The Syracuse Chiefs to the Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Chiefs to the Syracuse Mets

The Syracuse Mets: The New Minor League Team

By Casey Buscher Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — For 11 years the Syracuse Chiefs called NBT Bank Stadium home but now, the Syracuse Mets are the new minor league team in town.

The New York Mets bought the Syracuse Chiefs a year ago for their minor league affiliate and the team name changed to the Syracuse Mets. Previously, the Chiefs were affiliated with the Washington Nationals. But with the new transition, and the fact the Syracuse team  is now a New York franchise, it is attracting fans all over.

General Manager of the Syracuse Mets Jason Smorol says he “personally thought there was going to be more backlash for losing the Chiefs name but for the most part everyone has really embraced the change over to the Syracuse Mets.”

Smorol says the transition has been smooth, especially with the amount of publicity the team has gotten from Met and Yankee fans in the area. “There’s just so many Mets fans and there is even Yankee fans that are just happy that there is a New York team here to either root for or against,” Smorol added.

There’s also a new addition to the roster who is pretty known all over the world. The two-time BCS National Champion and Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow is made his debut as a Syracuse Met this year. With the addition of Tebow, merchandise sales have gone up and fans have been interested in watching him play.

A lifelong Syracuse resident,  Jim Osinski, says he was excited to watch Tebow play this year and believes that he has brought a lot of hype around the Mets.

Overall, Smorol is ready for what’s to come for the Syracuse Mets. The New York Mets contract with the Syracuse team lasts for 25 years.

 

 

Reporter:
Syracuse Basketball, Syracuse football, Syracuse baseball … the list goes on for the sports Central New York loves…

And a little over the last decade, the Syracuse Chiefs have been beloved by Syracuse.

Smorol:
“I really personally thought there was going to be more backlash for losing the Chiefs name and really there is a few small pocket of chiefs fans out there that want to hold on to their Chiefs and I love them for it but for the most part everyone has really embraced the change over to the Syracuse Mets.”
Reporter:
For 11 years the Syracuse Chiefs called this field home.. but with the New York Mets purchase of the Syracuse Chiefs last year , the new minor league baseball team in town is now the Syracuse Mets.”

Smorol:
“And it has been nothing short of fantastic, the community’s embraced it, our merchandise sales are through the roof.”

Reporter:
Now having an affiliation with a New York franchise, fans in the Central New York seem to be excited whether a Yankee or Mets fan.

Mets Fan:
“I don’t know why they didn’t do it sooner.”

Mets Fan:
“It’s great, an hour drive from our house.. we come up here on a nice beautiful day.”

Smorol:
“There’s just so many Mets fans and there is even Yankee fans that are just happy that there is a New York team here to either root for or against.”

Reporter:
There was one addition to the Syracuse team this year.

You may have heard of the two time National Champion and Heisman winner Tim Tebow.

Well he’s now a Syracuse Met. But Smorol says Tebow wasn’t the reason the team became so popular this year.

Smorol:
“I really believe if Tim wasn’t here this year that we would have the same success that we’re having right now. I’d say its 95% Mets, 5% Tebow.” -Smorol

Thoughts on Tebow… Do you think he could be a potential New York met?
Mets Fan:
“No”

Mets Fan:
“He’s a nice guy, he does a lot for the community but we’ll go from there” – Paul

Reporter:
Well.. so maybe Met fans aren’t the biggest fan of Tebow on the field but having this celebrity in Syracuse has been exciting.

Smorol:
“He adds to the popularity, he adds to the attention but these are Mets fans.”

Reporter:
Mets fans that are ecstatic about this new minor league team.

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Casey Buscher

Casey Buscher is a Broadcast & Digital Journalism graduate student with a emphasis in sports communication from Grapevine, Texas.

Other stories by Casey Buscher

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