Michigan Baseball Foundation

Michigan Baseball Foundation (MBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Midland, Michigan. It was created in 2005 around the idea that professional baseball could contribute to the renewal of a mid-sized industrial community. Rather than operating only as a conventional charitable foundation, MBF describes its model as a social enterprise: taxable business activities generate operating income, while profits are directed toward youth organizations, economic development, and projects intended to improve quality of life in Midland and nearby communities. The foundation's origins are closely associated with William S. Stavropoulos, then chairman of The Dow Chemical Company. Stavropoulos believed that a minor-league baseball club and a new downtown ballpark could help stimulate investment, activity, and civic energy in Midland. Dow Chemical supported the initiative alongside several other Midland-based institutions and foundations, including Dow Corning Corporation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and the Bill and Linda Stavropoulos Foundation. MBF pursued the acquisition of an existing minor-league club while also planning a new stadium. In September 2005, with assistance from baseball executive Tom Dickson, the organization negotiated the purchase of the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays of Battle Creek. Because the Internal Revenue Service would not grant tax-exempt status to a professional baseball team, MBF established a separate taxable operating corporation, initially called Michigan Baseball Operation, to own the team and conduct related commercial activity. MBF later developed MBF Enterprises as an operating vehicle for its business interests. The foundation began stadium construction in downtown Midland in April 2006 on land donated by Dow Chemical. Dow also acquired the naming rights, and the venue became Dow Diamond. During construction, the team continued to play in Battle Creek. Following the 2006 season, the club was renamed the Great Lakes Loons and prepared for its move to Midland. Dow Diamond opened for the Loons' first home game on April 13, 2007. Dow Diamond is the central physical asset associated with MBF. The facility was designed with features unusual for a typical minor-league venue, including a solar-powered scoreboard, bottle-filling stations, broad event-use areas, and venue-wide wireless internet. The ballpark received recognition from Ballpark Digest as its ballpark of the year in 2007 and has also received favorable assessments from Stadium Journey. The stadium serves as the home of the Great Lakes Loons and as a venue for community, entertainment, and other events. MBF expanded its sports-media holdings in 2008 by purchasing WLUN, the radio broadcaster associated with the Loons. WLUN, branded as Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt and affiliated with Fox Sports Radio, operates from Pinconning, Michigan. Through direct ownership and subsidiaries, MBF has therefore connected venue management, minor-league baseball, broadcasting, and charitable reinvestment. The foundation's beneficiaries have included youth and amateur sports groups such as girls' softball, local 4-H activities, and Midland soccer. Its community role also extends beyond sport. MBF has supported Momentum Midland, a collection of downtown and riverfront improvement efforts involving recreational amenities, pedestrian and bicycle connections, and measures intended to encourage business activity. The organization's significance lies in this combination of civic redevelopment, sports entertainment, and philanthropy rather than in a conventional consumer-brand offering.

Michigan Baseball Foundation was created in 2005 in Midland, Michigan, after William S. Stavropoulos, then chairman of The Dow Chemical Company, proposed using minor-league baseball as a catalyst for community renewal. He had observed baseball-related redevelopment in other American communities and believed that a professional team, a downtown stadium, and associated activity could produce similar benefits in Midland. Dow Chemical and five other Midland-based supporters backed the initiative: Dow Corning Corporation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and the Bill and Linda Stavropoulos Foundation. Stavropoulos became MBF's founding chief executive and chair. The proposed organization was intended to combine business operations with charitable reinvestment, making it a social enterprise rather than a conventional sports company. To secure a team, MBF hired Tom Dickson, owner of the Lansing Lugnuts, as a consultant. In September 2005, it negotiated the purchase of the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays, a nearby Battle Creek minor-league club. During the approval process, MBF sought 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS determined that a professional baseball team could not itself receive the requested tax-exempt treatment. MBF responded by creating Michigan Baseball Operation, a separate taxable corporation owned by the foundation, to acquire and operate the team after the sale was finalized on June 2, 2006. At the same time, MBF planned a new ballpark in downtown Midland. Construction began on April 14, 2006, on land donated by Dow Chemical. Dow purchased the facility's naming rights, resulting in the name Dow Diamond. Because the construction schedule overlapped with the 2006 season, the acquired team continued to play at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek. After that season, the club was renamed the Great Lakes Loons in preparation for its relocation. Dow Diamond was completed in early 2007. The Great Lakes Loons played their first home game at the stadium on April 13, establishing the venue as the foundation's principal public-facing asset. The stadium incorporated several amenities not commonly associated with minor-league facilities, including a solar-powered scoreboard, bottle-filling stations, an enclosed-capable concourse for events, and free wireless internet. The project received Ballpark Digest's ballpark-of-the-year recognition in 2007 and later favorable evaluations from Stadium Journey. The reference material reports a construction cost of $34 million. MBF broadened its operating platform in 2008 by purchasing WLUN, the official radio broadcaster of the Loons. The station, later presented as Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt and affiliated with Fox Sports Radio, gave the foundation an additional sports-media operation. Through MBF Enterprises and related operating structures, the foundation has controlled or operated Dow Diamond, the Great Lakes Loons, and WLUN. The foundation's business model directs profits from the stadium and taxable enterprises toward charitable and civic purposes. Reported beneficiaries include girls' softball, local 4-H activities, and Midland soccer. MBF has also supported Momentum Midland, a set of downtown and riverfront projects involving public recreation, pedestrian and bicycle access, and efforts to encourage commercial activity. Its institutional identity therefore combines minor-league baseball ownership, venue management, broadcasting, and philanthropy, with community development as the intended long-term outcome.

• 2008

  MBF acquires WLUN

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation adds the Loons' official radio broadcaster to its operating portfolio.

• 2007

  Great Lakes Loons play first home game at Dow Diamond

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The new Midland ballpark opens for the Loons' first home game on April 13.

• 2007

  Dow Diamond is named Ballpark Digest's ballpark of the year

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The stadium receives industry recognition during its opening year.

• 2006

  Michigan Baseball Operation acquires the team

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Following approval of the sale, MBF's taxable operating corporation becomes owner of the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays.

• 2006

  Dow Diamond construction begins

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Construction starts on a new downtown Midland ballpark on land donated by Dow Chemical.

• 2006

  The team is renamed the Great Lakes Loons

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The former Southwest Michigan Devil Rays receive a new identity before relocating from Battle Creek to Midland.

• 2005

  Michigan Baseball Foundation is established

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  MBF is formed in Midland to pursue minor-league baseball and a downtown stadium under a nonprofit social-enterprise model.

• 2005

  Purchase negotiations begin for the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays

  [1]Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  With Tom Dickson serving as a consultant, MBF negotiates to acquire the Battle Creek minor-league franchise.

A nonprofit social enterprise that uses baseball, venue operations, and sports media to support youth programs and community improvement in Midland and surrounding areas.

• Baseball stadium and event venue · 2007

  Dow Diamond

  Dow Diamond is a baseball stadium in downtown Midland, Michigan, owned and operated by MBF. It is the home venue of the Great Lakes Loons and also supports community, entertainment, and other events. Its design includes a solar-powered scoreboard, bottle-filling stations, an adaptable concourse, and venue-wide wireless internet. Dow Chemical holds the naming-rights association, while the facility functions as MBF's principal public venue and a source of revenue for the foundation's charitable mission.

• Minor-league baseball team · 2007

  Great Lakes Loons

  The Great Lakes Loons are the minor-league baseball club acquired through MBF's operating structure. The team was previously known as the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays and was renamed before moving from Battle Creek to Midland. The Loons play their home games at Dow Diamond and are affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers according to the reference material.

• Sports radio station · 2008

  WLUN / Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt

  WLUN is a sports radio station associated with the Great Lakes Loons and acquired by MBF in 2008. The station has been presented under the Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt branding and operates from Pinconning, Michigan. Its programming and broadcast role extend MBF's presence beyond the stadium and connect the foundation's baseball enterprise with regional sports media.

• 2005Minor-league baseball and Midland redevelopment initiative

  Midland · Central Michigan

  MBF's founding initiative positioned a minor-league baseball club and a new downtown stadium as tools for community revitalization and economic activity.

  Outcome. The initiative produced the Great Lakes Loons, Dow Diamond, and a nonprofit operating model that reinvests enterprise profits in local programs.

  Source
• Community youth and civic reinvestment

  Midland · Surrounding communities

  MBF directs profits and charitable support toward youth organizations, including girls' softball, local 4-H activities, and Midland soccer, while also supporting community-improvement initiatives.

  Outcome. The foundation's support has contributed to its stated social-enterprise mission, although the supplied sources do not provide a consolidated financial or impact total.

  Source
• Momentum Midland support

  Midland

  MBF supports Momentum Midland, a group of projects focused on downtown and Tittabawassee River improvements, recreation, pedestrian and bicycle connections, and business activity.

  Outcome. The initiative has been associated with planned or developed public-realm and economic-development improvements in Midland; the supplied sources do not quantify MBF's contribution.

  Source

• 2008

  Acquire WLUNM&A

  Background

  MBF sought to control an important media outlet connected to its baseball operation.

  Action taken

  The foundation purchased WLUN, the official radio broadcaster of the Great Lakes Loons.

  Aftermath

  MBF added regional sports broadcasting to its stadium and baseball operations.

  Source

• 2006

  Create a taxable operating corporation for professional baseballStrategy

  Background

  The Internal Revenue Service would not grant tax-exempt status to a professional baseball team, creating a structural conflict with MBF's intended nonprofit social-enterprise model.

  Action taken

  MBF established Michigan Baseball Operation as a separate taxable corporation owned by the foundation to acquire and operate the team.

  Aftermath

  The structure allowed the team to be purchased and operated while MBF retained its nonprofit foundation role and charitable objectives.

  Source

• 2006

  Build Dow Diamond in downtown MidlandProduct launch

  Background

  MBF needed a permanent home for the acquired baseball club and viewed a downtown stadium as a potential catalyst for community activity.

  Action taken

  Construction began on land donated by Dow Chemical, with Dow purchasing the venue's naming rights.

  Aftermath

  Dow Diamond opened in 2007 and became the home of the renamed Great Lakes Loons.

  Reported stadium construction cost. $34 million (Construction completed in early 2007)

  Source

• 2006

  Rename the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays as the Great Lakes LoonsGeneration change

  Background

  The acquired club was preparing to move from Battle Creek to the new Midland stadium.

  Action taken

  MBF changed the team's name to the Great Lakes Loons before the relocation.

  Aftermath

  The Loons began playing home games at Dow Diamond in April 2007.

  Source

1. 1Michigan Baseball Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Michigan Baseball Foundation official websitemichiganbaseballfoundation.org