The New York Mets move to purchase the Syracuse Chiefs was made official on Tuesday at a press conference at NBT Bank Stadium. The Mets will own and operate the Chiefs and keep them in Syracuse until at least 2025, per a press release.

Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney, Mets Chief Operations Officer Jeff Wilpon and New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo all talked about how the move strengthens both central New York and the Mets.

“I think today is one of those good things that has a synergistic effect with everything else that’s been going on,” Cuomo said.

The Mets’ move to purchase the Chiefs will end more than six decades of community ownership of the team, currently majority-owned by the Community Baseball Club of Central New York.

The Chiefs have been the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals since 2009. When the agreement with the Nationals ends in 2018, the Mets will take full ownership of the Chiefs.

Officials did not disclose the amount of money the Mets will pay for the Chiefs.

“Play by the rules of baseball,” Wilpon said. “And do everything we have to bring a franchise here in 2019.”

Moving the Chiefs under the Mets umbrella of control was of great interest to Cuomo and his Central NY Rising initiative. It is aimed to revitalize and build the central New York economy, touting the partnership will “support economic growth in the Syracuse community for years to come.”

The Community Baseball Club’s executive board approved the sale, but nonmajority Chiefs shareholders must be notified of and approve the move, said Jason Smorol, Chiefs general manager. Major and Minor League Baseball, as well as Onondaga County, which holds the lease to the stadium, also need to approve the transaction before it can become official.

When the Mets take control, Wilpon said, the county will continue to hold the lease on the stadium while the Mets will handle day-to-day operations. The current Chiefs front office staff will also stay around.

“Jason’s staying on,” Wilpon said. “The staff is all staying on.”

With the end of community ownership of the Chiefs now seemingly imminent, Wilpon tried to assuage any fears that the Mets will take the Chiefs and skip town. The Chiefs will remain in central New York and Syracuse until at least 2025, he said.

“We’ve given our word that we’re going to be here,” Wilpon said. “There are some things in the agreement that I can’t go into, but we plan to be here long term.”

Published on October 10, 2017 at 10:49 pm

Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham