Australian Team in 2019 CPBL Season Not Happening
On January 15, 2019, Baseball Australia confirmed they are not able to compete in the 2019 CPBL minor league season due to a number of operational reasons. The Australian team, however, have its eyes set for 2020 and 2021 to re-join the CPBL.
“Baseball Australia after careful review has determined that we are unable to take up this offer for 2019,” said Baseball Australia’s CEO Cam Vale via the press release. “It does not mean we won’t continue to work with the CPBL and the CPBL teams to achieve this goal in a future year.”
Future Goals Between CPBL and Baseball Australia
Although joining the CPBL minor league will not happen this year. Baseball Australia remains committed to working with the CPBL on the following:
- Australian team enter the CPBL minor league in 2020 or 2021 season.
- Taiwanese team enter the Australian Baseball League (ABL) in 2019 or 2020 season.
- Proposal for Taiwanese team in the ABL will be ready by April 2019.
Requirement for Baseball Australia to Join CPBL
According to an article on Sports Vision by Uncle Vincent, the author released some interesting information regarding the CPBL’s terms to Baseball Australia.
- Baseball Australia to confirm they will join the CPBL by January 15, 2019.
- $65,000 USD as security deposit before February 28, 2019.
- $300,000 USD to cover the expenses for the 2019 second half minor league season. Total of 40 games with 20 home games based in one home stadium.
- Douliu, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Pingtung stadium are the potential home facility.
- Baseabll Australia required to cover all the additional expenses incurred during their 20 home games.
- Should Baseball Australia wish to broadcast the 40 games in Australia, an additional $240,000 is required as the production fee.
The figures mentioned above does not cover meals, accommodations, travel cost and other Australian Team day-to-day operational expenses.
Baseball Australia Unable to Join Due to Funding?
Many people speculate the lack of funding was the main reason behind this, upon doing some research on the Australian Institute of Sport website. We found Baseball Australia received a funding of $562,500 AUD for 2018-19. (Roughly $403,000 USD)
Assuming this funding is for covering the operational expenses of the Australian Baseball League (ABL), Australian National Teams, domestic tournaments and other overheads.
Knowing that, it makes us wonder how much money still available for Baseball Australia to use to enter the CPBL minor league. Below is the historic AIS funding to Baseball Australia from 2014 to 2019.
Having said that, I did not factor in the potential donations and corporate sponsorship from either Australia or Taiwan. Maybe there is enough funding available for Baseball Australia when they compete in the CPBL minor league.
CPBL Not Being Reasonable During Negotiation
Leading up to the January 15 deadline, there were plenty of rumours and speculations on how the CPBL was being unreasonable and not accommodating.
It includes the CPBL on several occasions ignoring Baseball Australia’s request on providing a more precise understanding of how they can move up to the CPBL Major League.
A source close to the bid told the CPBL STATS the following information regarding to this CPBL – Baseball Australia deal.
“We received the information on December 20, 2018, and were told to confirm everything by January 15, 2019. We asked for a one-month extension (February 15, 2019) to respond, but the CPBL denied this request.” (EDIT NOTES: Changed from new terms to information)
“Considering we are in the middle of the ABL season and this period was across Christmas, and New Year holiday, we thought it was poor form displayed by the CPBL.”
“We specifically asked for the proposal from the CPBL to contain a clear path to the CPBL Major League, and it didn’t, nothing was mentioned despite our request.”
“We starting to have some doubts to some senior CPBL figures being supportive of our bid to join the CPBL.”