REV Entertainment buys Kane County Cougars, team to keep playing in Geneva
The Kane County Cougars are being sold to REV Entertainment, the company announced on Monday, with the baseball team to keep playing at its longtime home in Geneva.
Following approval by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, which owns the team's stadium, the American Association of Professional Baseball – the league the Cougars are part of – approved the sale of the team last week, according to a press release from REV Entertainment.
This is REV's second American Association franchise, according to Monday's statement from the Arlington, Texas-based sports and entertainment company. It became the majority ownership partner of the Cleburne Railroaders, who play in Cleburne, Texas, in 2023.
Bob Froehlich, who owned the Kane County Cougars for more than 10 years until the sale was finalized, said in a statement on Monday that REV Entertainment officials are 'baseball people,' and that it is a company that 'understands what it takes to successfully operate minor league franchises.'
He noted REV's experience managing events at Globe Life Field, home of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers, as well as at the Rangers' former stadium.
'REV's proven track record in baseball and live events positions them perfectly to build upon the Cougars' rich tradition and ensure continued success for years to come,' Joshua Schaub, commissioner of the American Association of Professional Baseball, said in Monday's announcement from REV.
Froehlich will no longer act as the team's chairman, CEO and president, according to the team's vice president and general manager Curtis Haug, though he expects Froehlich to continue attending games and sharing expertise with the team's new owner.
Haug said he anticipates REV will select the team's new chairman, CEO and president, although the details are yet to be announced.
Froehlich's reasons for deciding to sell the team were personal, according to Haug.
The sale will not move the team, however, meaning the Kane County Cougars will continue to play at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva, officials said.
'Cougars baseball has got a great reputation, a great image, not just here in the community but nationally,' Haug said of the team's remaining in the county. 'REV definitely wants to continue that success.'
In February, the Forest Preserve District, which owns the stadium, agreed to reassign the lease to REV Entertainment, said Forest Preserve Commission President and Kane County Board member Bill Lenart. The current lease extends until 2034.
'There's no plans to go anywhere,' Haug said about the Cougars on Tuesday.
The Cougars franchise has been around since the 1880s, according to the announcement from REV Entertainment. The minor league team relocated from Wausau, Wisconsin, to Kane County in 1991.
The team will be holding an announcement event on April 2 at Northwestern Medicine Field to introduce REV as the new owners, according to Monday's announcement.
Amid the ownership shake-up, the team is still set to begin its season on schedule, Haug said on Tuesday. The team's first game is on May 8, according to Monday's release, with the Cougars playing at home against the Sioux City Explorers.
'We start our defense,' Haug said of the upcoming season, referring to the team's 2024 Miles Wolff Cup Championship win. 'We're looking forward to, you know, (getting) the season started and defending our championship and hopefully making it two in a row.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
18 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Multiply Group Lights up the World With the Launch of Multiply Media Group, Creating a Media Powerhouse Headquartered in the UAE
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Multiply Media Group (MMG) combines BackLite Media, Viola Media and Media 247 to operate one of the UAE's largest and most premium outdoor portfolios with 3,000 units Newly consolidated media group will serve as a launchpad to capture regional and global opportunities in the media sector, including Saudi Arabia, the UK, Europe and the U.S. MMG to redefine the region's media landscape through innovation, scale and strategic partnerships MMG launched at World Out of Home Organization (WOO) Annual Congress in Mexico City Multiply Group (ADX: MULTIPLY), the Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company, today launches Multiply Media Group (MMG), uniting the three market-leading out-of-home (OOH) companies under its portfolio to create a new media powerhouse headquartered in the UAE. The combination of BackLite Media, Viola Media and Media 247 under Multiply Media Group represents a significant move that will shape the future of tech-enabled media in the UAE and beyond. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Multiply Group lights up the world with the launch of Multiply Media Group, creating a media powerhouse headquartered in the UAE (Photo: AETOSWire) Samia Bouazza, GCEO and Managing Director of Multiply Group, said: 'The launch of Multiply Media Group represents the most significant media consolidations in the UAE. By bringing together market-leading media assets under a single AI & tech-driven group, we are reinforcing our commitment to long-term value creation and shareholder returns. MMG lays a strong foundation for our global ambitionsand forward-looking investment strategy.' MMG was launched at the World Out of Home Organization (WOO) Annual Congress in Mexico City, and simultaneously it lit up the world through a global takeover across key DOOH media, illuminating cities and screens worldwide with its bold presence. The move reflects the global expansion of Multiply Group, the $7.2 billion holding company, which is part of IHC, the most valuable holding company in the Middle East with a market cap of over $240 billion. The newly consolidated group will serve as a launchpad to capture regional and international opportunities arising in the media sector through MMG portfolio businesses. MMG will drive performance and innovation across the OOH media sector, reshaping the UAE's media landscape through scale, AI, and strategic partnerships. To achieve its mission, MMG will invest in high-potential media assets, catalyse growth with innovation and create synergies across its portfolio through strategic investments. Jawad Hassan, Head of Media and Communications Vertical at Multiply Group, said: 'For several years, Multiply Group's ambitious growth strategy for the media sector has taken us from an integrated portfolio of three industry leaders to a media powerhouse with vast potential to redefine the entire regional media landscape in ways that will bring immediate impact and long-term value for clients. Through MMG, we stand ready to embrace the emerging trends in our industry, particularly the transformative role of AI, and we will continually look to invest in technologies that enable us to create dynamic and innovative campaigns.' The scale of MMG includes 3,000 advertising units across the UAE, including 75+ premium assets on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road, which are backed by long-term partnership agreements with the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) (Mada Media) in Dubai and The Department of Municipalities & Transport (DMT) in Abu Dhabi. James Bicknell, CEO of Multiply Media Group, said: 'Multiply Media Group launches as a transformative force in out of home media — a powerhouse that unites some of the region's most strategic media assets under one bold vision. With MMG, we are not simply scaling up — we are scaling intelligently. Our mandate is clear: deliver context at scale, and reach audiences where it truly matters, when it matters most. MMG is engineered to be agile, data-led, and deeply integrated, enabling our clients to engage audiences with greater relevance, responsiveness, and resonance than ever before. This is more than media — it's momentum.' The launch of MMG follows a recent strategic agreement between Multiply Group's media vertical and Al Arabia, Arabian Contracting Services Company (Al Arabia) to create a joint venture (JV) to invest in the global out-of-home (OOH) advertising sector. Multiply Group, also announced a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Media Company (SMC) – with these two strategic moves underscoring the global expansion potential of Multiply's portfolio brands. Multiply Group's other media holdings include Yieldmo, a contextual mobile ads platform, and Firefly, North America's leading digital Taxi-Top company. The group completed the acquisition of Viola Communications, a marketing and communications firm, in 2021. ABOUT MULTIPLY GROUP Multiply Group PJSC is an Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company that globally invests and operates in transformative, cash-generating businesses. Known for its trademark growth mindset, Multiply Group will continue to deploy capital across its two distinct arms, both of which follow a disciplined approach to investing and ensure consistent, sustainable value creation for our shareholders in the short-, medium- and long-term: Multiply, the investments and operations in long-term strategic verticals, currently investing and operating in Mobility, Energy & Utilities, Media & Communications, Wellness & Beauty, and Retail & Apparel. Anchor investments provide long-term recurring income, through which bolt-on acquisitions are made. Multiply+, the Group further engages in opportunistic, sector-agnostic investments, via mainly minority stakes in private and public markets. For more information, visit ABOUT Multiply Media Group Multiply Media Group (MMG) is a media powerhouse committed to driving performance and innovation across the sector. Our ambition is limitless, but our approach is precise. We invest in high-potential media assets, catalyse growth through innovation, and create synergy across our portfolio through strategic investment and smart leadership. MMG includes BackLite Media, Viola Media, Media 247, and Purple Printing. Together, they form an integrated ecosystem built to deliver scale, precision, and sustained value. MMG provides the clarity required to lead meaningful transformation in the industry. Through targeted investment in technology, talent, and innovation, we develop future-ready products and services — anticipating client needs before they emerge. By aligning capabilities across the group, we multiply impact, accelerate innovation, and drive long-term growth. More impact. More innovation. Greater momentum. For more information, visit Source: AETOSWire View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
RaonSecure Leads Blockchain-Based Digital Identity Solutions
Supplied by an entity that has paid the news provider for its placement; not impartial journalism. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In today's hyper-connected world, digital technology is the bloodstream of civilization. People are increasingly interacting with society and services through digital tools, and governments and services rely on digital identification to improve efficiency and provide higher-quality services. Managing sensitive personal information is an enormous responsibility, and the risks are significant; security and reliability are paramount to any business that collects personal data. For over 13 years, RaonSecure has been working to enhance cybersecurity and secure personal data, specializing in fast identity online (FIDO) tools. More than 20 million people rely on RaonSecure's FIDO-based biometric authentication technology, and it was the first company in the world to obtain FIDO certification. Soon-hyung Lee, Founder and CEO, RaonSecure. Credit: Courtesy of RaonSecure. Soon-hyung Lee, Founder and CEO, RaonSecure. Credit: Courtesy of RaonSecure. RaonSecure demonstrated its expertise by providing the South Korean financial sector with OnePass, a FIDO-based biometric authentication solution that enables seamless authentication across mobile and online banking services. The company's advanced security technology significantly enhanced user convenience and strengthened digital identity infrastructure across financial institutions. Based on decades of experience, RaonSecure is leading the way in blockchain-based digital ID implementation. Korea is considered a global leader in implementing digital IDs, having provided its citizens with mobile driver's licenses, national veteran's registration cards and other official credentials. Most recently, the government began issuing mobile national cards to over 45 million citizens—a system powered by RaonSecure's blockchain-based digital ID technology. The mobile national card holds the same legal validity as a physical ID and is expected to see increased use in online environments that support non-face-to-face identity verification using mobile national cards. OmniOne Digital ID Service Flow. Credit: Courtesy of RaonSecure. OmniOne Digital ID Service Flow. Credit: Courtesy of RaonSecure. RaonSecure is also achieving visible results in global markets. Leveraging its blockchain-based digital identity platform, OmniOne Digital ID, the company conducted pilot services with global enterprises in the U.S. and Japan. In 2023, RaonSecure successfully provided consulting for the development of Indonesia's national digital ID road map. In 2024, the company successfully carried out a pilot project for Indonesia's integrated digital ID service and completed a national public digital wallet development project in Costa Rica. RaonSecure is taking that expertise and collaborating with the global community. "Looking forward, we see significant potential in expanding our digital ID solutions globally," founder and CEO Soon-hyung Lee says. The company collaborates with countries, opting to make its technology open source. Lee explains, "We support nations by transferring core technology so they can build their own digital infrastructure and achieve self-sovereign identity." Furthermore, working with the United Nations and the World Bank's Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative, RaonSecure is helping build identification systems for remote locations, where citizens may not have any form of ID. "Without identification, they cannot access essential services like health care, education or government aid," he says. Developing nations receive assistance and grants from international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations. RaonSecure collaborates closely with organizations and governments and provides open-source technology to help them implement digital solutions. Lee says the company works closely with local and international systems integration (SI) companies, offering them core fundamental technology. Lee illustrates the benefits of a unified digital identification; his entire medical history is stored in his digital identification, which is implemented through OmniOne Digital ID. If he visits a hospital in the United States and then has a medical emergency in China, the Chinese hospital can instantly access his medical records from Korea and the United States. "This level of hyperconnectivity is the future we aim to build. Regardless of the blockchain systems different countries adopt, our goal is to ensure seamless interoperability," he explains. "I believe that the era of Web3 and digital transformation is approaching rapidly for all nations," Lee confidently states. The first step to global digitization is replicating what RaonSecure has accomplished in Korea with digital IDs. By making the underlying technology open source and pushing for standardization, Lee hopes to encourage and support nations' adoption of digital IDs. RaonSecure will provide essential services and solutions as countries integrate health care, digital voting, smart contracts and digital currencies. "In the past, when people asked me what kind of company RaonSecure is, I would say we specialize in cybersecurity. Now, I tell them we are the enabler of Web3." For more details, explore the website at: This report has been paid for by a third party. The views and opinions expressed are not those of Newsweek and are not an endorsement of the products, services or persons mentioned.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The News Forum Announces Launch of Western Canada Bureau, Taps Veteran Journalist Hal Roberts as Lead Anchor
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The News Forum is proud to announce the official launch of its new Western Canada Bureau, marking a significant expansion of its national news coverage. This strategic move is further strengthened by the appointment of seasoned broadcast journalist Hal Roberts as the lead anchor for the new Calgary-based operations. With three decades of experience in the broadcast industry, Hal Roberts brings a wealth of knowledge and a distinguished career to The News Forum. His extensive background includes covering provincial and federal politics as a parliamentary reporter in Ottawa, leading national business programs, and anchoring newscasts across Canada. 'We are absolutely thrilled to be expanding The News Forum's footprint with new studios in Western Canada,' said Tore Stautland, CEO of The News Forum. 'Bringing on an anchor of Hal Roberts' caliber is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, comprehensive news to all Canadians. His deep understanding of the region and his impressive journalistic integrity will be invaluable as we build out our Western coverage.' Roberts' career highlights include his impactful reporting on the 2014 Ottawa terrorist attack, his role as a national correspondent for business programs on BNN, Global TV, and CHCH-TV, and his significant contributions as an anchor and producer in major Canadian markets. He is also an award-winning journalist, having received a Crystal Communicator award for his work on a national news/current affairs program and an award for a TV show on human trafficking. 'I am incredibly excited to join The News Forum and lead the charge in establishing our Western Canada Bureau,' said Hal Roberts. 'This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a growing news organization dedicated to insightful and balanced reporting, in times where regional perspectives are of increased importance. I look forward to connecting with viewers across the West and bringing their stories to a national audience.' This expansion into Western Canada is a key step in The News Forum's broader growth strategy. 'Our vision extends beyond the West; we are also actively working towards establishing a strong presence in Montreal,' added Stautland. 'This national expansion underscores our dedication to providing diverse perspectives and robust news coverage from coast to coast to coast.' The News Forum's Western Canada Bureau, under Hal Roberts' leadership, will significantly enhance the network's ability to cover regional stories with depth and accuracy, further solidifying its position as a vital source of Canadian news and current affairs. About The News Forum: The News Forum is a Canadian news and current affairs television network dedicated to providing in-depth analysis and diverse perspectives on important issues facing Canadians. With a commitment to journalistic integrity, The News Forum aims to foster informed discussion and understanding. The News Forum is a national Canadian news broadcaster available through most television distributors – see local listings. TNF is a subscriber to the Canadian Press/AP along with other significant sources of breaking news from across Canada and around the world. Media ContactDanielle KlammerCMO, The News Additional Information: Website: Daily News Website: Twitter:
