Visalia Rawhide's future in question as major stadium improvements still needed

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Visalia has had a shot squad for 77 years, but the team's aboriginal is successful question pursuing adjacent season.

Per Major League Baseball guidelines, the Visalia Rawhide needs stadium improvements.

The squad asked the City of Visalia to marque those changes.

However, the declaration says the metropolis is lone liable for up to $200,000 a twelvemonth successful stadium improvements.

The metropolis filed a suit against the team's ownership successful December 2022.

A South Valley justice did not regularisation successful favour of either party, putting into question the aboriginal of shot successful Visalia.

"Baseball has installation standards, and it says if teams bash not person compliant stadiums, they volition beryllium deemed non-compliant and non-compliant," explained Sam Sigal, president and co-owner of the Visalia Rawhide. "I'm not speaking for Major League Baseball, but it volition pb to teams that are successful non-compliant stadiums to move."

On the database of upgrades for Valley Strong Stadium to get compliant are improved lighting, added padding to outfield walls and improved and unafraid parking areas.

The database besides includes a immense betterment to subordinate clubhouses that are excessively tiny to conscionable modern standards and adding a pistillate player's clubhouse.

"We person tried to negociate with the city. It is hard to bash truthful erstwhile they don't nonstop radical with decision-making powers," said Sigal.

He says helium plans connected attending a Visalia City Council gathering scheduled for January 16.

Visalia Mayor Brian Poochigian told the Sun-Gazette Newspaper successful a statement:

"Visalia is arrogant of our 77-year past arsenic the location of a insignificant league shot team. Hopefully, the caller tribunal ruling volition bring Rawhide Ownership and the City backmost to moving with the agreed-upon mediator to scope a tenable solution to continuing this large Visalia tradition."