Team Owner Changes:
Tony,
Big news! You have just been informed that your team owner, Ralph Corbin, has sold the team. The new owner is Gilbert Hickman. He wishes you all the best and looks forward to a good business relationship.
Corbin Steps Aside in Chadds Ford, Gilbert Hickman New Owner:
"All my life I've dreamed of having my own baseball team, and now that dream has come true."
Those were the words of the brand-new owner of the Chadds Ford Cannons, Gilbert Hickman, who today was introduced at a media gathering at The Cannons Battefield.
Hickman is a wealthy real estate mogul who recently purchased the team from Ralph Corbin.
He promised Chadds Ford Cannons fans that he would put forth a first-class product on the field. Candidly assessing his own personal temperament and management style, Hickman told reporters, "I'm controlling with my money and I'm quite demanding in working with people. I expect success -- that's the bottom line with me."
Chadds Ford finished first this past season in the Delaware Conference Northern Division with a team record of 95-67.
Personal message from Owner Gilbert Hickman: Contract Extended!:
Congratulations!
After careful consideration, I have decided to extend your contract with the Chadds Ford Cannons. Your new contract is for 1 year and a value of $750,000 per year.
Regards,
Gilbert Hickman
Personal Message from Owner Gilbert Hickman: New Budget:
Tony,
I have just decided on your budget for the upcoming season.
You will have $72,000,000 available for the total team expenses. Given your current spending on staff and other costs, this should allow you a team payroll of around $55,000,000.
You may now set your ticket price for next year. You have until the Winter Meetings end on December 23rd, 2036, 48 days from now, to set the price. Season tickets will start selling at that point. You have until the end of the pre-season to set your Scouting Budget, Player Development Budget, Draft Budget, and Intl Amateur FA Budget.
You may review all your financials on your front office page .
Good Luck!
Gilbert Hickman
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This was a crazy week... we lost in the playoffs and then out of no where we get the news that we have a new owner... I am not not sure what to expect from him, but I think he will be very similar to Ralph Crobin.
Gilbert Hickman:
Patience: Demanding
Fiscal Personality: Controlling
Involvement: Hands-off
Priority: Profit
Goals:
- Achieve a winning record
- Upgrade our Catcher
- Increase attendance from 44,291 to 45,000
- Make the Playoffs by 2040
Doesn't seem like the goals are too bad, and he has already bumped our budget up $6M. I am hoping that will make a difference heading into the off-season. I have some goals I want to hit, but I am not sure I will be able to.
So far this is going to be a busy off-season, especially with the league expanding by two teams. But I would like to try to keep Douglas, Shepherd and Loeffler for the "long-term" (3-5 years), but financially I am not sure I can.
I want to trade Leon Hernandez, Hank Davis and Howard Porter. Maybe even Julio Casanes, that is TBD, I am just not sold on fragile players. Overall, I have some decisions to make and they should be interesting ones... but for now I have to let the news of a new owner sink in! Not expected at all, and I really hope it turns out well for us... we got a taste of the playoffs and there isn't one player here that doesn't want to get back there.