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Revision as of 09:14, 19 December 2024 by Johnson524 (talk | contribs) (Created the page Wilson Warbirds!)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Future minor league baseball team in North CarolinaMinor league baseball team
| Minor league affiliations | |
|---|---|
| Class | Single-A |
| League | Carolina League (future) |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Team data | |
| Previous names | Carolina Mudcats |
| Colors |
|
| Mascot | Red-tailed hawk (Currently unnamed) |
| Ballpark | Wilson Stadium |
| Website | wilsonwarbirds |
The Wilson Warbirds are a planned Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team and Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, to be located in Wilson, North Carolina at Wilson Stadium. Announced in 2023, the team replaces the Carolina Mudcats, who had been located in the nearby town of Zebulon at Five County Stadium since 1991, with the Brewers decision to move largely based on funding concerns. The team was named after warbirds for the region's history in aviation dating back to World War II, and for the local whirligig outsider artist and former-pilot Vollis Simpson. With plans to start their first season in April 2026, reactions to the move and subsequent formation of the team has been welcomed in Wilson and largely criticized in Zebulon and the larger Wake County.
Creation
The Carolina Mudcats were a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team and Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and had been located at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina since 1991. In 2022, the Mudcats requested $15 million from the Wake County board of commissioners to make renovations to Five County Stadium as to meet MiLB standards and attract fans. The county, however, only agreed to fund the required expenses. Later, on December 14, 2023, the nearby town of Wilson announced it was funding a $280 million development project, including a $70 million baseball stadium, later named Wilson Stadium. Appealing to the Brewers, they later signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wilson to relocate the Mudcats to the new stadium in a lease lasting 25 years. Alongside the creation of the new stadium, the lack of funding being received from Wake County was regarded as a major reason for the Brewers decision to move the Mudcats.
On November 22, 2024, the Brewers organized an air show to announce the "Warbirds" as the name and mascot of the new team. The airshow saw around 500 attendees, and included three World War II-era warbird aircrafts, as well as a live band. The name "Warbirds" was chosen to represent the team because of the region's connection to aviation history, which trained thousands of pilots in World War II and is located nearby the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and was the home town of whirligig outsider artist and former-pilot Vollis Simpson. In reference to Simpson's work, the name "Wilson Whirligigs" was the long-time proposed name for the team, and was only changed after a visit by the branding organizer Scott Starr to Wilson, who believed the name lacked nuance.
According to the Brewers Vice President of Communications, Tyler Barnes, the Mudcats are set to play their last season in 2025, before the Warbirds begin their first season in April 2026.
Reception
Reactions were mixed at the announcement of the Warbirds, being positive in Wilson, and especially critical from Wake County. Brewers President Rick Schlesinger highly regarded Wilson for their actions leading up, remarking he was "amazed" Wilson was being "so supportive of what we're trying to do". Brewers minor-league prospects Braylon Payne, Eric Bitonti, and Josh Knoth, all helped in the airshow unveiling in November 2024, with Payne commenting the move to the new area was "pretty awesome".
Obversely, Wake County and town of Zebulon released a joint statement on December 15, 2023, remarking they were "disappointed" at the Brewers' decision to relocate the Mudcats. The commissioner for eastern Wake County, Don Mial, remarked "we really hate that they decided to move to Wilson", and that "we would love for them to have stayed here in Wake County", commenting further on the positive economic impact the Mudcats had on region. Greater Raleigh Sport Alliance executive director Scott Dupree remarked the team was a "pride to Zebulon" and the move would be a "significant and especially painful loss", but conceded that he was not surprised at the decision as the $70 million new venue being offered. Commenting further on this, the pro tem mayor for the neighboring town of Wendell, Jason Joyner, criticized Wake County for not better funding the Mudcats and the eastern region of the county as a whole, referring to the Mudcats decision to move as a "shining example of Eastern Wake County being forgotten yet again".
Branding
The Warbirds mascot is currently an unnamed red-tailed hawk, with the specific bird being chosen as it was the most common hawk in the region. The team colors in order of importance are navy, sage, antique white, bristol, and smalt. The Warbird's away jerseys are colored bristol with a sage band, the alternate jerseys are colored red with a white band, and featured three hats colored bristol, sage, and navy.
References
- ^ Johnson, Anna (December 15, 2023). "Mudcats on the move. Wilson backs new stadium to lure baseball team from Wake County". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ Long, Christopher (November 22, 2024). "Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds". The Wilson Times. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ Geving, Maya (November 22, 2024). "Wilson Warbirds "taking flight" in Eastern Carolina". WITN. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- Boyd, Jason O. (November 23, 2024). "Wilson shows off new minor league baseball team replacing Carolina Mudcats". Washington Daily News. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ Caputo, Paul (November 23, 2024). "Carolina Mudcats to rebrand as Wilson Warbirds in 2026". SportsLogos.net. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- Cruz, Dave (November 26, 2024). "Throngs gather to celebrate Warbirds' debut". Rocky Mount Telegram. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- Freuck, Harrison (November 23, 2024). "Brewers Low-A affiliate Carolina Mudcats set to move to Wilson in 2026, become Warbirds". Brew Crew Ball. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Mudcats will become Warbirds". The Wilson Times. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- "Carolina Mudcats announce name change for pending move to Wilson in 2026". WTVD. November 22, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- Rosiak, Todd (November 22, 2024). "Goodbye, Carolina Mudcats: Brewers' Class A affiliate will be named Wilson Warbirds". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- Bhargaw, Sanika; Anderson, Ashley (November 22, 2024). "Carolina Mudcats become Wilson Warbirds in renaming; new stadium set to open in 2026". WNCN. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
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