57’s searching for strong community partner

Swift Current 57's STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER FILE PHOTO

The Swift Current 57’s likely couldn’t have imagined a more successful season both on and off the field in 2017.

The 57’s are coming off a wildly successful season in which their average attendance increased from 270 fans per game to 469. The season culminated on August 11 when 1,189 fans packed Mitchell Field as the 57’s clinched a second straight Western Major Baseball League championship with a 4-0 win over the Edmonton Prospects in the fifth and deciding game of the championship series.

The Swift Current 57’s Western Major Baseball League franchise is looking for a community minded partner to help them move forward.

“We are trying to establish a strong community partner, someone that would be interested in getting involved in potential naming rights of facilities, of the construction and support for construction of a clubhouse, and somebody that is interested in joining the Swift Current 57’s brand to improve and move forward baseball in Swift Current and to improve their business brand as well.”

“Our hope is that through the use of our product, and through advertising, and naming rights, that we can attract a business that is reputable, progressive, and is interested in community,” Martinez added.

“One of the benefits of getting involved would be to assist in some of the park improvements, one of which is a ballpark clubhouse, involving change rooms, bathrooms, and a small office area.”

“The organization is at a stage where being able to run its operations on a day to day basis, it’s important to have a central location. This location or clubhouse would satisfy that need.”

Martinez pointed out the team operates on an annual operations budget of approximately $240,000.

“Our community has been very supportive. We just want to see if there is another business that is interested, not at the operations side, but more at the marketing side and more along the lines of capital projects and facility improvements.”

The franchise has consistently been amongst the top teams in the WMBL, with three championship series appearances in the past four seasons alone.

“Our hope is that the community sees value in what the Swift Current Indians and what now Swift Current 57’s baseball has done within the community. We think that the successes that the team has had over the years and the reputation that it has portrayed all throughout Western Canada and even down into the United States has been strong and positive.”

“Our hope is that with a new community partner, somebody that can help us take things to the next level and help us to take baseball at the summer collegiate level to the next step in this community. We feels as though with the right partner that we can do that,” Martinez concluded.