Expansion Plan

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Borealis
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Expansion Plan

#1 Post by Borealis »

In case you haven't heard the news or didn't read our in-character attempt to present the information, the PEBA will be expanding for the 2029 season. A number of factors went into the decision, but the health of the League and our getting back in sync with the OOTP new version releases gives the Board the confidence to move forward with this plan.

One of the primary motives was to bring equity to the Leagues, as adding two teams to the IL will give each League 14 teams, and will balance the minor Leagues across the board as well.

Here is the plan, in case you had trouble deciphering the storyline:

Plan to expand PEBA to 28 teams, beginning in 2028-29 off-season.

1. Teams added
The two teams that will be added to PEBA will be the Manchester Maulers and Charleston Statesmen, both currently in the WIL.
- Manchester will be added to the Seaboard Division
- Charleston will be added to the Dixie Division

Part of this plan will have Amsterdam moving into the Trans-Atlantic. Thus the IL Divisions will look like this:
- Seaboard: West Virginia, Arlington, Hartford, Manchester
- Dixie: Florida, Kentucky, New Orleans, San Antonio, Charleston
- Trans-Atlantic: Havana, Scottish, London, San Juan, Amsterdam

2. Date added
The teams will be added at the beginning of Free Agency, during Offseason Sim 4 (May 13), in order to take full advantage of Free Agency, Rule 5 and be present at the Winter Meetings.

3. Initial Rosters / Voiding of contracts
There will be no expansion draft. Instead, the teams will maintain their current WIL rosters - both their 25-man roster and their reserve roster. These will form the initial core of their organizations.

Teams will be given the option to void up to two (2) player contracts to enhance the team’s financial flexibility. Voided contracts need to be declared to PEBA’s Board no later than the beginning of Winter Meetings (May 25) in order to be valid.

4. Minor League teams
The WIL did not have a minor league system, instead using a reserve roster as a means of having 'back-ups'. When Manchester and Charleston move to PEBA (May 13), they will also have their minor league teams added to each level. These teams will be filled with their reserve roster and (minor league) free agents. The minor league teams will be as follows:

Manchester
AAA Iowa City Kingpins (new location)
AA Omaha Insurers (new location)
A Portsmouth Dockhands (old team)
S A Skagway Prospectors (new franchise)

Charleston
AAA Raleigh El Dorados (old team)
AA Rockville Reckoning (old team)
A Tijuana Saguaros (new franchise)
S A Sitka Capitals (old team)

5. Team Budgets
Because of the disparity in existing budgets, the teams will be treated differently:

- Manchester’s budget for 2029 will remain at $138 million they currently have.
- Charleston’s budget for 2029 is listed at $73 million, so it will be raise to a slightly more competitive $120 million.

6. Rule 5 Draft

For the Rule 5 Draft, teams will be slotted into the following draft positions:
- Charleston will select #9
- Manchester will select #10

7. Amateur Draft Format

The draft format is noted in three parts to accommodate Manchester and Charleston's need for young players in their systems:

A. From Rounds 1-15, the new teams will select in the following positions :
- Charleston will select #9
- Manchester will select #10

B. Additionally, each team will have an extra pick at the end of rounds 10-15.
- Manchester will select next-to-last in these particular rounds (#29).
- Charleston will select last in these same rounds (#30).

C. Finally, Charleston and Manchester will select in a special set of rounds, numbered 16-25, in order to further fill their low minor league teams (specifically Short A).
- These will follow a ‘snake’ format, with the higher pick alternating each round, with Charleston picking first in round 16, and picking last in round 25. The full draft order will be announced at the appropriate time.


The goal is to provide Charleston and Manchester the opportunity to build solid foundations - the hope being that the opportunities given to these two teams will stimulate their systems, while impacting the existing teams as little as possible. We believe we have struck a nice chord. As is the case with these things - only time tells.

There will be some related changes - specifically in the minors and feeders, but those will be revealed during the winter meetings.
Michael Topham, President Golden Entertainment & President-CEO of the Aurora Borealis
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Denny
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Re: Expansion Plan

#2 Post by Denny »

That is exciting news! I confess, I thought our league was on the verge of folding last year....but not only have all the vacancies been filled, but we are actually expanding! We have really come a long way in just one season. Mike and everyone on the Board, you have done a fantastic job of reviving PEBA. :clap:
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Re: Expansion Plan

#3 Post by Lions »

Borealis wrote:6. Rule 5 Draft

For the Rule 5 Draft, teams will be slotted into the following draft positions:
- Charleston will select #9
- Manchester will select #10

7. Draft Format

The draft format is noted in three parts to accommodate Manchester and Charleston's need for young players in their systems:

A. From Rounds 1-15, the new teams will select in the following positions :
- Charleston will select #9
- Manchester will select #10

B. Additionally, each team will have an extra pick at the end of rounds 10-15.
- Manchester will select next-to-last in these particular rounds (#29).
- Charleston will select last in these same rounds (#30).

C. Finally, Charleston and Manchester will select in a special set of rounds, numbered 16-25, in order to further fill their low minor league teams (specifically Short A).
- These will follow a ‘snake’ format, with the higher pick alternating each round, with Charleston picking first in round 16, and picking last in round 25. The full draft order will be announced at the appropriate time.
Will the Rule 5 draft allow these teams to stock their minors? I thought those players needed to stay on the major league roster or go back to the original team.
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Re: Expansion Plan

#4 Post by Wind Dancers »

Badgers wrote:
Borealis wrote:6. Rule 5 Draft

For the Rule 5 Draft, teams will be slotted into the following draft positions:
- Charleston will select #9
- Manchester will select #10

7. Draft Format

The draft format is noted in three parts to accommodate Manchester and Charleston's need for young players in their systems:

A. From Rounds 1-15, the new teams will select in the following positions :
- Charleston will select #9
- Manchester will select #10

B. Additionally, each team will have an extra pick at the end of rounds 10-15.
- Manchester will select next-to-last in these particular rounds (#29).
- Charleston will select last in these same rounds (#30).

C. Finally, Charleston and Manchester will select in a special set of rounds, numbered 16-25, in order to further fill their low minor league teams (specifically Short A).
- These will follow a ‘snake’ format, with the higher pick alternating each round, with Charleston picking first in round 16, and picking last in round 25. The full draft order will be announced at the appropriate time.
Will the Rule 5 draft allow these teams to stock their minors? I thought those players needed to stay on the major league roster or go back to the original team.
#7 is in reference to the normal First-Year Player draft which will have extra rounds for the two new teams to fill their minors. The Rule 5 draft will give them the chance to draft players for their active roster.
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Re: Expansion Plan

#5 Post by Lions »

Wind Dancers wrote:
Badgers wrote:Will the Rule 5 draft allow these teams to stock their minors? I thought those players needed to stay on the major league roster or go back to the original team.
#7 is in reference to the normal First-Year Player draft which will have extra rounds for the two new teams to fill their minors. The Rule 5 draft will give them the chance to draft players for their active roster.
Ah, ok. That makes sense. It follows #6 which called out the Rule 5 draft, so it wasn't clear to me that you meant the Rule 4 draft. ;)
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Re: Expansion Plan

#6 Post by Borealis »

Thanks for pointing that out Frank - fixed!
Michael Topham, President Golden Entertainment & President-CEO of the Aurora Borealis
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