The Jacksonville Suns sold to RubberDucks owner Ken Babby

[British Shoe Company]

http://www.ohio.com/sports/rubberducks/rubberducks-owner-ken-babby-buys-double-a-jacksonville-suns-for-reported-20-million-1.573087

[urbanlibertarian]

Positive article about Babby as the owner of the Double A RubberDucks.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140907/SUB1/309079993/akrons-mighty-ducks-under-ken-babbys-ownership-minor-league

[pierre]

It has been talked about for a few months now. I guess it is official.

I am honestly not sure what changes need to be made. The Suns seem to have a sweet stadium deal with the city and appear to be among the more successful minor league organizations.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

It has been talked about for a few months now. I guess it is official.

I am honestly not sure what changes need to be made. The Suns seem to have a sweet stadium deal with the city and appear to be among the more successful minor league organizations.

Yeah.  The Bragans have been looking to do this for about 3 years now that I'm aware of, probably longer for those in the know.

Maybe someone will by their MLB affiliate and actually put together something better than an AA team...   

[Overstreet]

I'm OK with it provided  I can still sit in the stands for a little bit of money, enjoy the game, enjoy a beer n a brat and see fire works with my best girl on a Friday night.

[Rynjny]

There's a report that Shad Khan try to buy the team. That would be awesome.

[Jack]

I hope this means we will move up to AAA in the near future. The Bragans had their chance to make that move, but wouldn't spend the money.

[tufsu1]

^ first off, a Triple A franchise has to open up....meaning a major league team decides to cut their farm team or the farm team folds.

Secondly, there is a very compelling argument that some players at the Double A level are in fact better than the Triple A level.

That said, it would be nice to play against teams from cities like Portland, Indianapolis, Charlotte, etc. versus many of the Southern League cities

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I kind of agree and disagree with both you and tufsu1. 

IMO, it's not necessarily better players, but 'hungrier' players.  Most of the guys in AA haven't made it to the show yet (Bull Durham's terms, not mine), so they truly are busting ass to get the call up.  While the AAA is like a holding pen for younger talent and a place to get back in the swing of things when coming off of injury, out of a slump or after an extended absence. 

[coredumped]

Q&A with the media /press event:

http://youtu.be/wMVmRtAUHOE

[Tacachale]

The main reason I've always hoped we go AAA is this:

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_att&lid=112
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_att&lid=117

Attendance averages in AAA baseball are much higher than AA. There's a reason the teams are mainly in cities like Indianapolis, Sacramento and Charlotte instead of Jackson, Tennessee and Pensacola. They're a more expensive prospect and the MLB affiliates put more money into them.

You can make the case that the quality of play in AA is at or better than AAA at this point. But the fact is organized BB regards AAA as higher profile, and it comes through in the affiliate $$ and attendance. The baseball is good at either level, and I'd rather have the chance to get more people enjoying our high-quality stadium in downtown Jax than the prospect of seeing some young guys about to jump ship for MLB teams I don't care about.

That isn't to say the Suns couldn't draw just as well as nearly any AAA out there. They absolutely could. But it would take more substantial marketing than the Suns have typically done under the Bragans.

[coredumped]

The problem going to AAA is (at least I've heard) they have to charge more for tickets, and as a result it could potentially hurt attendance. The new owner said he's going to keep the games affordable (and thirsty Thurs will remain ).

[Tacachale]

^They don't have to charge more for tickets. Prices for the AAA Charlotte Knights are almost exactly the same as Suns tickets. They may even be cheaper.

[Coolyfett]

http://www.ohio.com/sports/rubberducks/rubberducks-owner-ken-babby-buys-double-a-jacksonville-suns-for-reported-20-million-1.573087

I just saw this in the JBJ. Dude is young. I hope he sells his other team and focuses on Jacksonville FULLTIME. I guess this is a positive move depending on who you ask.

[fsquid]

The games just seem better.  I remember the switch from the Memphis Chicks (AA) to the Memphis Redbirds (AAA).  Plus it was fun seeing Fernando Vina and Albert Puljois on the same team.