Loudoun Hounds

Loudoun Hounds
Team logo Cap insignia
League Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Location Ashburn, Virginia
Ballpark Edelman Financial Field
Year founded 2010
Nickname(s) The Dogs
Colors Maroon, black, khaki, ecru, white
                        
Ownership VIP Sports & Entertainment
Media Loudoun Times-Mirror; Leesburg Today; Ashburn Patch; Leesburg Patch
Website www.loudounhounds.com

The Loudoun Hounds were a planned minor league baseball team based in Ashburn, Virginia. They were first anticipated to begin play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league, upon completion of their stadium, Edelman Financial Field. The organization was established in 2010, but due to funding issues they have ruled out fielding a team until further notice.[1][2][3] It's been reported that the Loudoun Hounds have closed their offices and disconnected their phones.[4]

History

VIP Baseball (now known as VIP Sports & Entertainment) worked for several years to bring a ballpark and a team to Loudoun County. In July 2009, Loudoun County politicians approved the ballpark project put forth by VIP Baseball.[5] The organization also pursued a franchise in the North American Soccer League (NASL), which was awarded in 2012 and named the Virginia Cavalry FC. It was anticipated to share the Hounds' stadium.[3]

The Hounds hosted their Inaugural FanFest on Sunday, February 13, 2011. The event was attended by approximately 9,800 fans.[6] Baseball legends such as Frank Howard, Tommy John, Boog Powell, Cecil Fielder, Bobby Richardson, among about 15 others, appeared for autographs and panel discussions at Stone Bridge High School. The team's mascot Fetch was also publicly introduced at FanFest by noted broadcast personality Johnny Holliday.

Initially expected to begin with the 2012 season with the new ballpark's completion, delays forced by the timeline of the team's land development partner motivated a relocation of the planned 5,500-seat facility to the One Loudoun development, announced in October 2012.

In April 2013, Loudoun County's Board of Supervisors cast a unanimous vote in favor of a rezoning application filed by One Loudoun, allowing the special events venue to be constructed at the site.[7] The facility will be immediately visible from the southwestern corner of the interchange of Virginia Route 7 and the Loudoun County Parkway.

Ground was broken for Edelman Financial Field on June 4, 2013, with the franchise's inaugural year anticipated for 2014.[8] As of November 27, 2013, according to the Washington Post, it appears that only minor work has been done on the One Loudoun site, but there is nothing which looks like the beginning of a baseball stadium.[3] On November 27, CEO and Chairman Bob Farren, the team's primary backer, stepped down; on December 9 the team announced they would not play in 2014 due to the delays in their stadium's construction.[1]

Logos and uniforms

Chosen by fan voting in September 2010, the name "Hounds" reflects the foxhunting and equestrian traditions of Loudoun County. It is a fusion of many hound-related names submitted by fans, including "foxhounds" after the Virginia state dog.[9] Among other candidate names were Dulles Blue Heron and Virginia Silver Stars.

The team's name, logo, and uniforms were unveiled on September 21, 2010, with Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who played for the Washington Senators, among several hundred attendance.[10] Currently another former member of the Washington Senators, Frank Howard, serves as the franchise's official Baseball Ambassador.[11] The team's colors will be maroon, black, khaki, and ecru. The primary logo consists of a stylized canine face with a baseball in the mouth, with the "Loudoun Hounds" wordmark centered above.

The Hounds' uniforms – manufactured by Under Armour – are traditional in design. The home cap is black with a maroon button, and the interlocking "LH" logo centered on the front in maroon, khaki, and white. The home jerseys are white with traditional black piping. The "Hounds" wordmark is centered across the front of the jersey in maroon, outlined in khaki. The numbers front and back are black outlined in maroon with the ends of the numbers shaped like dog bones. The away jersey is maroon with khaki piping and the "Loudoun" wordmark centered across the front in black, outlined in khaki and white.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 Sousa, Dan (9 December 2013). "Loudoun Hounds Rule Out Playing Baseball in 2014". Viva Loudoun. Loudoun County, Virginia. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "VIRGINIA CAVALRY FC TO BEGIN PLAY IN 2015". www.virginiacavalry.com. Virginia Cavalry FC. December 6, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Jackman, Tom (27 November 2013). "Bob Farren steps down as head of Loudoun Hounds, VIP Entertainment". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: One Loudoun seeks to terminate stadium lease; looks for new baseball and soccer owners". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Loudoun County, Virginia. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Loudoun supervisors OK new Atlantic League ballpark". July 21, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ Gibson, Caitlin (February 17, 2011). "Loudoun Hounds' first FanFest is a hit for baseball lovers". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  7. ↑ Baratko, Trevor (April 3, 2013). "Hounds find a home at One Loudoun". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Loudoun County, Virginia. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  8. ↑ Neibauer, Michael (2013-06-04). "Loudoun Hounds to play ball at Edelman Financial Field". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  9. ↑ "Name choices for Loudoun County baseball". Ballpark Digest. February 15, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ "New Loudoun County team to announce name, logo Sept. 21". Ballpark Digest. September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Front Office". Loudoun Hounds.
  12. ↑ Arezzo, Jennifer (February 14, 2011). "Hounds Fetch Huge Crowd". Ashburn, Virginia: Ashburn Patch. Retrieved February 15, 2011.

Official websites

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