New League, New Chance For Rox?

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—The Rox are not done for the 2012 season, yet.
According to Brockton’s Finance Director John Condon, plans are in the works to continue the Rox at Campanelli Stadium for the 2012 season and beyond.
“I’m pretty confident there will be baseball at Campanelli Stadium next season,” Condon said.
He said discussions are ongoing, but the ball is in the hands of the Brockton 21st Century Corp., a public-private entity that oversees the Rox, Campanelli Stadium and the Shaw’s Center.
Condon said because of a complicated lease arrangement with the Rox, the City of Brockton and Shaw’s Center it is up to the Brockton 21st Century to give the go-ahead to a new league that would play at Campanelli Stadium.
“It’s hanging on a lease agreement,” Condon said. “I’m involved but I don’t have the power to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay,” Condon said.
Maura Russell, with Brockton 21st Century Corp., pointed all questions about the matter to Condon, who would only say discussions are close to completion.
Sources close to the Rox have said plans are in the works for a lease agreement for the Rox to leave the Can-Am League and move to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a move that requires the Brockton 21st Century change its requirement that professional baseball be played at Campanelli Stadium.
The Futures Collegiate League is a one-year-old league that showcases elite college ball players from the New England area, many of whom are expected to make the prestigious Cape Cod League and possibly earn their way into a Major League Baseball team.
Chris Carminucci, general manager for the Rox, said he could not comment about any plans to move the Rox to the Futures league, however, Carminucci is a director of the Futures league, and the Rox logo has already been posted under the Lowell Spinners on the Futures League website.
Another director of the Futures League is Drew Weber, owner operator of the Lowell Spinners, a Red Sox minor league affiliate.
Sources said they hoped an announcement would be made today, however, with the holidays sources said negotiations are still taking place.
The Futures League includes a handful of teams from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Recently a group from Pittsfield and Wachusett announced it would join the Futures league as has another from Old Orchard Beach, Maine.