Local Official: Cubs Farm Team Would Be Great For Kane County
GENEVA, Ill. (CBS) -- A local community leader thinks it would be a great idea for the Chicago Cubs' farm team to move to Kane County.
As WBBM Newsradio's Lisa Fielding reports, the Chicago Sun-Times said on Tuesday that Cubs are in the process of working out a player development agreement with the Kane County Cougars in an effort to move their Midwest League affiliate from Peoria.
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In 20 years, the Kane County Cougars – currently a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals – haven't needed much help to succeed.
"Their attendance – there's been roughly half a million people a year at their facility, which for a Class A team has been significantly on the higher end," said Kane County Forest Preserve President John Hoscheit.
Hoscheit says the ballpark where the team plays in unincorporated Geneva – known for many years as Elfstrom Stadium and recently renamed Fifth Third Bank Ballpark – holds up to 15,000 people.
A new farm team for the Cubs playing at the stadium would no doubt pique people's interest in young, up-and-coming players, he said.
"But I think people, locally, know that the Cubs are going through a process of retooling their team, and with a strong emphasis on a farm system, so I think that popularity, and the knowledge the public has, could be a positive draw for the team," Hoscheit said.
There has been no comment on a possible deal from the Cubs, the Cougars, or the Peoria Chiefs.
