Alexian Field owners look ahead to sale of Flyers

Schaumburg officials Wednesday recognized only benefits for the Schaumburg Flyers baseball team from the twin possibilities of a new league rival and the fresh insights of new ownership.

As the minor league team approaches the 10th anniversary of its first game at Alexian Field, the village and park district which co-own the stadium reacted with cautious optimism to a possible sale of the team.

Rich Ehrenreich, the Flyers' managing partner, has announced he's working with "Field of Dreams" and "Bull Durham" star Kevin Costner to start a new Northern League team in far north suburban Zion.

But in doing so, he'll likely sell the Flyers to another party.

Schaumburg officials agreed that the potential of another nearby rival could only help the popularity of the Flyers and the entire Northern League.

"It's good to have additional competition in baseball," Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson said. "It'll be good for the Flyers. The Northern League could use some more teams."

While the Flyers do play teams as nearby as Joliet and Gary, the rest of the Northern League is spread across the Midwest and Canada, in Kansas City, Fargo and Winnipeg.

Schaumburg Village Trustee George Dunham said it would be a boon to Flyers fans to have another team close enough to travel to away games.

"I think it could only be positive," he said.

"I think more teams in the Northern League will benefit interest and the fans," Schaumburg Park District Executive Director Jean Schlinkmann agreed.

The village of Schaumburg and Schaumburg Park District agreed in the late '90s to build a baseball stadium near the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway to lease to a minor league franchise.

But now the business relationship they've had with that team, and Ehrenreich, could undergo its first major change.

Nevertheless, the team is only two-thirds of the way through its original 15-year lease. Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz said he has no expectation of seeing the team disappear.

Because of the level of interest expressed over the years, Fritz believes Ehrenreich won't have major difficulty finding a buyer. But part of the lease agreement with Alexian Field gives both the village and park district the right to approve any new owner and lease holder.

But officials see no reason why new ownership would counteract the positive effect of a new team in the league.

"I think new ownership might bring new ideas and new marketing," Dunham said.

"Change can be good," Larson agreed, adding that the economic downturn has made change harder to come by of late.

Schaumburg Park District Commissioner Dave Johnson believes a new owner could bring more aggressive promotion of the Flyers to the area.

"It's a great opportunity because I think they lack promotional possibilities right now," Johnson said.