Contest opens to name Schaumburg ball team
The owners of Schaumburg’s prospective new minor league baseball team launched a contest Tuesday for the public to help name the team.
The contest comes as the investment group fronted by businessman Alan Oremus closes in on a lease agreement with the village of Schaumburg and Schaumburg Park District to begin playing at Alexian Field in May 2012.
Entries in the “Name the Team” contest should be submitted by email to nameschaumburgsteam@gmail.com or mailed to Name the Team, P.O. Box 68694, Schaumburg IL 60168.
All entries must be received by noon on Friday, July 29 when a random drawing for prizes will be held. Prize winners won’t necessarily be those who picked the winning name.
“Everyone has an equal chance to win, even if they don’t submit the winning name,” General Manager John Dittrich said. “We want to control the process of naming the team. We don’t want it to be a process of the public voting.”
The team name will be announced at a party in late August or early September at Alexian Field.
The grand prize winner of the random drawing will be the team’s guest, along with 20 friends, in a luxury suite on opening night, receive a customized team jersey with his or her name, throw out the ceremonial first pitch and get two season tickets for 2012.
Five winners will receive one night of their choice in a luxury suite, including $200 in food and beverage credit.
Ten winners will receive a group outing for up to 25 guests on a night of their choice, including $200 worth of food and beverage credit.
Fifty winners will receive a pair of tickets to the 2012 season opener.
Only one entry per person is allowed, though that entry may include multiple team name suggestions.
All entries should include the entrant’s name, address and email address, or phone number if there isn’t an email address. Every member of a household may enter.
The winners will be contacted by email or phone before the list is posted at AlexianField.com on Aug. 1.
Though the team’s lease agreement isn’t expected to be formally approved until late next month, Dittrich said the organization felt close enough to a deal to start the naming contest.
The Schaumburg Flyers, who played 12 seasons at Alexian Field, were evicted last winter after the village and park district sued for overdue rent and other payments.
Though Flyers ownership hoped to sell the team and absolve their debt after the eviction, but village and park district officials chose instead to pursue a lease with Oremus’ group — calling it a better long-term option.
Oremus also is principal owner of the Joliet Slammers, which began its first season last month. Both of Oremus’ teams succeed others that were severely handicapped by financial issues in their final years.
While no minor league baseball team is calling Alexian Field home this summer, Oremus’ organization is in charge of booking other events there this year — both baseball-related and not.