VAN MCNEIL WRITING SAMPLE 1 - MKESE - KOKOMO BASEBALL PRESS RELEASE FINAL 090214

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 2 nd . 2014.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: vanm@mkesports.com
MKE Sports & Entertainment, Public Relations, Van McNeil. 262.221.9911
Kokomo Mayor, Greg Goodnight 765.456.xxxx
MKE Sports & Entertainment Owner, Mike Zimmerman 414.617.xxxx
City of Kokomo Director of Operations, Randy McKay 765.456.xxxx
MKE Sports & Entertainment Operations Director, Dan Kuenzi 262.955.xxxx
KOKOMO SETS EYES ON BECOMING MAJOR PLAYER IN BASEBALL INDUSTRY.
For most big league ball players their prospect debuts begin or continue in summer
wood bat leagues across the nation. With 50 different summer collegiate leagues all
around the US and Canada it’s a big business and a major driver towards the scouting
and development of future MLB stars. Of the 50 plus leagues, only a select few drive
the bulk of the collegiate prospects. Towards the top of that list is a league named the
Prospect League, the league that will be coming to the great city of Kokomo.
MKE Sports & Entertainment, a sports and entertainment company, headquartered in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin is excited to announce that baseball will return to the “City of
Firsts”, for the first time in 54 years. Under the deal, MKE Sports & Entertainment will
bring and operate an expansion team playing in the Prospect League beginning in the
summer of 2015. In addition, the Prospect League is looking into moving it’s corporate
headquarters to Kokomo in an effort to grow and improve the league.
“I believe Kokomo will be one of the premier franchises in all of summer collegiate ball,”
said Prospect League Founder and Chillicothe Paints owner Chris Hanners. “The city is
a perfect spot for a franchise and we see it as the showcase for our league going
forward. Given the partnership between the city of Kokomo and MKE Sports &
Entertainment we have ambitious goals for the Prospect League and this transaction
positions the league to make great strides.”
City of Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight stated, "This is a proud day for the city and the
residents of Kokomo. We are bringing baseball back to this city and doing so with terrific
partners. We interviewed a number of potential organizations and chose Mike's group
because of his track record as a successful entrepreneur and his work with a like city to
help transform a city through sports and entertainment related venues. Since we see

the stadium as a catalyst for continued economic development for our city it was a
perfect fit. Mike has a vision that goes beyond just baseball and we are excited about all
that can be done.”
Michael Zimmerman, Founder and CEO of MKE Sports & Entertainment stated, "I have
been all over the Midwest in the past six months looking for the right opportunity for
baseball. After spending the day with Mayor Goodnight and city staff, as well as
attending a local youth baseball game, I was hooked on Kokomo. The energy of the
community with their love for sports and the revitalization project currently underway
downtown is the perfect storm…. it’s a real recipe for success. I am truly humbled and
grateful that the city has chosen my group to represent the great city of Kokomo."
The new team will compete in the Prospect League and will play all of its home games
at the new 4,000-capicity Kokomo Municipal Stadium located south of Wildcat Creek
between Union Street & Apperson Way. This is the first new baseball stadium in
Kokomo, since Highland Park Stadium was built in 1955. That stadium was once home
of the Kokomo Dodgers (1956-1961), a minor league affiliate of the former Brooklyn
Dodgers. Construction on Kokomo Municipal Stadium is already underway and is
expected to open in the spring of 2015.
MKE Sports & Entertainment has also launched a contest to seek community input for
the team nickname. Fans can visit www.KokomoBaseball.com to submit their team
name for a chance to win a $2,500 cash prize. The team name, colors and logo will be
unveiled at a special event; exact date and location will be announced. Season tickets
can be reserved on a first come, first serve basis by submitting a $100 deposit online as
well.
MKE Sports & Entertainment:
MKE Sports & Entertainment owns and operates professional sports team, sports complexes, and other
entertainment entities in the Midwest including The Rock Sports Complex in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee
Wave Professional Soccer Team playing in the Major Arena Soccer League and the Rockford Aviators
Baseball team playing in the Frontier League. For even more information about MKE Sports &
Entertainment and everything we do visit MKESports.com
Prospect League:
The Prospect League was founded in 1963 – known as The Central Illinois Collegiate League until
merging in 2009 - and is one of the longest continuously operating, independent, summer collegiate
baseball leagues in the country. With the addition of Kokomo, IN the Prospect League will have 12 teams

competing in a six state region: Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Visit
ProspectLeague.com for more information
City of Kokomo, Indiana:
Kokomo, Indiana is located fifty miles north of Indianapolis, easily reached by U.S. 31. Kokomo is known
as the City of Firsts thanks to its world-renowned automotive heritage and history of technological
inventions, which includes America's First Car produced by Elwood Haynes in 1894. Kokomo's historic
downtown offers a wide variety of interesting attractions, which include family friendly parks, the Wildcat
Creek Walk of Excellence walking and biking trail, intercity bikeways, farmers' market, summertime openair
concerts and more. Visit CityOfKokomo.org for more information.
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