The New York Mets signed a five-year contract extension with the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau and the city of Kingsport that will keep the minor league Kingsport Mets at Hunter Wright.
The agreement extends a long-running commitment between the Model City, the KCVB and the Mets. The K-Mets have had a player development contract with New York since 1980, making them the eighth-longest affiliated team in minor league baseball.
The New York organization took over day-to-day operations of the K-Mets three years ago. Over that time the team has seen an increase in attendance, an improved ballpark atmosphere and improvements made to the stadium by the city. The upgrades will continue in 2016 when the KCVB and the Mets plan renovations to the home clubhouse.
Source: Kingsport Times-News
I knew the affiliation went back to the 90s but didn’t realize it was 1980. That’s pretty impressive. Also didn’t realize the Mets operated the club. Add it all up and there’s no reason to think they won’t be in Kingsport for a long, long time.
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I’ve had the pleasure to visit Kingsport a couple of times in the mid eighties…great town and glad to hear this. I miss Tidewater.
What would be better would be if somehow the team can get out of Las Vegas as its AAA affiliate. Geographically they need some place closer to New York and they need to get away from a ballpark -and even a league – where pitching and hitting stats get grossly distorted. Just MHO.