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Reports indicate Orem Owlz preparing to move to Pueblo, Colorado

By Jared Lloyd daily Herald - | Jun 19, 2018

Minor league baseball fans in Utah Valley better enjoy the 2018 season because it might be one of the last ones in the area for the Orem Owlz.

Colorado television KOAA reported Monday that Owlz owner Jeff Katofsky is expected to announce Wednesday that he will be moving the team to Pueblo in the near future.

The rookie league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels arrived in the area in 2001 and competed at BYU’s Miller Park as the Provo Angels through 2004.

At that point the team changed owners and made a deal with what was then Utah Valley State College to build and share a new stadium in Orem, which has been the home of the Owlz ever since.

A variety of issues regarding the stadium arose over the years as the Owlz and Utah Valley (now a university) differed on how the facility would be shared.

The team enjoyed quite a bit of success, having won five Pioneer League titles; one while in Provo (2004) and four while in Orem (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2016). More than 75 players who played for the team have reached the major leagues.

According to the Pueblo Chieftain, the newspaper in Pueblo, the city was identified and promoted as a potential location for a minor league team by Major League Baseball. The city appears to be open to the idea of building a new $25 million facility that would include a new stadium for the team.

The Chieftain reports that “Pueblo County will host a public meet-and-greet with the team owner at 11 a.m. at the Runyon Field Complex. The community is invited to attend to celebrate the occasion and welcome the team to Pueblo.”

No official timetable on the move has been released at this time.

Orem just began its 2018 campaign, starting 1-3 in its four-game road trip to Grand Junction. The Owlz will play at Ogden on June 19 and 20 before the home opener against the Raptors on June 21.

Check back for complete details and reactions to the upcoming announcement.

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