Lynn board OKs lease for new team

LYNN – The city moved a step closer to having a new baseball team occupy Fraser Field Tuesday when the Stadium Commission unanimously approved the lease for a New England College Baseball League team from Holyoke to play in Lynn next summer.The city, and team owner Phil Rosenfield, was expected to make it official today.The wood-bat league team, which would play 21 games at Fraser Field, features some of the top college players the country. There are several teams in Massachusetts, including one in Lowell and one in Pittsfield, owned by former Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette.”This team fits the flavor of Lynn baseball,” said Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy after the board approved the lease.”From the moment that the (North Shore) Spirit announced their intention to leave, we heard from several organizations,” he said.Clancy also said that “even if (Spirit owner) Nick Lopardo didn’t consider the Spirit a success financially, they were what you could call an artistic success.”And,” he said, “it says a lot about Fraser Field that people are clamoring to play here.”The terms of the lease are similar to those of the Spirit. The $1-per-year lease between the city and the new team – known simply as “Draper Road Baseball” in the lease – is for two years, with a two-year option to renew. While lease is in operation (between June 1 and Sept. 30), the team would have exclusive and priority use of the playing field, seating areas, press box and restrooms in the Howie Grob Clubhouse for its games and practices.However, according to the lease, the team and the city will work to allow for “reasonable scheduling” of other potential city events around the NECBL team, if possible.The city will be responsible for paying water, sewer and electrical service for the Grob building, playing field, and on-site team offices during the period the lease is in action. The team will be responsible for telecommunications, waste cleanup and maintenance during the period of the lease.