There has been a change in ownership of the Rochester Honkers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League), as Dan Litzinger and Kim Archer have sold the club to Bases Loaded Entertainment, LLC.
The sale ends a fairly long run in ownership for Litzinger and Archer, who have co-owned the club since 2003. Their sale to Bases Loaded Entertainment ensures that the Honkers are turned over to a group with plenty of experience in the Northwoods League, as the entity is backed by a contingent that includes Dan Kapanke and Chris Goodell, owners and management of the La Crosse Loggers and part of the ownership group behind the Mankato MoonDogs.
Two major steps were completed for the transaction this week. That includes Northwoods League approval of the sale on Monday, followed by the Rochester Park Board’s vote on Tuesday to transfer the Honkers’ Mayo Field lease to the club’s new ownership. More from Post-Bulletin:
“This is where the Northwoods League was born, essentially right here (in Rochester),” Goodell said at Tuesday’s Park Board meeting in Rochester. “We’re just looking for bigger and better things and getting engaged here in the community.”
The Honkers have won a league-high five Northwoods League championships in the 25-year history of the league. The Honkers won titles in 1994, ‘97, ‘99, 2006 and ‘09. They have been out of the postseason playoff mix the last few years.
Regarding the sale of the team at this point, Litzinger said: “It was just time. We thought it was time to pass the torch and let them take it to a new level with some different ideas.”
A member of the Northwoods League since its inaugural 1994 season, the Honkers have played at Mayo Field throughout their history.