Even though his football career has wrapped up, Regina’s Jon Ryan is keeping himself busy. Earlier this week, he became a part owner of the Lake County Captains.
The former CFL-NFL punter joined Michael Ball on Wednesday’s edition of the SportsCage to discuss his purchasing a stake in the Cleveland Guardians High A minor league affiliate.
Lake County is the third minor baseball franchise that Ryan has a share in ownership with Alan Miller of COLLiDE Sport. The first team that the 41-year-old purchased a share in was the Portland Pickles of the West Coast League about eight years ago.
He says along with his football dreams, he always had a passion for baseball.
“I just love the game. Just watching it is such a different experience than football.”
He says that the unique nature of a minor league game is what attracted him to owning a team.
“When I started going to minor league games I fell inside with the business side of it, the promotions, all the different things you can do at the ballpark to make it a different experience every night.”
Ryan added the atmosphere they have created with the Pickles is something he wants to carry over into Lake County.
With the change of ownership, the Captains have already announced some new initiatives for the 2023 season. In a news release, the organization says there will be live broadcasts for their home games, new items on the food and beverage menus and a new “super awesome fun zone” featuring a nine-hole mini golf course.
The Regina product says he is always open to the idea of owning a share in the Regina Red Sox but gave credit to the current ownership with the work they have done in the Queen City led by Gary Brotzel. Ryan hopes a new ballpark stadium is in Regina’s future.
“It’s well overdue, the ball park that play in now is lets face it, it’s old and it’s run down. They need something new.”
The Pickles are the leaders in attendance of the West Coast League and claim they are the leaders of “good times. ”
Ryan and the COLLiDE Sport group hope they can create another good time with Lake County.
