Peter Bragan in talks to sell Jacksonville Suns

[pierre]

http://jacksonville.com/sports/baseball/2015-01-12/story/longtime-owner-jacksonville-suns-talks-sell-minor-league-team

[Tacachale]

Oh wow.

[coredumped]

It says there's no intention of moving the team out of Jacksonville, and I hope that's true. The suns are a HUGE part of Jacksonville, they're our team with the most wins and part of our history. Tug Mcgraw (Tims dad) played here, and so did the great Nolan Ryan.
I think we truly take the suns for granted, they're really a good consistent team.

[Coolyfett]

I think we truly take the suns for granted, they're really a good consistent team.

They are taken for granted, but so are many other things in Jax. As a Jax sports fan, I always hoped the Suns would switch to AAA so Jacksonville could play bigger cities like Charlotte, New Orleans and Nashville. I never liked playing against cities 5 smaller than  Jacksonvilles size.

Plus if I was Bragan id be a little irritated at the city trying to push soccer on my teams field. Jacksonville wants this and that, but when they get something the people lose interest way too fast. Too many people have this boring indifferent who cares attitude, which makes they city LOOK boring from the outside looking in.

I think about Mayor brown and his and NBA crap dreams....Jacksonville doesnt need more teams. The people need to support whay they have.

[copperfiend]

The city also built him a new ballpark and they have a pretty sweet lease from what I understand.

I had heard a few years ago that the Bragans not wanting to sell is what was holding the team back from becoming a AAA franchise. Doesn't seem like that is going to change with this new owner.

[FSBA]

Why would the Suns move? They're one of the best drawing teams in Double A and even with the recent minor league stadium building frenzy, the Baseball Grounds is still one of the best stadiums in the minors.

[mbwright]

The level of playing is much better in AA ball.  Yes, the facility is sized to allow AAA.  But, it is not a simple switch.  The AA team would have to be moved, and an AAA team would have to be available to purchase.  AAA ball might have a few bigger stars, because basically it is rehab for pro players, and some that are on their way down.  The AA players often do see time in the majors, and it is at this level that they players are most hungry.  I was an usher there for 5 years, the last 2 of the Dodgers, and then 3 when affiliated with the Marlins.  At one point almost the entire Dodger team had gone through Jax.  Many of the Marlins did too. AA ball is much more accessible to the fans, and the players are nice.   It is fun, and reasonable, and accessible.

I hope the field does not get damaged with Soccer, as the field is consistently ranked as one of the very best in all of minor league.

Pedro and the Bragans have done a great job, and I am proud to have been a part of this organization.  I certainly miss this, since I am now in Tallahassee.

[fsquid]

AAA team is much more expensive to run as your travel costs will go up big time overnight.

[CityLife]

The level of playing is much better in AA ball.  Yes, the facility is sized to allow AAA.  But, it is not a simple switch.  The AA team would have to be moved, and an AAA team would have to be available to purchase.  AAA ball might have a few bigger stars, because basically it is rehab for pro players, and some that are on their way down.  The AA players often do see time in the majors, and it is at this level that they players are most hungry.  job, and I am proud to have been a part of this organization.

Good point. If Jax had the Dodgers AAA team for instance, we wouldn't have even seen the best pitcher in the majors, Clayton Kershaw pitch. He pitched 85 innings here in 2 seasons and went straight to the majors.

[Tacachale]

I think we truly take the suns for granted, they're really a good consistent team.

They are taken for granted, but so are many other things in Jax. As a Jax sports fan, I always hoped the Suns would switch to AAA so Jacksonville could play bigger cities like Charlotte, New Orleans and Nashville. I never liked playing against cities 5 smaller than  Jacksonvilles size.

Plus if I was Bragan id be a little irritated at the city trying to push soccer on my teams field. Jacksonville wants this and that, but when they get something the people lose interest way too fast. Too many people have this boring indifferent who cares attitude, which makes they city LOOK boring from the outside looking in.

I think about Mayor brown and his and NBA crap dreams....Jacksonville doesnt need more teams. The people need to support whay they have.

LOL, the city built him a 30+ million dollar stadium, one of the best in the minors. And the Bragans are the reason we've stayed at AAA.

The level of playing is much better in AA ball.  Yes, the facility is sized to allow AAA.  But, it is not a simple switch.  The AA team would have to be moved, and an AAA team would have to be available to purchase.  AAA ball might have a few bigger stars, because basically it is rehab for pro players, and some that are on their way down.  The AA players often do see time in the majors, and it is at this level that they players are most hungry.  job, and I am proud to have been a part of this organization.

Good point. If Jax had the Dodgers AAA team for instance, we wouldn't have even seen the best pitcher in the majors, Clayton Kershaw pitch. He pitched 85 innings here in 2 seasons and went straight to the majors.

Revenues and crowds tend to be higher at AAA though, for whatever reason. I've always thought we should pursue AAA baseball mainly for the fact that we'd have a chance at even more people coming downtown on the regular. However, it would also take a lot more promotion to make it happen than the AA Suns typically do.

AAA team is much more expensive to run as your travel costs will go up big time overnight.

The Suns already have comparatively high travel costs as the closest team is Pensacola. And the major league affiliate covers most of the other costs.

[TimmyB]

The Suns have a great product, and an outstanding facility.  I hope that nothing happens that would change that for JAX.

As for becoming AAA, I hope not.  My brother was a play-by-play announcer for a single A team up north, and I asked him if he hoped they would become AAA, some day.  His response floored me, as he said absolutely not!  He told me that with single- or double-A, everyone is on their way up, so they are all working hard toward that dream.  With AAA, half of the players don't want to be there, as they're either in rehab, or on their way down.  There is a lot of truth to that!

[mbwright]

The guy formerly known as Mike Stanton was fun to watch.  Signed a huge contract with the Marlins not long ago.

[I-10east]

The Suns have a great product, and an outstanding facility.  I hope that nothing happens that would change that for JAX.

As for becoming AAA, I hope not.  My brother was a play-by-play announcer for a single A team up north, and I asked him if he hoped they would become AAA, some day.  His response floored me, as he said absolutely not!  He told me that with single- or double-A, everyone is on their way up, so they are all working hard toward that dream.  With AAA, half of the players don't want to be there, as they're either in rehab, or on their way down.  There is a lot of truth to that!

I agree. It seems like the only plus with AAA is generally competition with bigger cities roughly around Jax's size. It's interesting that there's only two major league cities with Double-A baseball teams, the Jacksonville Suns and the San Antonio Missions; I'm glad that we aren't alone.

The major league cities with Triple-A teams are the Buffalo Bisons, Charlotte Knights, Columbus Clippers, Indianapolis Indians, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Memphis Redbirds, New Orleans Zephyrs, Nashville Sounds, Salt Lake City Bees, and Sacramento River Cats.

[edjax]

The Suns have a great product, and an outstanding facility.  I hope that nothing happens that would change that for JAX.

As for becoming AAA, I hope not.  My brother was a play-by-play announcer for a single A team up north, and I asked him if he hoped they would become AAA, some day.  His response floored me, as he said absolutely not!  He told me that with single- or double-A, everyone is on their way up, so they are all working hard toward that dream.  With AAA, half of the players don't want to be there, as they're either in rehab, or on their way down.  There is a lot of truth to that!

I agree. It seems like the only plus with AAA is generally competition with bigger cities roughly around Jax's size. It's interesting that there's only two major league cities with Double-A baseball teams, the Jacksonville Suns and the San Antonio Missions; I'm glad that we aren't alone.

The major league cities with Triple-A teams are the Buffalo Bisons, Charlotte Knights, Columbus Clippers, Indianapolis Indians, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Memphis Redbirds, New Orleans Zephyrs, Nashville Sounds, Salt Lake City Bees, and Sacramento River Cats.

Not sure Portland has any team any longer.  Definitely not higher than AA.

[Coolyfett]

The city also built him a new ballpark and they have a pretty sweet lease from what I understand.

I had heard a few years ago that the Bragans not wanting to sell is what was holding the team back from becoming a AAA franchise. Doesn't seem like that is going to change with this new owner.

I actually think the AA players play with more passion then AAA, from the games Ive seen. I been a Suns fan since 92, since crusty Wolfson Park. I just never understand why the team sells more tickets during regular season then in the Post season. I dont know...I just get this weird feeling people say they want major league teams, but in order for that to happen, Major Leagues have to see Jacksonville as a major league city, but the fans dont behave major league. Weird.....