The Dallas/Fort Worth-located Texas Rangers Major League Baseball business has fired several staff members from its front headquarters team. This happens about two weeks after Tom Hicks, the Rangers owner, claimed he was looking to sell the team. Rangers spokesman John Blake said in the past that only 10 percent of the personnel was fired. He also said that the likely sale of the team was one of several factors that created the firings. Before staff was cut, the Rangers had about 275 people, including personnel whose jobs are on the playing field.
The firings came despite a spike of ticket sales and turnout. Fan turnout has grown to 867,016, approximately 11 percent through the same time last year, as of yesterdays game against the Houston Astros, the opening sport of a three-game interleague sequence.
Last month, Hicks claimed that he would be willing to sell controlling interest in the Rangers firm, due in part since to monetary issues he is facing. Earlier this year, Hicks Sports Group, the commercial title for Hicks sports endeavors, defaulted on $525 million in loans backed by the Rangers and the NHLs Dallas Stars. Hicks also has the Stars.
Hicks purchased the Rangers for $250 million in 1998. The previous controlling interest was owned by former U.S. President George W. Bush. Since then, he restructured the team several times, once spurring the signing of shortstop (since turned third baseman) Alex Rodriguez, and then another time spurring a trade to the New York Yankees, an American League competitor.
In February of 2008, Hicks brought in 62-year-old Nolan Ryan as president of the team. Ryan is a Hall of Fame pitcher who ascended to fame as the number one of the more than a few pitching rotations including the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers, although he is best known with the Rangers.
Last month, Forbes valued the Rangers association at $405 million, which seats them at 15th out of the 30 Major League Baseball teams. Two years in the past, Hicks combined with Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. to buy the English soccer club Liverpool through a different unit than Hicks Sports Group.Want to be aware of more regarding
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