25 years and counting: New owner keeps B-Mets in town

Anthony Borrelli , Lynn Worthy | The Press and Sun Bulletin

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Mike Urda announces new B-Mets owner Mike Urda, the previous Binghamton Mets president, announces John Hughes of Evans Street Baseball Inc. finalized ownership of the team Dec. 23 at a press conference Dec. 28.

Binghamton Mets baseball is here to stay in the city.

With 100 days until opening day, the team's new ownership was announced Monday and pledged a resurgence for the Binghamton franchise and a renewed fan experience. In a deal finalized Dec. 23, Evans Street Baseball Inc. headed by new team owner John Hughes, took over the Double-A baseball franchise from the ownership group led by retiring B-Mets President Mike Urda.

Urda and partners Bill and David Maines and George Scherer thanked all who have supported them throughout their 22 years of ownership

"It's been a great run for us," Urda said.

The changing of hands signals the B-Mets will likely continue to play at NYSEG stadium in Binghamton well beyond its upcoming 25-year anniversary, officials announced Monday during a press conference in the B-Mets clubhouse. Hughes, a father of three who works in an international consulting company, has family based in the Buffalo and Westchester County areas.

"I want to be actively engaged in managing this baseball team," Hughes said. "I really want to create a ballpark where families want to go see the show down at the stadium."

Hughes said he intends to live in the Finger Lakes area and frequent Binghamton with his family as a full-time owner who is eager to watch games from the stands with the rest of the fans.

Plans are already in the works for ways to modify the facilities at NYSEG Stadium and help enhance the fan experience, he said, but did not outline any details.

The B-Mets open their silver anniversary season April 7, at 6:35 p.m., at NYSEG Stadium against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

The B-Mets won the Eastern League Championship in 1992, 1994 and 2014. They have qualified for the Eastern League playoffs each of the past three seasons, having completed the winningest three-year stretch in franchise history.

A large share of the New York Mets team that advanced to the World Series this fall, including Lucas Duda, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Jacob deGrom, Michael Conforto and Wilmer Flores, came through Binghamton on their way to the big leagues.

Attendance has continued to be an issue for the franchise. The B-Mets ranked last among Eastern League teams in attendance in 2015, drawing an average of 2,766 per home game. They’ve been at the bottom of the Eastern League each season since 2010.

The new ownership announcement spells out, even in general terms, a future for the Double-A franchise's presence in Binghamton.

In May, a lawsuit between the Binghamton Mets owners and a Florida group trying to buy the Double-A franchise ended with general terms on an agreement, but details were kept kept private until the parties could finalize a contract. The settlement agreement was related to a potential sale of the team for $8.5 million.

The prospective owners wanted to move the team to Wilmington, Delaware, but the former B-Mets ownership said they found another buyer who would retain the franchise in Binghamton.

The original lawsuit against the local owners — following years of denial that the B-Mets were for sale — revealed that the team had been on the block for at least four years.

On Monday, B-Mets officials declined to disclose financial specifics of the deal finalized Dec. 23. "All details are confidential," Hughes said after the press conference.

The B-Mets have been the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets since the franchise's first season in 1992. The most-recently announced player development contract between the New York Mets and the B-Mets runs through the 2020 season. The lease between the team and the City of Binghamton extends through March 31, 2022.

But retaining the team's presence in Broome County garnered high praise from local elected officials.

On Monday, Binghamton Mayor Richard David welcomed Hughes and his family to the community and described this change as the beginning of a bright future for the team.

"It's going to be a great ride and we look forward to building this organization," David said.

Broome County Executive Debbie Preston issued a statement Monday, thanking Hughes for his commitment to B-Mets fans.

"It seems the new owners understand the tradition of baseball in Broome County and this is a great day for baseball fans in our community," she said.

Follow Anthony Borrelli on Twitter @PSBABorrelli