Tom Thanas, the Joliet City Manager overseeing the sale of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), says that the team would not be playing in a new North American League, saying that the city would not allow a move; instead, he and city officials would dictate participation in the competing Frontier League.
Thanas is involved because of back rent owed to the city from the Silver Cross Field lease. JackHammers owner Pete Ferro is negotiating to sell the team to pay off that debt and yesterday brought up the possibility of the team playing in the new circuit. But Thanas rejected that possibility, saying the city wants to see the team in the Frontier League.
He made his comments to local radio station WJOL.
Now, the lack of a Joliet team coming into the North American League doesn’t kill the deal, we hear, but it may lead another team to reevaluate the move and decide to approach the Frontier League.
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