Gallagher: IBL Panthers sold to new group for “well into six figures’’
The Kitchener Panthers have been sold to a new ownership group.
December 16, 2024
By Danny Gallagher
Canadian Baseball Network
It's the end of an era so to speak when it comes to the Intercounty Baseball League's Kitchener Panthers.
The 105-year-old club, a not-for-profit enterprise for many years, has been sold to a partnership that includes the husband and wife team of David and Kate Schooley -- and Sam, Naseem and Shanif Hirani, a business family based in Fergus.
The Panthers will be brought under the umbrella of the Waterloo Region Sports Group which includes the KW Titans basketball team. The sale of the Panthers was announced during a Titans game on the weekend at the Kitchener-Waterloo Auditorium.
Although both sides are operating under a non-disclosure agreement, outgoing Panthers secretary Bill Pegg said the purchase price is "well into six figures'' but added it's “not even close’’ to the reported $1-million price tag attained by the Toronto Maple Leafs through the Jack Dominico estate in 2023.
"We've been talking for a couple of years among our 11 directors,'' Pegg said on the phone about his group's decision to sell. "Essentially, since the league has been moving toward a semi-professional model, we realized we could only do so much as a group of volunteers in terms of securing sponsor funding for increased spending, not to mention our facility (Jack Couch Park), in our opinion, is not up to speed.
"Our influence with the city is not as positive as it should be as far as renovations go -- they are not a priority to the city.''
When Pegg was asked what will happen to the money secured by the outgoing, not-for profit group, he said, "good question.'' He said his corporation has a debt of just under $10,000, much of it owing the city of Kitchener.
When asked to clarify if he and his directors would take some of the money from the sale, Pegg replied, “absolutely not.’’
"With the new owners, it was an asset sale. They didn't buy the corporation,'' Pegg explained. "When all is said and done, in a period of time, we will give our excess dollars to the community, to baseball organizations and other charitable entities. Then we will wind down in about a year.
"We decided to go as a non-profit organization in 2008. One of the reasons is that it's neater and cleaner from a business standpoint. We wanted it that way for the purposes of going into the community and getting support and sponsorship. Without bragging, I'd say it was successful.
"For the sake of the team and the community, we want that (success) to continue. In all fairness, they (new group) are going to hit the ground running. Let me tell you, I'm really looking forward to seeing it unfold.’’
Shanif Hirani said in an email exchange the Panthers will no longer be a not-for-profit enterprise. It will be operated as a revenue-generating business.
Whereas the outgoing group had little luck in getting cooperation from the city for renovations, Hirani thinks his organization will fare better.
He said he wants the Panthers to obtain a brand-new scoreboard where fans can see player stats. He's looking for mini games to be played between innings, enhanced food and beverage options, upgraded seating and new concession stands and a merchandise store.
"We have already engaged with the city on our proposed changes for the upcoming season, as well as future renovations.They are as excited as we are to give Jack Couch Park the upgrades it needs and make it the premier home field in the IBL,'' Hirani said.
"We want to make Kitchener a place where players want to play and enjoy coming to the park everyday. With this in mind, we have plans to build covered batting cages, expand and modernize the dugouts, and potentially make some changes to wall heights in the outfield to give us a unique home-field advantage.
"On the baseball operations side, upping our recruiting efforts is one of our main areas of focus. Widening the pool of players we are able to bring in will give us the best chance to have the right nine on the field at all times. Whether this be players from Ontario, other parts of Canada, or from overseas, we want to bring in as much talent as we can and give the City of Kitchener a consistent winning ball club.''
Mike Boehmer is no longer the general manager of the Kitchener Panthers. Photo supplied.
No sooner had the Panthers been sold when the new ownership dismissed general manager Mike Boehmer. He had been the GM since 2018. Taking over from him is Hirani, who played for the Panthers in 2018. He boasts a degree from Columbia University in sports management.
"The new ownership group will be great for the Panthers and for the IBL. And I look forward to supporting them during this transition period,’’ Boehmer told me.
Despite the fact Boehmer is no longer the GM, Pegg said Boehmer will still be heavily involved with the Panthers "for at least this coming year’’ as assistant GM. Boehmer has already secured the services of Cuban players for the 2025 season.
"Mike is the guy who engineers the Cuban imports. Believe me, he and the new group have gotten to know each other pretty good,'' Pegg said.
David Schooley said he wasn’t sure if he was related to Dennis Schooley, who was involved for many years with the now-defunct IBL squad from Stratford.
All in all, it’s a great deal for baseball in Kitchener. Fans should have plenty of gratitude to Pegg, Boehmer and their group for making the Panthers a class organization for the last 16 years.