Cardinals call Springfield home

St. Louis Cardinals officials and Texas League President Tom Kayser announced Oct. 21 that Hammons Field is the new home of the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the major league team.

After swirling speculation around the league and plain doubt on the part of Kayser, Texas League owners Oct. 15 unanimously approved a franchise sale to the St. Louis Cardinals and its Double-A team transfer from Nashville to Springfield.

The Springfield Cardinals begin Texas League play in April; the home opener is April 12.

Front office staff

Two Cardinals veterans head up the Springfield Cardinals’ front office. Matt Gifford, who has spent most of his nine years with the big league club in sales and marketing, is vice president and general manager. Scott Smulczenski brings more than 20 years of work with the Cardinals as vice president of baseball and business operations in Springfield.

Three local hires round out the front office. Gifford plucked Kirk Elmquist from Millwood Golf and Racquet Club to name him vice president of sales and marketing. Bill Fischer is vice president of facility operations, and Brock Phipps is head groundskeeper.

“I don’t know that there is a better position in southwest Missouri in sports marketing than the one that was granted to me,” said Elmquist, who has had a variety of jobs – at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Chardonnay and Millwood – since May 2002. “I’m a sports fan. I love sports marketing. I’d say it is pretty near perfect for me.”

Elmquist is responsible for selling stadium signage, corporate suites, season and group tickets, and game-day promotions. He will be hiring for seven positions before the end of the year: a sales and promotions director, four account executives, a play-by-play broadcaster and a media assistant.

Elmquist’s preliminary budget is between $4 million and $5 million.

“My main goal is to create corporate and family experiences that make them want to come back,” Elmquist said. “We want to deal with the business client, see what their needs are and tie a package together that makes their company get the visibility that they are looking for. And they’ll certainly get the entertainment value.”

Cardinals officials are in discussions for radio and television deals and a game-day magazine, though Gifford would not disclose with whom. He expects the radio deal to cover the complete 140-game schedule and televised games to be limited.

They also are looking for an official car or truck.

But first, Cardinals officials would like to make Springfield Cardinals tickets and merchandise available in time for holiday shopping.

“We realize the importance of getting these things in people’s hands,” Gifford said.

Tickets are in high demand with more than 3,500 season ticket inquiries received. Full, half and quarter season ticket requests must be made before Nov. 12 at Hammons Field or by calling 417-863-2143, Gifford said. Seats will be assigned on a random basis.

A deal is in the works with Sports Service of Buffalo, N.Y., to be merchandise concessionaire. Gifford declined to disclose anticipated merchandise revenues.

“We’ll find out,” he said. “I would never want to put a number on how Springfield is going to love this team or how much merchandise they will buy.”

Near miss

The Cardinals almost never made it to Springfield.

“Twenty-four to 48 hours before the announcement was made, I was told by all major people involved that there was nothing further that was going to be done – that it was basically dead,” Kayser said. “Then they made one more phone call.”

Cardinals brass called brothers George and Bob Brett about acquiring their franchise, the Texas League team in El Paso, Texas. After the Cardinals and Bretts secured a deal, it was up to the eight Texas League franchise owners to approve it, including waiving the league’s 18-month relocation rule.

Kayser said a move to Springfield made sense due to the Cardinals’ partnership, the new $32 million ballpark and the proximity to other teams in the league.

“You have to prove that this kind of a move and purchase and relocation of a franchise is a big deal,” Gifford said. “The Texas League ... doesn’t on a whim move a franchise.”

It is the first such sale and move in Kayser’s 13-year tenure.

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