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Chicago Tribune
03-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Sean Decker, president of the new ownership group, on Kane County Cougars: ‘This is the class of the league.'
Every summer, Sean Decker does what many other fathers do with their children. He takes them on a trip to watch baseball. Decker — the president of Dallas-based REV Entertainment, the new owners of the Kane County Cougars — did that again last July. REV also owns the Cleburne Railroaders, fellow members of the American Association with the Cougars. Decker and his 7-year-old son came up for three games between the two teams. That was right when talks of acquiring the Cougars were just starting. 'The place was amazing,' Decker said of Northwestern Medicine Field. 'It was an afternoon game. The place was slammed with kids, people who loved being here. I was like, 'These guys get it.' 'This is the class of the league.' Heading up a business that continues to add assets, mostly in baseball, one thing dawned on him. 'At its basic root, that's what we do,' Decker said of his father-son moment. 'We create places that families come to. If nothing else, I can prove that I practice what I preach with my kids. 'I didn't come here on a fact-finding mission to buy a team. I came here with my son to watch one of the teams we own play. We started sitting around saying, 'Gosh, wouldn't it be cool if we could someday own that team?'' That day came in March, and on Wednesday, REV Entertainment was formally introduced as the successor to Dr. Bob Froelich as the owners of the Cougars. Froelich, the owner since 2014, said he was approached in early 2024 by a group of former minor league owners about acquiring the team. Word travels fast in baseball circles, and at the American Association All-Star Game, Froelich talked to Tom Vander Veen, a senior advisor at REV that oversees Cleburne's operations. 'He said, 'Dr. Bob, I'm hearing through the grapevine that you're having discussions with someone,'' Froelich said. 'He said, 'If you're having discussions about selling the team, we want to take a run on it.' From that to here, it just worked.' Froelich hosted members of REV Entertainment for a five-game series shortly after the All-Star Game. What started as a conversation between two owners and a father-son trip turned into more. 'I really think the fans sold the team for me,' Froelich said. 'I didn't sell the team. 'Sean was having a father-son outing and they picked here to do it. His son fell in love with the team. Sean fell in love with the team. Literally, it was that home stand. I'm not sure the deal would have happened if Sean's son wanted to go somewhere else. Who knows?' Decker was quick to point out his company didn't buy the Cougars as a line item in their portfolio. 'The Kane County Cougars aren't going anywhere,' Decker said. 'We love this place. We invested in this place and we want to be here until the end of time.' He even said discussions about extending the lease with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, owners of Northwestern Medicine Field, would be explored. 'REV Entertainment coming in here is the very best option for the Kane County Cougars,' said Bill Lenert, Forest Preserve District of Kane County president. 'We are thrilled they are the new owners.' Decker said he doesn't want to come in and make wholesale changes. He said REV Entertainment just wants to enhance what is already a successful and well-respected operation, which he saw firsthand last summer. 'For the first year, you're not going to see any meaningful difference,' Decker said. 'As we get into 2026 and beyond, this has to be a community asset for more than just the 50 home games. 'We're hoping to bring a group in that kind of pours gasoline on a small fire and makes a big one.'
Chicago Tribune
18-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
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.'
