"WILDCAT HOLLOW" SITE OF NEW COLLEGIATE BASEBALL STADIUM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 28, 2014) - Shanahan & Company Sports Management LLC, parent company of the Blowfish, announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission to market and manage a new collegiate baseball stadium in Lexington County.

"We are excited to partner with Bill Shanahan who brings 30 years of sports ownership, management, marketing and sales experience to the table." said Lexington County Recreation Aging Commission Executive Director, Randy Gibson. "Lexington County is continuously developing ways to improve our community through sports and recreation, and this is another giant step in achieving that goal."

In corresponding news, the Blowfish baseball franchise has signed a stadium lease to play their future home games at the new ballpark in Lexington County at the conclusion of the 2014 Coastal Plain League season.

"Lexington County Baseball Stadium" will be located off of Highway 1, at the site of the old Lexington High School football field on Ball Park Road across the street from the Lexington Dixie Youth Sports Complex, (home of the 2014/2015 Dixie Youth World Series).

"This is a significant day in the history of baseball in the Midlands," Blowfish Owner, Bill Shanahan said. "We are grateful to Lexington County, who have been tirelessly working with us to bring these plans to fruition. The community of Lexington County is beautiful, it's growing and it's a baseball hotbed. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of it."

The estimated cost of the stadium is $3 million which is part of a $23 million bond for improvements in sports facilities across Lexington County. The design for the new stadium was created by  Quackenbush Architects and Planners.

The new stadium's capacity for baseball is 3,000 and will provide fans with a more pleasant and intimate ballpark experience. It will include an expanded concourse, bowl seating for a more intimate field view, Wrigley Field style box seats, a rightfield berm, leftfield lawn seating and an enclosed air conditioned hospitality club. In addition to hosting the Blowfish baseball team, the state-of-the-art complex will be available for other uses including, collegiate and high school baseball championships, baseball camps, tournaments, concerts and other local events making the grounds a hub for entertainment, not just in Lexington County but in the Midlands.

"It's bittersweet," said Blowfish General Manager, Kelly Evans. "It's hard to leave a place like Capital City Stadium and all of our amazing fans that are located in downtown. This stadium will always have a special place in our hearts. We want to thank the City of Columbia for all that they have done for us as an organization over the years. We are excited to now call Lexington County home, and to leave our mark on a new community."

Construction on the new stadium is scheduled to start this fall, and is expected to be completed before the 2015 season.  The last regular season home game at Capital City Stadium is scheduled for Thursday, July 31 at 7:05PM. For ticket information please visit www.blowfishbaseball.com or call (803) 254-FISH.

Read more here, here, here, and here.

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