The future of the minor-league baseball team that has occupied a stadium with a view of Philadelphia's skyline is unclear.
The Camden Riversharks' general manager says the Atlantic League team wants to stay at Campbell's Field in Camden.
But the Camden County Improvement Authority, which owns the stadium, is considering the team's offer and has heard from other teams that might want to play there.
"We want to stay here in Camden," said Riversharks General Manager Lindsay Rosenberg. "We've been here 15 years, and we want to be here another 15."
The county government entity is a new landlord for the team, which has had years of financial turmoil.
The improvement authority closed in August in a deal to buy the 6,700-seat stadium, which technically had belonged to Rutgers University. But the $3.5 million purchase price went to a bank that had sued the baseball team, saying it owed $4 million.
County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli said in a statement that the team wants the stadium to be used and wants a long-term tenant that will make taxpayers whole in the deal. He also said other teams — though he did not say which ones, or if they're affiliated with big-league clubs — have expressed interest in the stadium.
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The Riversharks, who average more than 3,000 fans per game, play in the independent Atlantic League.
If the deal doesn't work to stay in Camden, they could have a new home in New Britain, Connecticut. That city's Rock Cats, who are affiliated with the Colorado Rockies, are moving next year to a stadium in Hartford.
The Atlantic League said it plans to have a team in New Britain next year, though it hasn't determined whether it will be an existing franchise or an expansion team.
