Matthew Stoudt is an almost accidental sports franchise owner. Stoudt said he never really envisioned himself in the sports business. But he is the new majority owner of the Victoria HarbourCats baseball club.
He won control of the team in a B.C. Supreme Court civil suit against former owner and team founder John McLean, a private equity investor from Vancouver.
Stoudt, who was a former business associate of McLean’s, gave an indication Wednesday the team will return for its third season in 2015.
“I’ve [had control of the HarbourCats] for about three weeks and am just digesting what’s going on,” said Stoudt, from his home in Santa Monica, California, where he said he is an investor and entrepreneur.
Stoudt said he has been to Royal Athletic Park to watch the HarbourCats play.
“I’m very familiar with the team and the league,” he said.
The WCL features top U.S. collegiate NCAA players in a summer season running from the first week of June to late August. It can be a crucial jumping off point. WCL alumni, catcher Andrew Susac and infielder Matt Duffy, won World Series rings this year as rookies with the San Francisco Giants.
Victoria led the 12-team WCL in attendance last season with a per-game average of 1,576 fans over 27 home dates. That is a fact not lost on Stoudt.
“That’s a heck of a good sign and an indication of the team’s viability,” he said.
“It’s a testament to the brand.”
Stoudt said with the way things played out, there are minority owners involved with him. He did not name them, but said they have B.C. connections.
“We’re trying to figure out the best way to a successful solution,” said Stoudt, formerly in the digital media business, and who owns a holding company named Bhootan LLC.
“Is it ourselves [running the team] or is it working with others? We want to do what’s right for the team. We’re doing everything in our power to make [the 2015 season] happen. We’re focusing on doing the right thing.”
Asked if founder McLean will remain involved with the team, Stoudt said he had “no idea.”
Stoudt, who grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said he will be in Victoria next week.
“Baseball in Canada can be an uncertain thing. Victoria is one place where it actually works,” said Stoudt.
General manager Jim Swanson said the HarbourCats operate on a budget of about $550,000 per season.
Meanwhile, the HarbourCats continued signing players for 2015, adding three more to the roster Wednesday to bring to 18 the number inked for next season. Outfielders Evan Cassolato and A.J. Alcantara are from UC-Irvine and infielder Carl Stajduhar from the University of New Mexico.
Alcantara batted .378 for UC-Irvine as a freshman. Stajduhar, selected in the 27th round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves, unleashed 13 home runs and hit .489 in 26 games during his Grade 12 year season last spring in Fort Collins, Colorado.
GM Swanson said the uncertainty surrounding the team has not hurt recruiting.
“I have not heard from any [signed] player, parent or [university] coach asking about what’s going on,” said Swanson.
“Would I be surprised to get a call? No. But I would be glad to reassure them it’s business as usual.”
Swanson said the team has 41 players committed to play in 2015 under new head coach Graig Merritt, a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays, but that not all contracts are in yet.
