My family is trying to do activities we have never done before to make this summer exciting.  One of the things we would like to do is attend a Long Island Ducks baseball game.

The Long Island Ducks, 2004 Atlantic League champions, play at Bethpage Ballpark, located in Central Islip, N.Y. The 22 million dollar facility seats 6,002 fans, and is home to Long Island’s first professional baseball team. The Ducks principal owner is long-time Brightwaters resident Frank Boulton. Frank has owned and operated many successful minor league franchises, including the Prince William Cannons, the Albany-Colony Yankees (Class-A and AA affiliates of the New York Yankees), the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals) and the Atlantic City Surf. Frank is the founder and chairman of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Today, the Long Island Ducks won their bid to have a second minor league baseball team on Long Island. Here is the press release:

(Mineola, N.Y., July 11, 2011) – Nassau County officials today announced that the rights to operate a minor league baseball team as part of the new Coliseum development has been awarded to the Atlantic League and Frank Boulton, founder and CEO of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Boulton’s group was one of two groups to answer the County’s request for proposals, along with the New York Mets.

As a member of the Atlantic League, the Nassau County expansion team will compete against the Long Island Ducks, who have more than 18 years remaining on their lease to play in Suffolk County at Bethpage Ballpark, instantly forming an “Expressway Rivalry.”

“We are pleased to have been awarded this opportunity,” said Boulton. “We look forward to helping County Executive Ed Mangano bring affordable, family entertainment to the taxpayers of Nassau County in the same fashion the taxpayers of Suffolk have enjoyed for 12 years with the Ducks.” 

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs has brought a high level of professional baseball and affordable family entertainment to selected communities since 1998. Since beginning play 13 years ago, the contracts of more than 600 Atlantic League players have been purchased by Major League organizations. For further information, please contact the Atlantic League at (856) 541-9400.

I think that going to a Long Island Duck game could be a lot of fun – hope to see you there!