Wausau, WI – Governor Evers recently announced that $2.8mm of grants will be made available to minor league sports teams in the State of Wisconsin. The grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan of 2021. Minor League sports teams are important community assets throughout Wisconsin and that is especially true in Wausau where the Wisconsin Woodchucks reside. The 2020 season was extremely challenging for the Woodchucks with capacity limitations and extra expenses necessary to protect against the spread of the virus. The reopening has created other unique challenges in 2021 as fans have started to return to Athletic Park. The Woodchucks have survived by drawing on reserves and on owners’ contributions.
“The support from the State of Wisconsin will help the Woodchucks, the City of Wausau and Central Wisconsin recover,” said Woodchucks Owner Mark Macdonald. “Early in 2020 when we first learned of the pandemic, we knew the Woodchucks would be a valuable player in containing the spread of the virus and helping the community recover.” With the help of City Officials, Marathon County Parks Department and our trusted health care partners, the Woodchucks played a 48-game schedule in 2020. “In the summer of 2020 we wanted to demonstrate how to operate carefully in a pandemic and I believed we succeeded”, said Mark Macdonald.
Because of the unique nature on the Northwoods League teams and other Minor League sports, they were excluded from other grants and support offered by the State of Wisconsin. These grant funds will only partially cover the losses experienced in 2020, but they will go a long way toward demonstrating support for important community assets like the Woodchucks. The Woodchucks not only serve as a source of family fun and entertainment, but also employ about 80-100 people each season and bring visitors from out of town into the Wausau community. These grant funds will help the Woodchucks to continue to be an important part of the local economy. The Woodchucks would like to thank the Governor for recognizing the important role that these teams play in our communities.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 27-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.
