By James Hagan…
On a night that the Blue Wahoos celebrated their 32nd sellout of the 2012 season, the team announced the completion of a maximum four-year extension of the Player Development Contract (PDC) that will see them continuing to serve as the Double A affiliate of Major League Baseball ‘s Cincinnati Reds through the 2016 season.
At a press conference in the Hancock Bank Club at Wahoo Stadium, representatives of the Wahoos and the Reds discussed the strong relationship between the clubs and their hopes for the future of the team.
“This is a very important day in the young history of the Wahoos,” said Bruce Baldwin, Wahoo team president. “We’re proud where the future is taking us.”
Typically, PDC’s are extended two years at a time. However, Walk Jocketty, general manager of the Reds, said that the signing of the extension showed the support and the enthusiasm the Reds felt towards their affiliate.
“We have been extremely impressed with the operation in Pensacola, from the terrific new facility to the first-class treatment of our players by [owner] Quint Studer, Bruce Baldwin and the entire front-office and game-day staff,” he said.
Reds president Robert Castellini praised the Wahoos’ efforts at creating an entertaining product for their fans.
“There are two ways to build a franchise,” said. “You put together a great fan experience, and you have a winning record. We’ve helped with the talent to produce a winning record, but what they have put together here for the fans is remarkable. I haven’t seen anything like this anywhere in baseball. This agreement shows how proud we are to be your partner.”
The Wahoos, on pace for over 300,000 in attendance this season, have been the centerpiece of the Community Maritime Park, a development that was the center of a political firestorm for nearly a decade.
Studer praised the 9,684 people who voted for the Maritime Park in the 2006 referendum, the City Council for their support of the team, and gave special thanks to Mayor Ashton Hayward.
” Without him, the park would not be as spectacular as it is,” Studer said.
Mayor Ashton Hayward praised Studer’s continuing investment in Pensacola and called the agreement between the clubs ” another big step in moving Pensacola forward.”
“This is another historic day for the city of Pensacola and a great day for the hundreds of thousands of fans in the region that call the Blue Wahoos their team,†Mayor Hayward said.