Chiefs Committing to Cuse'

Photos and Story by Ashley Moore

SYRACUSE, N.Y - "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!" said businessman Patrick Mannion, sitting in his suite that he's owned every Chiefs season since the opening of NBT Bank Stadium in 1997. This in response to a 13-2 vote on Tuesday, keeping the Syracuse Chiefs organization in Central New York.

The Onondaga County Legislature voted to keep the Minor League Baseball club operating in Syracuse for another decade. 

Chiefs Make Drastic Changes

How did the Chiefs get here? Just three years ago it was reported that the organization lost close to $1 million and had fallen behind in paying rent to the county. 

Fans, coaches and players we talked to at the stadium say all the credit goes to Syracuse Chiefs' General Manager, Jason Smorol. 

"Obviously it's great for Syracuse." team manager Billy Gardner, Jr. said. "The fans have been great, the front office, Jason Smorol and his staff does a great job here. I think we have a really good working relationship with the (Parent club Washington) Nationals and hopefully we can keep it going." 

Sister Colette Walter, a retired nun is a Household Coordinator at the Francis House and said she makes sure she goes out to see the Chiefs every year. 

“Smorol has worked so hard to upgrade this stadium and to make it family oriented,” she said.

In 2013, the community owned organization suffered a net loss of almost $94,000. The team's attendance was at its lowest mark since the opening of NBT Bank Stadium in 1997. Due to the low attendance, ticket sales, concessions and advertising revenue took a big hit.

"The board of directors fired everybody, they hired me," Smorol said "We had no staff and six months to go until opening day with a new commitment from the board of directors to do whatever we could do to make sure the Syracuse Chiefs stayed in Syracuse." 

Enhancing Community Engagement

Fans at the stadium say community support is a 'must have' for the Syracuse Chiefs as the County will now cover the utilities of the team.

"I went to the Hot Stove Dinner that the Chiefs had and that was fun, that was the first time I ever went," said Bud Adams, who's attended NBT Bank Stadium for 15 consecutive years. "They do a lot of good for the city. It’s not just about baseball,” 

The new lease will increase the Chiefs' rent from $136,000 to $200,000 a year. The county has agreed to take over the utility costs which cost the minor league team around $266,000 last year.

The Chiefs hope to continue to grow the organization and this is an important message.

"Today’s just a culmination of years of talking and building our partnership with the county and we built our partnerships with the Washington Nationals,"Smorol said. "We engage our fans and we’re just committing to make sure the Syracuse Chiefs stay in Syracuse," 

If the AAA team decides to break the ten-year lease, it will pay $290,000 a year in addition to a 7- percent interest rate for every year remaining on the lease.

"The Syracuse Chiefs have been in Syracuse since 1876, so we've been around longer than anybody else," Smorol said. "We have no intention of going anywhere."