Ep. 36 | The Startup Story of the Richmond Flying Mummies with GM Trevor Amerson on The Hub with Michael Allen

A baseball team doesn't magically appear when the first pitch is thrown. It gets built through long days, unexpected challenges, and a lot of trust earned one handshake at a time.

On Episode 36 of The Hub with Michael Allen, we sit down with Trevor Amerson, General Manager of the Richmond Flying Mummies, to discuss what it really takes to launch a Northwoods League summer collegiate baseball franchise in Richmond, Indiana.

Trevor shares the realities most fans never see, including host families, player housing, transportation logistics, hotels, sponsorships, staffing, and stadium improvements. He explains why his role is only "five percent baseball" and how the organization is focused on building something much bigger than a team by creating a lasting experience for communities across Wayne County.

We also discuss the Flying Mummies brand, the story behind the name, the merchandise fans are buying, theme nights, community engagement, and the ownership group helping bring summer baseball back to Richmond. Plus, Trevor shares some behind-the-scenes stories from year one, including the unique Napoleon Dynamite connection that has become part of the franchise's story.

Hosted by Michael Allen and proudly sponsored by Manpower Eastern Indiana, The Hub highlights the people, businesses, and organizations strengthening companies and communities across eastern Indiana.

If you enjoy conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, sports management, community development, and local success stories, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend.

Learn more about the Richmond Flying Mummies and purchase tickets:
https://northwoodsleague.com/richmond-flying-mummies/

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https://mpeasternindiana.com

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Transcript

Welcome To The Hub Podcast

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Behind every growing business is a team of great people. This is the Hub Podcast sponsored by Manpower Eastern Indiana. I'm your host, Michael Allen. Each episode we connect with the people helping build stronger companies and communities across eastern Indiana. Welcome back to the hub. My name is Michael Allen, your host, and uh today we are with Trevor Amerson, the general manager of the Richmond Flying Mummies. Welcome, Trevor. Happy to be here. Uh so uh you moved to Richmond recently from Wisconsin, and you'd spent uh four seasons with the uh Green Bay Rockers. Yep. Is that correct? Yep. It's and it's part of the Northwoods League that so we're playing against these guys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And uh your former team. And uh so you've been tasked with uh launching the the mummies, yep, our first our inaugural season. So

Trevor’s Path From Wisconsin To Richmond

SPEAKER_00 1:01

I guess be kind of before we uh go into that, why don't you just tell us just a little bit about yourself? You know, uh the process and coming here.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Um Yeah, yeah. I mean, um I yeah, we I got done with my season in Green Bay um in in early August. We were fortunate enough to to win the Northwoods League Championship last year um in Green Bay and and pretty much took that next week to to pack and get my life together and and then uh middle August moved down here to Richmond um with with myself and my now fiance. Um thank you, thank you. Um I feel like I had to mention that or else she'd get mad. Oh yeah. Give some props. Um but yeah, no, it's been awesome so far. So I guess I'd have been here since August. Um we named named the team name in in October, October 7th. Um, and then this entire offseason has just been getting ready for for opening day and and this uh new inaugural season that we got going on right now.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

So where are you from originally?

SPEAKER_01 1:58

I I'm right from the Green Bay area. Um called uh Kacona, Kakona, Wisconsin, about 16,000 people, about 30 minutes south of Green Bay, so Wisconsin guy through and through.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

So when you uh um went to work for the Rockers, yeah, that was that your first kind of uh sports-related job. I mean, was that yeah what what kind of led you to take on that job or get that job? And how did that get started?

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Yeah, I I actually started as an intern there um in in 2022. So um that was actually my my last kind of you know senior year, summer after senior year internship um that I that I went to and and my mom just wanted me to come back home um because I went to school um in in Minnesota at the University of Minnesota State Um and then came back home and started out as a ticket sales intern um and and kind of worked there that summer, fell in love with it, and they offered me a job um to be a uh I think the first position was a ticket sales coordinator um for the Rockers and and then just kind of worked my way up from there and and then um found out about this opportunity in in February um of last year and went through the whole interview process and and now we're here starting up a team.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

So uh when you were at uh Minnesota State, right? Um what was your what were you studying and did you think it was gonna lead you to this type of uh career path, at least this early in your career so far?

SPEAKER_01 3:28

Yeah. Um, so I went and studied um major in sport management. Okay. Um so I always kind of knew that I wanted to be involved with something in sports. Um I just didn't really know what that was. Um so the summer before I actually took a took an internship and and at the local YMCA there and started up a sports summer camp um there and kind of ran ran that that summer and found out that I really didn't want to work in youth sports. Um, you know, high energy kids for eight hours a day just wasn't my thing. Um, you know, but that kind of led me along the path of, okay, you know, maybe we can get into something, you know, closer towards. And maybe my thoughts at that time were like, hey, let's get my foot in here um and go work for, you know, some kind of, you know, professional, semi-professional, whatever it may be, um, sports team. And and then kind of fell in love with the you know, small community aspect of the Northwoods League and of Green Bay. You know, they have probably about 1,600 people a game there that they were averaging. And, you know, the the ticket holders that I saw every day that I got to talk to at every game, um, you know, the different group uh corporate outings that I was able to pull and create relationships with that came back year after year after year with me. Um, you know, kind of fell in love with the you know relationships and and small town feel of that.

SPEAKER_00 4:47

Did you um did you play any uh sports in uh growing up? Uh yeah, I mean high school level or anything.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

Yeah, as a I mean as a kid I pretty much played everything under the sun. Um, you know, I feel like everybody has those like youth soccer days. Um but but yeah, I I in high school I was a uh volleyball and tennis player actually. All right. Um played and and I played um you know baseball up until my freshman year of high school. Um, you know, I played basketball, played football, um, and then volleyball and tennis is what just what I stuck with throughout high school. So I I pretty much played them all, and there isn't really a sport that I haven't grown up, you know, liking to some aspect.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

I remember uh when my boys were younger, I uh they did t-ball and then it was player, uh I mean, then it was coach pitch, yeah. And then the kids started pitching, and then it goes up another level where they're pitching, and and then at least for me, not a great student of baseball, just kind of a parent trying to volunteer. Yeah, it started to get kind of too intense for me. And I would see that kids that's when I started to see them start to drop out, yeah, when it got into like that I don't know, they probably call it different in other communities, but it was like he went from coach pitch to like minor and then like major, and then they call it different things. But yeah, at that level, it was starting to get the the uh competition was more intense and the coaching was more intense.

SPEAKER_01 6:14

Oh uh it just I wasn't it wasn't my lane that use sports and all the travel teams and all that kind of stuff is is crazy nowadays. Um, you know, I'd you know I I loved growing up and being able to play multiple sports, and I think you're starting to see more of that. But you know, there's a time there where it's like stick to your one sport and be the best you can at it.

SPEAKER_00 6:34

The travel teams weren't quite a thing yet. Yeah. When I was, you know, coaching. I guess now I'm thinking it was over 20 years ago. Okay, it seems like just yesterday. I remember hauling all the stuff to the games and everything. It was a lot of fun. But and that's a um that's the great thing about baseball is kind of the sense of community that's associated with, I think a little bit more than some of the other sports.

SPEAKER_01 7:02

I don't know. Yeah, how do you present that? Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, any it baseball games across the country, you know, it's you know, it's it's a great thing to do in the summer, you know, whatever you're doing, um, you know, whether it's a a t-ball game, you know, you get the family out, you know, sit down in the sunshine and and just get to relax and forget about whatever else is going on in life and you know, maybe enjoy a beverage or two and just kind of sit back and and you know, listen to the sound of a bat.

SPEAKER_00 7:31

So

Why Start A Franchise From Scratch

SPEAKER_00 7:32

you're up in the Green Bay area, yep. Right, and so that's a little bit different uh than Richmond area. Yeah. And uh so the Richmond opportunity came along. I mean, so what made you I mean you just you said you just guys had just won? Yep, right? Yeah. Northwoods league championship. Yeah. And so what was the draw coming here, leaving a kind of a bigger market area to it, more of a smaller town with a team that I mean there has been bait, there's a history of baseball here in Richmond. I think it goes back to as early as 1918.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:11

And uh so there's definitely some history here. Um, I think we have a tremendous stadium here in the community. So what were some of the things that attracted you to taking this job?

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Yeah, a hundred percent. Um, so I mean, you know, first off, just when it got proposed to me that, you know, one, um obviously being in the Northwoods League for a little bit, you know, kind of understanding what it's all about um and all that kind of stuff, what it what it brings to a community, um, you know, being able to just like the thought of being able to bring something like the Northwoods League, Northwoods League baseball to a new community, one that previously had baseball. Um, but you know, to to start a franchise from scratch isn't something you get to do every day.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

Um, you know, and and obviously, you know, my family and and my fiance's family, everybody is is over there in Wisconsin, you know, so it wasn't the easiest decision in the world. Um, but you know, I being from Green Bay area, Kakon is a town of 16,000 people. You know, you kind of got the small town feel, the and then, you know, to Green Bay, you kind of get the bigger town feel. I mean, it's it's Green Bay, Wisconsin, so it's not the craziest, biggest city um in the world, but um, you know, also having experience with kind of the the small town feel, um, you know, being able to kind of and you know, just all the relationships I created in that kind of, you know, 1,600 people a game, um, you know, kind of the the smaller community aspect is something that I was like, hey, if we can kind of create a similar thing in Richmond, um, you know, and be able to do it how we kind of want to do it, I uh it'd be something that'd be really special. Um so it was just kind of the, you know, you know, once in a lifetime opportunity to kind of take that jump, um, you know, and come down here and and hopefully, you know, we can see the flying mummies, you know, five, ten, twenty years from now, um, you know, still kicking and you know, bringing in a bunch of people for, you know, fireworks and you know, whatever it may be. Um, but you know, that still, you know, bringing guys up to the big leagues, you know, families are still being being able to come to games on a on a given night. Um, you know, being able to say that, you know, we kind of started it um and and brought this kind of fun thing to Richmond um is something that, you know, all kind of got me really excited for for the for the summer.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Well, I guess from a professional standpoint too, um, you know, you doing what you were, I'm I'm making some assumptions at the Rockers, but you know, the startup and all all the things that you're doing, you know, is challenging you personally, professionally, I think, in a different way than your other job did.

The Real Job Behind Baseball

SPEAKER_00 10:54

100%.

SPEAKER_01 10:55

You know, I I had an idea of what, you know, was was needed. Um, and and I don't even think I I got to five percent of of what needed to be done, you know, in order to start up um, you know, this this franchise with all of the different aspects, you know, that go into the host families, sponsorships, players, travel, hotels, busing, um, you know, all of the different things that go into, you know, essentially running um a small business. Um, you know, but you know, you know, baseball's five percent of of what I do. You know, obviously love to see the wins on the field and get a lot of joy out of that. Um, but you know, there's so many other things um that needed to happen in order to, you know, get things going. Um, you know, and I think we still, you know, the the process of starting up opening day, all of the the fires that we had to put out from there and trying to fine-tune those things, you know, is still a process that, you know, we'll be ongoing throughout this year, and hopefully we can fine-tune those things for next year too.

unknown 11:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Well, it speaks well of you, uh, Trevor. I mean, as far as you know, being ambitious and wanting to challenge yourself. I mean, it maybe could have been easy just to stay where you were and everything was set up and running well. You guys had a winning team, and so but coming here definitely presents a lot of different growing opportunities for you professionally. So I think that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

100%. Lots of ups and downs, but definitely way more ups.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

So you you kind of touched just a second ago about some of the the duties of the general. You said five percent baseball. There's a lot, you know. I mean you mentioned some of it, but is any more? Can you elaborate on, you know, what it is that you actually do day in, day out? I mean, it sounds like it's a pretty long list of stuff.

SPEAKER_01 12:39

Yeah, yeah. I mean, it kind of it kind of varies on on day to day. Um, you know, like yesterday, um, we just we just got a bunch of cushion seats with backs that we threw um on the bleachers. Yeah, I saw that. Yeah, so so we just got those up to the stadium that'll that'll be here um for our next home game on Thursday. And, you know, that was you know, helping out interns. Um, you know, we have interns that come in, so so managing our interns, managing our part-time staff, you know, getting them, you know, schedules and making sure they get paid on time, um, you know, and and all of the different, you know, we have uh corporate group outings that come out on given nights, um, you know, making sure our sponsors are taken care of and you know, the vouchers that we, you know, are giving them are able to be redeemed and you know they're they're having a good time at the stadium, um, you know, trying to make sure that, you know, all of the pre-game entertainment, in-game entertainment is going well. The um we broadcast all of our games on full sports. Um, so we have a four HD camera broadcast setup. So um, you know, trying to make sure we had to get the ballpark wired um, you know, for that kind of stuff. And and then all of the little video production, you know, I'm I'm not very experienced in that kind of stuff. So learning all of those kind of things and you know, trying to troubleshoot when we have problems going on, um, because the the Northfields league is a really high standard for for what we put out on on that kind of stuff. So there's, you know, yeah, there's a lot of things, but it just kind of depends on the day.

SPEAKER_00 14:12

I saw the seats on social media look really good. Thank you. And I think they just kind of attached onto the bench seat seating. And uh how many, how many did you guys? It seemed like you got a bunch. Yeah, a lot. At least the picture looked like a lot.

SPEAKER_01 14:26

I was gonna say the um, I think it was it was upwards over, I think it was like 800, 900 seats that we had um put in. And um, because the the school district kind of helped us out with some of that. So we also got uh seats for the softball field for their bleachers as well. Um so we'll be putting putting those on on their bleachers, you know, next year once they obviously they came in a little bit later, um, obviously already being six games into the season. Um, but yeah, they just they just attach right to the to the seats, got them all measured up, and you just zip tie them right to to those wood bleachers. So um I like to say now that we have the comfiest grandstand in the Northwoods League that's gonna be a good thing.

SPEAKER_00 15:08

Well, yeah, I think I think that looked really good.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

It was a really kind of a creative way to upgrade that seating without having to tear stuff out and yeah, no, that was um that was actually one of our one of our owners' ideas um was to kind of bring that in and you know you kind of see that you can rent them um at like different professional sporting events, you know, for bleachers, um, and and you actually reach out to one of the companies that produce them and was like, hey, would we be able to make this happen? And and now we got them here. Yeah, that's really cool.

SPEAKER_00 15:39

I like that. So

Weird Problems And League Growth

SPEAKER_00 15:41

what's kind of surprised you the most so far since taking over? What was like, oh man, I went and didn't see this coming.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Yeah, I mean, you know, um there are plenty of things that that surprise me. I mean, um, you know, we we there's plenty of things, just I I think just the sheer amount of stuff, um, you know, and and things that, you know, even myself wouldn't think about getting done on a day-to-day. Um, you know, and just the crazy stories of, you know, we actually brought in um obviously with some of our owners being um on the Napoleon Dynamite cast, um, for those of seen the movie, um, there's a van that Uncle Rico has um in the movie that he kind of lives out of. So we we got the same make and model of the van um from from the movie. We're gonna have Wetzel Auto paint it um and we're going to put it on the grandstand for Napoleon Dynamite Night. So we get this, we found it on Facebook Marketplace, got this thing down here. On the way in transit to Wetzel, the roof of the van fell off. It it just fell off in transit. They didn't know what happened to it, so I don't know if it's just sitting on the side of a highway still somewhere or what went on. Um, so basically, this this van roof fell off. Um, and then it just poured rain the next night. So we just like couldn't use it. Um, so then we found a very similar van and brought that van down here and now have it at the stadium and the art museum's actually currently putting um uh vinyl on it from drawings from kids in the community, um, and and kind of doing some fun stuff there, but like just the weird stuff and and the fires and you know stuff that you know you would think would be really easy and go right that don't, and you know when it when you uh when you don't need it to be a battle, it always is.

SPEAKER_00 17:38

Yeah, no good deed goes unpunished. Yeah, yeah. Uh so the North Richmond's a new team in the league this year. Yep. Were there was there a team that was coming off or was Northwoods expanding? What kind of created the opportunity for a franchise to be in Richmond?

SPEAKER_01 18:05

Yeah, um and uh the the so the league is always looking to expand. Um the Northwoods League has we are the 26th team. Okay. Um we actually have two more teams coming in the league next year. Um uh Dune Coast, uh, which is in New Buffalo, Michigan, um, which is just kind of on the southwest side of Richmond, kind of right on on the coast of Lake Michigan. Um, and then also a team that's actually be playing at the new Field of Dreams um site in in Dyersville, Iowa. Um so they're gonna be uh kind of expanding there. So it'll be 28 next year. Um we did have a team in Indiana in Kokomo um that um kind of they they switched leagues, um, but we've had multiple teams like My Not North Dakota, um Royal Oak, Michigan, um that that came in recently. Um those were a little bit different. We we were the first expansion team, um, like brand new expansion team in a couple of years. Um, but a lot of teams, you know, that you know, are doing really well in maybe a smaller summer collegiate league that they can bring up to a Northwoods League product um and kind of make it, you know, bigger and better and that kind of stuff. So yeah, the Northwoods League is always looking uh to expand and now 28 teams is the largest in the country.

SPEAKER_00 19:21

Yeah, I mean that seems like a lot.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:24

Yeah. I mean, I I without looking it up, I was thinking probably 16 teams or something. Yeah, so that's I think that's and I have a copy of your schedule, but I didn't do the counting. So how many games are being played this summer?

SPEAKER_01 19:40

We have 36.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

36.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

Yeah, so it's split up into two conferences. Um so like we're not going up to play my not North Dakota, um, you know, or we're not going to play Thunder Bay Canada. Um, you know, we we pretty much play predominantly um well, we do play Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan teams. Um so that makes travel a little bit easier on us to where um you know we don't have to go all the way to Minnesota or you know, hopefully, um, you know, kind of how it works is the two conferences obviously meet for the championship. So hopefully we have to do some traveling to North Dakota, South Dakota, something like that for the championship, but not quite yet.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

Um I think it's somewhere here in my notes, but I'll just ask it now. So

Travel Host Families And Player Housing

SPEAKER_00 20:27

you talked about, you know, you travel. So when you I guess everybody loads up on a bus. Is that kind of what it is? Yeah. Or people, some some players sometimes get their other mains, or is every is it kind of like everybody gets on everybody travels together, and is that the way that works?

SPEAKER_01 20:42

Yeah, we um so we actually have uh like a transportation partner um that provides uh our busing throughout the entire season. Okay. Um it's uh free enterprise, and they actually uh do they have a student transit program where they actually do all the busing for RCS as well, Richmond Community Schools. Um so we were able to connect with them like kind of right away when we announced the team um and kind of build that relationship and and they've been great. And um, we have bus driver Randy that's in the guys where they need to be and huge part of the team because yeah, I mean when they're on the road, obviously they're uh spending a lot of hours together. Um and I think the the shortest travel we have is three and a half to Battle Creek, Michigan. Um so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:28

So when um when when there's home games and when you're in town, the players are staying at host homes. Yeah some of them, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:41

Yeah, and and we're still looking for for host families too to kind of fill it out. Um, because we uh we have host families, um, they're very gracious and and I think it's going great so far. We have a great group of guys this year. Um, and then we also have um because we weren't able to fill all of our host families, um we have some guys staying at Earlem. College, um, which is obviously you know a two-minute drive to to McBride's day. They're staying in the dormitories there. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

Okay. Yep. And then when you travel, everybody just guys are booking hotels and staying there. Is that the way that typically works or other arrangements other than that?

SPEAKER_01 22:17

Yeah, yeah. All of the uh all of the home teams are are responsible for booking hotel rooms for the away team coming in. Um so like all of our away teams stay at comfort suites um across town town for us, and and they've been great, haven't had any issues so far. Um, but yeah, so whenever it that's kind of how it works is we get them a rooming list. Um, you know, the hotels, each team uh reserve 16 hotel rooms, and the players are staying there for the nights that they're so what's the size of the whole entourage when you take off?

SPEAKER_00 22:50

How many is that?

SPEAKER_01 22:51

Yeah, I mean it kind of depends on coaches, yeah, who's on the roster at that point and who's traveling and you know, injuries and stuff play a factor. Um normally it's around 30 guys um that are gonna be traveling and active. Um, with we have four coaches, um, so including our field manager. So it's around you know, 30 to 35 guys that are that are traveling on a bus.

SPEAKER_00 23:12

That's a lot to coordinate.

SPEAKER_01 23:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:14

Yeah, we've got meals and everything else. Yeah.

McBride Stadium History And Upgrades

SPEAKER_00 23:17

I want to circle back, uh ask you a little bit about uh McBride Stadium. I mean, you were in the other you were you've been in the league, you've been to other venues. Uh did was the stadium any uh a drawing point? Uh was it a draw to come here as well as you know, just the the history of Richmond having some success, like with the Roosters. And yeah, I mean I guess I just interested in about McBride Stadium and the thoughts of of that stadium and how it compares to other stadiums as far as size and the quality of it.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

Yeah, I mean, um, yeah, it's it's it's an awesome stadium. Um, you know, I'd once I got down here, um, you know, that it's not always, you know, as far as the Northwoods League goes, um, you know, I I would probably put it somewhere, you know, in the in the middle in terms of like size um and stuff like that. Um, you know, and we're we're looking to kind of expand and and get more things, um, get more seating and and all of that kind of stuff, um, you know, after we get through this first year here. Um, but yeah, I mean, I I would kind of, you know, and it's it's a very unique stadium. Um, you know, I I kind of wish the the press box was still on the roof. Um because that was that was pretty cool when you know I saw the pictures of that kind of stuff. Obviously, um I'm not sure in the the condition it was when uh when it got moved down. Um, but yeah, I mean, you know, it's you know, the it's got the bowl that that goes down below. And you know, obviously everybody talks about that that big green fence that has been there um, you know, for for forever. And and I've heard, you know, being here as long as I have the the amount of stories of you know the Negro League seams that came through here and and all the different kind of events and stuff that have have taken place here is was really cool to learn about.

SPEAKER_00 25:06

Yeah, I mean it it does kind of have a a throwback feel about that stadium does because yeah, especially when it was built. I can't I had it in my nose. I I could ra raffle through these by the believe it was 1938. Yeah, it was sort of a uh a work. I mean, the original one that was there burnt down. Oh okay. Uh it's my understanding and and then uh there was a a project that that they uh I think federal or state project was monies were used to uh build the one that is there now. So it it I I think it's has a lot of charm and character, and yeah, looks like you know the stuff that that uh the mummies are doing with it is just gonna add to it.

SPEAKER_01 25:46

Yeah, yeah, a hundred percent. Um, you know, and that was kind of the thing is that you know, the amount of space um, you know, and and the concession sand, the offices being right there, the locker rooms, you know, not not every team has um of visitors and home locker room that they're able to actually physically go in, um, that we can serve food in there to the guys, um, you know, that we can we can do so much stuff with. Um, you know, for from a starting point to uh standpoint, you know, I think you know, there's so much room that we can kind of you know grow and you know, obviously keep that same, you know, historical vibe to it, um, but just kind of improve upon.

SPEAKER_00 26:25

Community

Winning Community Support First

SPEAKER_00 26:26

support is gonna be so important to the team. Yeah. And um I mean how how are we so far engaging with the community to try to bring them on board and support the the flying mummies and what are um what are some things that maybe you have planned uh to bring people in?

SPEAKER_01 26:48

Yeah. Um I I think that's kind of uh one of the the biggest things is that I've been trying to do um with also having you know some community engagement roles in Green Bay as well. Um is just just getting out as much as possible. Um, you know, we we have you know a nonprofit of the night program at our stadium um where we basically give nonprofits the ability to um kind of table promote their stuff, um, also participate in ticket fundraiser and hopefully raise some money for them. Um, so you know, we have the ability to do that, but then also um, you know, getting like silly stuff like our mascot out into the community. Um, you know, my my entire late March, April was just going around to different little league opening days. Um, you know, um, and me and and my staff, you know, hopping in Wilbur, um, our mascot, taking them around, and you know, just just showing everybody that, you know, we're here. Um, we want to support everybody else. And, you know, I can't expect the community support unless we support them first. Um, you know, and and you know, trying to make it make it known that one, we're here, people know about us, um, but you know, donating tickets when when people, you know, have different um, you know, silent auctions and raffles that they're doing. Um, you know, just trying to to help people where we can um and use our kind of platform to, you know, one, hopefully raise money for people, um, but you know, or if it's just getting people out to the ballpark and having a fun night, um, you know, and then getting out into the community. And, you know, we were at uh we were at, I think it was a kids farmers market this past weekend. Okay. Um, you know, and we were out with Wilbur doing that kind of stuff. Um, one of our partners, Coons Home Center across across uh town, they they had their 60th anniversary party um that they that we went to and that was on Friday um with Wilbur and everybody. So trying trying to, you know, just get around um and and trying to you know make sure that we're doing our part to support people um before that we can expect them to come support us as well.

SPEAKER_00 28:54

Yeah, no, that's awesome. Uh were you involved in in the naming of the team? Were you part of that process, or was that already kind of happening when you came on board as general manager?

SPEAKER_01 29:07

It yeah, it was it was already happening. Um, so I think because I so obviously I was still kind of doing my job in Green Bay. Um, I think the team got announced to the public maybe in I think it was like February, March-ish, somewhere around there. Um, and they kind of immediately started like a name the team contest um where people started submitting names and stuff like that. Um so I was just kind of sitting back and and watching the names, you know, come in. And then um, you know, later in the summers when they did kind of the vote and all of that kind of stuff. So, you know, by the time, you know, I got into into town, you know, we were we were already kind of kind of passed away and and I was doing my best with the name submissions that we got um to kind of learn about you know the the history of Richmond. And you know, when I visited here in March, um we say at the best western and you know they have the the like kind of murals of all the different Richmond stuff and you know got to see all the different, you know, obviously the jazz history and the mummies and all that kind of fun stuff.

SPEAKER_00 30:10

When I first heard the name, it I it's uh I kind of was like scratching my head, you know, a little bit. And then I I felt kind of dense when I was talking to a friend of mine, he was exp explaining to me, and I thought, wow, that makes a lot of sense. And then when I started seeing the logo and I mean the you know, everything I I I really like it a lot as the public taken to it and make you think that yeah, no, um, it's it's been awesome, actually.

SPEAKER_01 30:36

Um, you know, and you know that your reaction isn't uncommon at all um for people to just I there's a lot of people that just weren't aware that there were two mummies in Richmond. Um, you know, and obviously with um Wilbur Wright going to high school in Richmond um for a bit, that's kind of where the name came from. But you know, normally when you have a a name the team contest or some kind of, especially in the Northwoods League, um, the Green Bay Rockers used to be called the Green Bay Booya, um, which is actually like a chicken-based soup. Um when they changed the rockers, it was half and half. People thought the rockers were the stupidest thing ever. And and, you know, just from Facebook and socials alone, you know, you'd have those people that were like, oh, well, this is dumb. Um, you know, but 90% of it was positive, um, which was which was great to see. You know, it was it was positive from the jump, um, which you don't which you don't see often. Um, with you know, people people have opinions about all different kinds of stuff. So, you know, but I mean it it worked out well. And I think the the logo and the branding um turned out really well and and people really like it. How's the merchandising going so far? Going really well. Um, you know, whenever I was in Green Bay, I don't think I ever saw a piece of of Rocker's merch out in the wild, maybe once or twice. Um, and I make sure to do my best when I see anybody with any but any flying mummies stuff, because you know, seeing um um people at the farmers market or people just around town and stuff like that, I'll see flying mummies hats and flying mummies jerseys and stuff like that. Um, you know, I'm I'm very grateful for anybody who chooses to support us. So make sure to give at least everybody a compliment when I see them in something.

SPEAKER_00 32:14

So the uh the look and and the quality of the depiction, all that is so important though, when you know having something that's that people want to wear. Yeah, you know, so and it and I think we've you've all done a great job of putting that together. And but you know, like the shirt that you have on the day is really cool looking, and I'm sure people people like that. I mean, yeah, it's it's important. Yeah, just little details are important.

SPEAKER_01 32:44

Yeah, you never know. Um, you know, especially with merchandise, you never know what people like, what people want to wear, especially when you start a new team. Um, but to see people enjoy our stuff and you know, really, you know, resonate with it is has been really awesome. And and I'm grateful for it.

SPEAKER_00 32:59

So what's kind of the hot item?

SPEAKER_01 33:02

It's it's probably just been the jerseys. Um you know, I think we we got kind of a a very unique design with the kind of mummy wrap on it, and and our our our players also they were like, I was a little bit worried that they kind of see it and be like, what the heck are we wearing? Uh, but but they you know, unless they're lying to me, they all thought it was pretty cool. Um, so you know, the the jerseys are are very unique and and people have really been eating those up. So that's awesome.

Revenue Sponsors And Offseason Events

SPEAKER_00 33:30

Uh you know, people think baseball, you know, the teams like this make their money just from their ticket sales, but that's I don't think that's true. So no. Maybe to explain just a little bit about the b because I mean this the team has to be for it to be able to be here for you talked about five, ten, twenty years from now, there it has to be financially solvent. I mean, it has to you it has to be able to to make some money for it to be continue to go on. So tell us a little bit how that works and uh you know how the team comes about, you know, getting uh the financial capital to keep going and sustaining itself.

SPEAKER_01 34:11

Yeah, 100%. Um, you know, and and it's kind of unique in the Northwoods League, because obviously it's a little bit different than you know, a minor league team, major league team, um, where you know, we're you know, ticket sales is obviously a big part of it. Um, but you know, people getting concession sand food, uh, merchandise, um, you know, obviously sponsors are a big part of that. Um uh local companies coming in and you know, um being willing to, you know, support us from the jump is is huge and and really important. Um, you know, from all of the first year expenses to the kitchen equipment and you know, the merchandise, the the bill for the busing and the hotels and you know, all that kind of stuff with people willing to work with us and you know, maybe trade out some things um, you know, in terms of tickets and and advertising and stuff like that, um, all kind of go into making it successful. Um, you know, even looking at obviously we have kind of a unique opportunity with um the Tapoyan Dynamite guys being a part of our ownership group. Um, but you know, having them come in and doing a live show for us, um, you know, we're we're also able to support um, you know, the art museum. Um, but you know, looking to do also events outside of just the 36 baseball games, um, you know, I think we're kind of getting to a point where, you know, we we kind of have to do um stuff, you know, outside of the season where we can't just rely on 36 games um, you know, to be financially viable. Um, you know, so we're currently looking into doing multiple um off-season events, um, you know, not only with the chamber, but you know, maybe, you know, some kind of Halloween event, obviously with the mummies, um, you know, looking to maybe do some kind of wrestling event. Um, you know, hopefully we can get to a point where maybe, you know, we get some use sports in our stadium that we can use um, you know, after the season or before the season. Um, you know, all of that, all of those different kind of things um, you know, that we can kind of use to, you know, stay afloat. Um, but also, you know, then we can also um, you know, provide those kind of more upgrades, um, you know, with the seats. Um, you know, we're we're still looking at, you know, building a deck down the left field line, um, you know, trying to boost up McBride, um, you know, all of those kind of avenues going into, you know, trying to put that right back into McBride and and Richmond.

SPEAKER_00 36:38

So the um you mentioned the uh Napoleon dynamite uh guys. So is there what's the story behind them getting involved?

SPEAKER_01 36:51

I mean Yeah, so um last year it actually originally started out with John Grice, um, who's Uncle Rico. Um and and he he had uh yeah, he had uh went over and uh threw a first pitch at a Madison Mallards game, um which which we'll actually be playing here this uh next weekend um in Madison. And my owner, um one of our owners had met him at the game um and had told him about the whole team coming on and and John kind of fell in love with the Northwoods League at that Madison game and was like, yes, this would be a very cool thing to be a part of when they're putting the team together. Um so then that's kind of how they got connected. He kind of became first part of the ownership group. Um, and then they they tour and they do a live show where they show the the movie and they do kind of like a Q ⁇ A interactive thing. Um, and so John Grice was talking about it with John Heater and Ethan Ramirez, um, who also tour with them and they're like, uh, how do I how do I get it get to be a part of this? Um so then, you know, we kind of um brought them onto the ownership group as well. Um, and then, you know, now they're gonna be coming to Richmond um actually tomorrow, Wednesday, uh, June 10th tomorrow. Yeah, Wednesday, June 10th, uh, to do that kind of live show. Um, and then they're coming out to the game the next day on the 11th to um, you know, where they're gonna be signing autographs. And um, you know, we're probably gonna have Uncle Rico throwing out a stake for the first pitch. And um, you know, we'll probably get them out and coaching first base uh for for an aft inning or two. Um, you know, doing kind of fun stuff with them, you know, and and making them a part of it. Cause yeah, they they've been they've been great so far and have been willing to kind of you know do whatever and come to games.

SPEAKER_00 38:41

So I think that movie just celebrated recently, like its 25th anniversary. Yeah, right. 2006. Yeah, yeah. So um or 20th. Yeah, I think yeah, 20th anniversary. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's it's amazing those guys are I mean that that movie has had that staying power. It's just an interesting story behind the movie in itself, and then that these guys are 20 years later doing shows about the movie. Yeah, it's no, it's it's awesome. And they're they're connected. I mean, you don't normally see, you know, I mean, I think it's probably unique these three guys are still somewhat connected in that way.

SPEAKER_01 39:18

Yeah, yeah. No, it's it's awesome. And uh, because John Grice, um, he's in, you know, uh Fallout and White Lotus, like he's still doing some Hollywood stuff. Um, and and John, John Heater actually, you know, is is kind of out of of Hollywood, but he's he's still um you know doing the live show with them. And I think you know, just their relationship with the three of them is really stuck through all the years. And I think you know, it's just fun for them to get out on the road and and you know, go go spend some time and and get to interact with fans and stuff because yeah, it's it's crazy the the staying power that that the movie has. Um, I I you know I kind of caught it um, you know, obviously being being a younger guy, caught it on the back end of it where some I'm still surprised some of our interns haven't seen the movie um and and making them go and watch it and and you know, where it's still, you know, I went back and re-watched it recently. It's still as funny as it was when I first watched it.

SPEAKER_00 40:16

So yeah, it it's like when you first see that movie, when I remember seeing the first time, it's like, what in the heck did I just see? I mean, it was just so unique into itself. I loved it. I've I know I've seen it a handful of times at least, yeah. So it's one of those movies you can watch more than once and then uh uh see something different. Oh, yeah, every something new and different each time you watch it. Yep. Uh

Family Fun Nights And Defining Success

SPEAKER_00 40:43

you're doing a lot to involve families in the games. And so can you talk a little bit about you know what you're doing to uh involve families, what a family can expect at a game, uh the different uh theme nights that you're having, you know, just let people know, the followers know what they can expect and why they should come out. Yeah. Because you're doing a it's more than just baseball what you're trying to do there during the games.

SPEAKER_01 41:08

Yeah, 100%. Um, you know, I I think that's that's kind of you know what the Northwoods League is all about is you know bringing it, you know, family friendly fun where um you know we have a kid zone um that you know we have a speed pitch at and a playground and a bouncy house that you know the parents can you know send their kids off for maybe maybe 10, 20 minutes and and give them a little breather um while they can relax a little bit. Um, you know, but all of the on-field entertainment that we have, um, you know, the merchandise, the the food, the drinks, um, you know, we have a program where little league teams get to come out on the field beforehand and create a tunnel for the players and stand with them for the national anthem. Um, you know, that that kids kind of get to be on the field and, you know, really get to see the players up front. Um, you know, we we have kids run the bases on Saturday nights. We have, you know, uh kids play catch on the field on Sundays, um, you know, we have fireworks on Fridays, you know, we we have something going on every single day. Um, you know, and that does include the the theme nights, you know, where where people are, you know, we have giveaways um, you know, on Thursday. We have a vote for for Wilbur t-shirt that we're giving away. Um, you know, we have we have a whole bunch of different stuff that we're doing all summer where, you know, just coming to the game and watching baseball is not, I mean, it's certainly what you can do, and and I applaud anybody who's doing that. Um, but you know, being able to enjoy um some family time, have the kids go and play in the kids' zone, um, you know, maybe get some ice cream and you know, maybe, maybe one of our marketing interns pulls them aside and they get to do an onfield promotion, um, you know, and and they get to have fun with that, or maybe sign, have a player sign a ball when they come into the gates. We have um three of our our normally it's pitchers um that stand up at the front gates before each game and with sharpies and just sign autographs for players. Um, you know, so trying to make it as fun and accessible um, you know, for anybody who wants to come in and you don't have to love baseball. Um, just coming in, McBride is a big awning that you can just kind of sit in the shade and and just enjoy a summer day.

SPEAKER_00 43:17

So I mean I I think that's uh great. I so what does success look like? I mean, it's a new business venture. I mean, it's like you're putting a lot into the startup to get this team going. So from your experience uh uh with the Rockers and then coming here uh in your mind what does kind of success look like for one year? What's gonna make you feel good about the year?

SPEAKER_01 43:46

Yeah. I don't and I don't think you can really put like a a number on anything. Um, you know, I think it's more of a uh a qualitative, you know, aspect to it. I think you know, my my biggest thing is um, you know, making sure that every single person in in Wayne County and the surrounding area knows who we are. Um, you know, and and if they if they choose to to come to a game, you know, um that's that's pretty their prerogative. You know, if they're not, you know, they don't want to come to a game, um, that's that's fine with me. But, you know, um gin getting kind of the the community support, which which we're already feeling. Um, you know, people that have came to our games, um, you know, we've we've heard great things, um, you know, and people have had a lot of fun so far. Um, but you know, this is this is the kind of growth year, right? Um, you know, we're obviously putting a lot into the stadium, you know, a lot in so, you know, for me to sit here and say, you know, hey, like successes make a a boatload of money. And that's not how business works, trust me. Correct. Um, you know, so it's it's it's just about you know getting people engaged. And if we can get people that to come to the stadium, have a great time and say, hey, I really want to come back, or, you know, hey, I didn't get the chance to come back, but I really want to come back next year, or you know, um, you know, or even, you know, just like if our we can have an impact on youth sports and kids can come to the stadium and they can s get a signature from a flying mummies fan and they can say, hey, I want to try out for baseball this year. Um, you know, that kind of small stuff in the community is like that's where that's where I get my my joy out of my job, um, is just watching people smile on their faces, um, you know, coming out and having a good time. Um, so that's you know, it's it's that that community support is is what we're looking for.

SPEAKER_00 45:34

I uh I feel like you you're really kind of putting in a lot of hours right now. Yeah. So I mean, I think it's uh it's it's awesome. What what have you liked about um uh Richmond so far? Uh kind of well, your some of your things like, oh, I did I mean, a surprise or thing that you really liked about moving here so far? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:58

Um honestly, like all of the, you know, obviously been doing a lot less stuff since the season got closer and going. Um, but like I think one thing that me and my fiance just did right away was we just looked at Facebook events and just started trying to go to all of the different local stuff that we can. Um I'm a big local food guy. Um, so so love all the the local spots and and and partners in town that we have, um, you know, food-wise, but going all to the different, you know, festivals and and all the different like smaller events and craft stores and you know, all all the all the kind of you know, Richmond stuff um is is been great. And I think there's you know, um, you know, I'm normally trying to go to the farmers market on a Saturday if we don't have a game, um, you know, and and just check out all the fun stuff that we have and trying new things.

SPEAKER_00 46:52

So well we're we're recording this in downtown Richmond, and there is a lot going on down here. Yeah and uh I think probably I just kind of thought of this, but there could be a lot of opportunities once all this housing is down here and people living in this area. You there's probably some opportunities to connect with just the downtown area and get people over to the stadium. Have you thought about that? Or is that crossed your mind?

SPEAKER_01 47:20

The the apartment complex that's going up, watching it every day as I I I drive past and and it looks awesome and coming together and you know all the all the revitalized Richmond stuff that's going on, um, you know, as we kind of get through here and see it kind of be developed more and more um is is has been great um to see. And I think, you know, if you know those people can can come in and and you know see that that we're playing and you know, besides all of the development that's going on, like hey, we have fun stuff to do on a summer night and you know, come over to the ballpark. Um, you know, I think it just is just all positive.

SPEAKER_00 47:58

So with uh the uh McBride being probably only five minutes from the stadium. I think I would think it's probably a five-minute drive from here. It'd be kind of cool uh once we get this populated down here. Uh looking in the future, there could be some type of uh shuttle for home games that people could get on and and go over there and really engage this this part of the because you have so many people living in this area and in close proximity. You could probably make something like that happen. Yeah, 100%. So write that down and give me credit for it. We'll do it. We'll do it. If it doesn't work, I don't know anything about it. Okay. Um just uh I really appreciate you taking the time. Yeah, you know, I appreciate you having to be able to do that. I I mean I think they're fortunate to have you. I can see your enthusiasm and your care for what you're doing. So I think I think that's really um great. A couple

Favorites Legacy Goals And Closing

SPEAKER_00 48:54

of uh just so what's your uh do you have a favorite baseball movie?

SPEAKER_01 49:00

Oh boy. I I I'm a money ball guy. Love Moneyball, it's a great movie. Um it's kind of funny because they don't mention all the like three perennial all-star pitchers that the A's had during those days when they're mentioning all the Moneyball stuff, but that's neither here nor there. But I mean the sandlots always a classic, too, so those are probably the two.

SPEAKER_00 49:23

And not trying to peg you to be a super crazy baseball person, but what I mean, what's kind of the your favorite ballpark you visited? It could be professional or it could be Northwoods or whatever. What's kind of one that sticks out in your mind that you've been to that you like that was unique that you thought was pretty cool?

SPEAKER_01 49:38

Yeah. Um I in the Northwoods League, um, Traver City, Michigan has a beautiful ballpark. Um, love that place. And that's actually um the Richmond Roosters actually moved to Traverse City um and then it changed ownership and became the Pit Spitters. So they're actually kind of uh Richmond Roosters descending a little bit. Um, I mean, the I I can't I can't go anywhere else than uh Miller Park now, now American family field in in Milwaukee. Big brewer fan, so so that's that's always a good time. All the tailgating over there.

SPEAKER_00 50:11

Uh favorite ballpark food.

SPEAKER_01 50:14

I'm a brock guy. Yeah, yeah. Big brock guy, so yeah, always gonna make sure I get a broad when I go.

SPEAKER_00 50:21

So if you can meet any baseball player, past or present, who would that be? You had to pick one guy.

SPEAKER_01 50:28

Oh um again, I'm gonna keep going back to the brewers. Um, Prince Fielder was always a favorite of mine. Um, there was also a scrawny center fielder, uh Niger Morgan, um, when the Brewers first went to the playoffs in like 2011, 12, and 20 years. That um that year I he actually gave me a ball um when I when I was watching BP one day. So he he was always a favorite of mine too.

SPEAKER_00 50:54

So, you know, Kenny, when you look, let's say 10 years from now, you look back and uh what do you hope they'll be saying about this first season? Maybe a tough question. I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 51:06

Yeah, that's that's a that's a great question. Um I you know, if if people people can come here and have fun, um, you know, that's that's the that's the main goal. Um, you know, I'd you know, want to make it as good of an experience as possible for everyone. Um so knowing that there are gonna be fires that are gonna be put out, there's gonna be issues that we need to adjust and um problems that we need to get taken care of. But you know, if if 95% of those problems can stay on the management side and people don't see them, um, you know, that's that's that's the goal. And you know, making sure that we can have, you know, just people coming out and having a good time. Um, you know, I think I think everything will follow after that.

SPEAKER_00 51:48

And yeah, absolutely. No, I think that's a great answer. I mean, you just want the experience to to be a lot of fun, uh, entertaining on multiple levels. Yeah. And uh so I I think that's uh that's a great goal to have. And so I I think it's uh great to have baseball back in Richmond again. I'm glad you're uh leading the charge. And uh so thanks for joining us today and uh best of luck this season and beyond. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks for listening to the Hub Podcast sponsored by Manpower Eastern Indiana. If your business needs great people or you're looking for your next opportunity, contact Manpower Eastern Indiana today.