The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: Looking Forward to a. Homerun

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: Looking Forward to a Homerun

By: Jason Huddle

Editor’s Note: When we originally interviewed the Cannon Ballers for this article, public health restrictions due to the COVID-19 virus had not yet been instituted. However, the information contained in this story will still be applicable when these restrictions have been concluded. Below is a statement from Team General Manager, Matt Millward: “Due to uncertainty regarding the start of 2020 season, individual game tickets will not go on sale…as originally planned. In accordance to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Major League Baseball announced the season would be delayed for at least the next eight weeks. The Cannon Ballers had been set to open the brand-new Atrium Health Ballpark on April 16. Tickets will go on sale at the earliest possible time once additional information is confirmed. To ensure the safety of fans and staff, the Cannon Ballers Front Office and Team Store will be closed to the public until further notice. Fans can still shop for gear online at www.kcballers.com, and all orders will ship free within the United States.”

Baseball has always been an important part of the Cabarrus region. During the Great Depression, teams like the Concord Weavers and Kannapolis Towelers gave families an escape from tough times and provided a few hours of enjoyment at the ballpark. So, it’s no surprise when there is any change to our local team, it would garner some publicity and reaction from fans. Today, now sporting a new name and stadium, this team is poised to be something special. With another economic crisis set to burden our country, it may need to be exactly that.

During the spring of 2001, Cabarrus Magazine (CM) featured the newly named, Kannapolis Intimidators, in only its second issue. The team, just months prior, had been purchased by Larry and Sue Hendrick, Bruton Smith and the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. In fact, before that inaugural Intimidators team could take the field, it was already grieving the loss of Earnhardt, who had died tragically during a race at Daytona International Speedway just weeks before. At that time, the newly designated name served to honor the man so many in the community and the entire country, loved and respected. Before the Intimidators, there were other iterations of the team name. When the organization came to the area in 1994, they were called the Piedmont Phillies, which was owned by the Philadelphia Phillies at the time. Once they became the property of the Chicago White Sox in 1996, the name was changed to the Boll Weevils (paying homage to the small bug known as a huge nuisance in the textile industry). After the Intimidators name came into being, it stood for 19 seasons and the team became a fixture in the community, even winning a South Atlantic League Championship in 2005. However, the team was not without its challenges. The stadium it occupied was located in an area that was too distant for many fans in the region, making attendance inconsistent. In addition, ownership changed hands a few times, which created transitional difficulties.

Finally, when the current ownership, Temerity Baseball, LLC, took over the team in November 2018, it wasn’t long before they announced major changes would be coming. Construction of a new stadium, that would be located in downtown Kannapolis, was already underway. However, that wasn’t the only thing that needed changing. In February 2019, the team announced it would be changing its name and sought input from the public for a new moniker, which would take effect in 2020.

Operating partner for the team, Scotty Brown said of the name change on the very first episode of Up Front with Cabarrus Magazine podcast, “… we don’t own the name. So if you’re going to move into a brand new shiny building and you’re gonna’ put up new signs and all this stuff, and then three years down the road, you find out that you can’t use that name anymore, that can become a problem.” Brown was eluding to the fact that the Earnhardt family still held the rights to the team name, and it was not likely they would be willing to relinquish those rights. In October 2019, the team finally announced the new name, The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. “The Cannon Ballers was the first of the 10 (finalist) names (received from the public) and I knew it was the one,”

remembered General Manager Matt Millward. “The red, white and blue and all-American feel of just connects with families. The Cannon family is very much a part of the DNA of this community. It plays well with everything from aesthetics to the food and beverages we provide. Up to this point, it’s been a homerun.”

Indeed, the color scheme of the team logo, along with a name that harkens back to the founder of Kannapolis, James W. Cannon, and a mascot, named “Boomer,” who bears a striking resemblance to the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr., evokes feelings of nostalgia and Americana. It is as if the team is trying to recapture the magic of fans taking their families to the ballpark, before television enabled them to watch games from home. As to the move of the team to downtown Kannapolis, Millward says it will transform the area. “We had affordable family fun at the old ballpark, but now we can take it to the next level. We know people will come to the park and be overwhelmed with the overall experience. The old stadium was not at a convenient location. With the new location, you can catch dinner or go to the brewery, before or after the game, enjoy a game and walk to both activities. It’s not only going to impact our organization, but everything Kannapolis is planning.” The new stadium, set to makes its debut when the season starts, is truly impressive for a single-A team. Millward says fans and Kannapolis residents will appreciate it from the day it opens. “The 360 (degrees) concourse is there so you can jog or walk around the ballpark,” he explained. “Our ‘kids play’ area will make us stand out from any other stadium. It’s going to be a great area for kids and parents to take some time away. There are 3600 seats in the stadium and everyone is up-close to the action. We also put into place the protective netting for fans safety and peace of mind. Our club space on the suite level is 5000 sq. ft. There is (meeting space) that can be used all year long. With a lack of event spaces locally, this will be a great addition to the community. There’s something for everyone — even an outfield bar. The new video board (which the old stadium lacked) will certainly increase the fan experience as well and engage with the fans. My favorite thing is that we have a main staple for ages 2 to 82.” However, despite the best laid plans, and a great deal of enthusiasm from the community, no one could have foreseen the threat, and ultimate delay of the season, caused by the COVID-19, “Corona” virus. When Major League Baseball (MLB) announced a delay to start its upcoming season, Millward knew the Cannon Ballers, as a part of Minor League Baseball, would soon follow suit.

“The pause button has been pushed,” Millward told CM. “Minor League Baseball has delayed the start of the season. We don’t know if April 16 will be our actual opening night. Obviously, the health and safety of our fans, team and staff are our top priority. We are fortunate this is brand new facility, so no fans have been in the stadium yet. The ballpark will be spotless and sanitized from head to toe when we do open.” Unfortunately, Millward also explained the team is, “at the mercy of whatever MLB decides.”

When the season finally does begin, Millward can’t promise the public a winning team. Even in a non-virus threatened season, minor league teams typically do not know who their players will be until the conclusion of spring training, which is only a couple of weeks before the season begins. In addition, due to the nature of minor league baseball, many of the players on the roster at the beginning of the season won’t be there at its conclusion. If a player is doing well, he may be moved up to an AA or even AAA team. Some players in the team’s history have even gone on to play in the majors.

Regardless, Millward is confident the fan experience will be enjoyable no matter who takes the field. “In terms of the team itself. I have no idea if we will be a first or last place team. Where we see our success is providing that entertainment value for fans. I would say the goals I have for our staff is painting that level of entertainment.” The Cannon Ballers are poised to make an impact on this community, as soon as they can begin play. Hopefully soon, we’ll know when that will be.