The new team in the independent Northern League has a name.
Grand Slam Sports & Entertainment has officially named its Zion, Ill. Northern League expansion team the Lake County Fielders. The announcement was made at the team’s Name the Team Party at KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort in Gurnee, IL on Wednesday, May 27.
The Lake County Fielders name was chosen at the conclusion of the 6-week Allstate Name the Team Contest, which was held throughout Lake County and Racine and Kenosha, Wis. Thousands of contest ballots were cast at area Allstate agent locations, and five names survived into the finals before Fielders was chosen by the ballclub.
“The Fielders name and design logo really jumped out with Kevin (Costner) and I as the type of nostalgic, Midwestern image that we envisioned for this project,” said Fielders’ President Rich Ehrenreich. “We think fans will love the name and concept.”
The Lake County Fielders will open a retail store and offices at the Gurnee Mills Mall next week on June 1, and will offer official team merchandise and 2010 tickets for sale at that location.
The baseball stadium construction project will be managed and developed by Panattoni Development Company, which has developed over 150 million square feet of commercial real estate projects throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe in the last 22 years. Groundbreaking for the 8,000-capacity ballpark will occur in July 2009, with construction completed in May 2010.
RELATED STORIES: Lake County final team names released; New Northern League franchise puts season tickets on sale; Will Ehrenreich sell the Flyers?; Costner announces plans for Northern League team
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