow our relationship with DBH as they work to finalize this sale,” said Andy Green, Mets Senior Vice President, Player Development. “Our affiliates provide valuable steppingstones for our players in these communities, but also family-friendly experiences for our fans in those cities. As we’ve seen in Binghamton, DBH will strengthen our affiliates from a baseball and fan perspective.”

Through its roster of affiliated clubs across the country, DBH works to support local passions and priorities with national reach and scale, integrating cutting-edge digital technologies into club operations as well as providing new value-generating opportunities in partnership with MiLB.

"The Syracuse Mets are a cornerstone of Central New York, where the franchise has deeply connected with the community while drawing fans from across the region for generations,” said Pat Battle and Peter Freund, Executive Chairman and CEO of DBH, respectively. “We’re thrilled to add them to our roster and continue growing our relationship with the New York Mets. We look forward to enhancing the distinct fan experience at NBT Bank Stadium while ensuring the ballpark remains a year-round destination for affordable, family-friendly entertainment for years to come.”

Subject to obtaining the consent of the league and satisfying other standard closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed promptly.

About Syracuse Mets

The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which opened in 1997 and has a seating capacity of 10,815. The Mets are named for their major league affiliate, the New York Mets.

About Diamond Baseball Holdings

Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) was formed in 2021 to support, promote and enhance Minor League Baseball Clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball through professional management, best practices, innovation and investment.