The New England professional baseball team will play its first season in Frontier League in 2024. (Image courtesy: Frontier League Baseball)
Jason Barnes
Staff Writer
The Frontier League announced today that its Board of Directors has approved and issued membership for a new team to join the league beginning with the upcoming 2024 season.
The new team will be housed in the New England area and play its home games at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass. This will bring the total number of permanent members of Frontier League teams to 16. This continued growth of the Frontier League is especially noteworthy as it creates the league’s first team to play in New England.
The New England club will play in the Eastern Division, replacing temporary team, the Empire State Greys.
The new expansion team will be owned by Brian Kahn, who also holds ownership of the Windy City ThunderBolts within the Frontier League. Windy City hosted the 2023 All- Star Game and was recently recognized as the Frontier League’s Organization of the Year.
Under Mr. Kahn’s leadership, the New England organization will be similarly steadfast in its mission to offer baseball as an affordable and enriching family entertainment experience. This commitment extends to enhancing community engagement, providing exceptional customer service, fostering innovation, investing in the professional growth of its dedicated team, and continuously improving the game-day experience for fans.
“We are excited to be adding a tremendous sports market in Brockton and a great facility in Campanelli Stadium to the Frontier League,” Frontier League deputy commissioner Steve Tahsler said, in a statement released the league. “Windy City is one of our best regarded operations, and we are confident that the management and staff in Brockton will provide an amazing atmosphere and service to the Brockton community.”
Mayor Robert F. Sullivan expressed his enthusiasm for the news, “Brockton is a proud sports city and has a particularly long history in baseball as it is the birthplace of the catcher’s mitt. It is fitting that the next era of professional baseball in New England will call Brockton home. We are so excited for the return of pro ball to the City of Champions and look forward to welcoming fans across New England to Campanelli Stadium.”
“I’d like to express my gratitude to the City of Brockton for their unwavering support and, of course, to the Frontier League for this exciting opportunity to bring high-quality, independent professional baseball to New England,” Kahn said. “Our aim is to create a team that unites the entire region and becomes a pivotal force in the Frontier League, enriching the vibrant sports culture of New England.”
The New England team will announce its name, manager, and coaching staff at a future date.
About the Frontier League
The Frontier League, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball, recently completed its 30th season as the largest and longest running independent league.
A league-record of more than 1.6 million fans saw Frontier League action in 2023. The Frontier League features 16 teams stretching from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Ohio River north to the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada.
Frontier League Baseball media information contributed to this story.