Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got a guy here and knows a thing or
two about that franchise, that organization because he helps run
the Omaha storm Chasers. His name is Marty Corderrell. He's
the president of both the Omaha Storm Chasers and Union
Omaha and he is joining us on our phone line.
Marty as always a pleasure. Thanks so much for being
on our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You know every trash can America. So you know once
the Tigers.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Won, Yeah, it's crazy, the trash Can thing, uh that
they'll until every single guy from the trash Can team
was gone. They're gonna still have to live that down.
They'll have to go through a full on rebuild before
America forgives them for that. Marty, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
When we playing sugar Land, the A team and the
National Championship about it. So, I think you're right, everybody
has to go first. But you know, we'll see what
happens this season. But it's great to see the other
from out on top.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah. So one underdog there, the City Royals. I think
a lot of people think the Baltimore Orioles are an
underdog franchise. They have a low payroll and all that stuff,
but they've won more games than the Royals. The Royals
kind of a sneaky playoff team this year. A lot
of guys that played in Omaha and it doesn't matter,
you know, how many guys went up to the big
roster here the last couple of years, because it was
(01:18):
a record setting year for the Omaha Storm Chasers. Take
me through the journey that this franchise had been on
in the Triple A level this year.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, you know, we won eighty nine games, which was
a franchise reck printing the record set back in nineteen
ninety so, which stood for quite a while. We had
fifty eight to fifty nine players on the roster at
some point this time, so you know, there's a lot
of player a little bit, but not as much as
last year. We had nearly eighty different players on the
roster in twenty twenty three, so a lot more stability,
(01:47):
and that really was created by the Royals having more
consistent production at the big league level and having fewer injuries. Yeah,
they had a lot of injuries toward the end of
the year, but for the most part, it was you know,
it was a more stable year in Kansas City, which
provided our manager, Mike Jershley who today was just named
the International League Manager of the Year. It provided him
(02:10):
with a more stable roster, and this team never gave up.
We had forty seven come from behind victories in the
regular season, and then we ended up having two more
come from behind victories in the International League Championship that
we hosted at Warner Park last week. So it was
just a magical year. And we ended up having two
of our release pitchers, which that was the strength of
(02:31):
our team this year. It was the top bullpen in
all of minor league baseball. We had them also named
Cisk and Pennington were named to the International League Postseason
Team of the Year just earlier today.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
That's pretty awesome. We're speaking with Marty Corderyl, who is
president of the Omaha Stormchasers and Union Omaha. The big
news yet last week, and you had texted me. I
was unfortunately out of the country, so we couldn't talk
about it before it happened. But it's pretty awesome to see,
you know, even in a restruke sured minor league system
to have a team this successful, some you know, winning baseball.
(03:04):
People can go to Werner Park and watch this team
and know that someday a lot of these players are
going to be playing at the major league level and
for a Royals franchise that is definitely trending upward. At
the same time, that wasn't necessarily even the biggest news
for people that don't follow this team regularly. There was
news that this team had been sold. So can you
kind of walk through what that was, because I know
this isn't the first minor league team in America over
(03:27):
the last few years to be sold in a manner
in which this occurred. Can you tuck me through kind
of what this process was like?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah? Absolutely, you know, I've been doing this twenty six
years in minor league baseball and on average every six
to eight years every seven years or so minor league
franchise and scholip And when you're when you're when you're
acquiring a club, you're not acquiring anything to do with baseball.
You know, you're acquiring, you know, the right to operate
in a market. You're acquiring the relationship with a sid
(03:54):
minor league team at a particular level. And Diamond Baseball
Holdings has been acquiring clubs of the last three years.
They're up that we're the thirty six club and we're excited.
We're excited about that. You know, Gary Green, for twelve
and a half years owned the franchise and you know,
did great things for the community, Sarpee County and the
greater Omaha metro area. But his focus is now soccer,
(04:16):
and understandably so. And I'm sure we'll get to that
here in a minute, but Diamond Baseball Holdings is really
focused on improving you know, relationships and really supporting staff
at the local level in each of their markets. And
you know, thirty five acquisitions before they left all management
(04:37):
and leadership in place, and that's really what they're buying.
They're buying markets that they think have growth potential, and
they're acquiring franchises that have stable and long term UH
management leadership in place. And that's what that's what they
did here in Omaha, and we're excited, we're excited to
have them. You know, they have the COEO recently came
(04:57):
from Top Golf after running that organization. Cheaper revenue officer
came from Live for a img UH and then you know,
their ticket lead ticket directors came from running tickets at
Live Nation. So we've got a lot of smart people,
people that I'm willing and excited to learn from and
I think it's going to be great for the franchise.
(05:18):
We're kind of a I don't want to call it
a revitalization, but there'll be a fresh, fresh outlook, and
you know, we're excited to get to work with our landlord,
Sharps County, and you know, how can we how can
we inject some some new ideas and some new life
into the franchise.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
No, for sure. Speaking with Martin Cordaryl, president of the
Omaha Stormchasers and Union Omaha, the soccer club, We'll get
to soccer in a second. Just to kind of reiterate,
I saw the Iowa Cubs kind of go through this
process a couple of years ago, and they needed a
ton of renovations done to their ballpark at Principal Park
down there in downtown De Moine. Is there going to
be any sort of visible, notable things that people from
(05:53):
the outside, like fans who want to watch this team
are going to notice about, you know, this franchise going
into next year and maybe the next couple of years
with this change.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, that's a great question. You know. One of the
things that you know that I've I've been very upfront
with with the folks at Sarpy as well as DBH
coming in as there are some things the ballpark is,
you know, fourteen years going on fifteen years old, and
you know there there have been conversations and quite frankly,
the county has started to do some things that are
cosmetic and that are fan facing. You know, for a
(06:22):
couple of years, it was primarily the things that Major
League Baseball wanted, you know, behind the scenes from the
standpoint of players and coaches and locker rooms and those
type things, and those those things are done, and you know,
now it's time, just it's time to spend a little
bit more attention and time on fan facing items. So
(06:42):
we're excited about that. But it's a little too early,
you know. The announcement just came out last Tuesday, and
it's a little early, you know for us to be
you know, making concrete plans, but we are excited about
what the future holds. Cool.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So Mari, I was, you know, paying attention as I
always need a union Omaha, a soccer club that you're
also in charge with. You mentioned the ownership of these
two teams kind of now focusing on soccer there's a
lot of great future things to think about with the
new soccer stadium and all that jazz. But this team
one of four nil earlier. Today, we're getting towards the
end of the regular season. This team once again is
(07:16):
at the top of the league one standings. Give me
an update on where you and Omaha kind of sits
and what the planes for this franchise are now with
the ownership fully engaged on that side of things.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Now, you know, from a staffing perspective, not much is
going to change for the next year. One of the
conditions of the sale is, you know, is for that
staff to remain intact, if you will. There's a number
of folks that work both basball on soccer. So for
the next year, you're going to see myself in familiar faces,
and you know, when you look at on the pitch,
(07:46):
you know, coach Casciato continues to I use the word competitive.
Obviously it's much better than a competitive squad. As you
just mentioned. At the top of the table, we're now
six points ahead of the second place team, which is Madison,
have a four gold differential with only four regular season
matches remaining in table play, and you know, we we
play on the road at Richmond this Saturday, and you know,
(08:10):
a favorable positive outcome. Really, you know, it's not that
we're not in the driver's seat now, but I would
tell you victory on Saturday night will we'll put a
lot of doubts and will allow us to really start
to plan for home playoff matches. And our staff is
really eager to again host postseason soccer matches at Warner Park,
uh for you know, the fourth out of five seasons.
(08:31):
And you know that's kind of become norm and and
you know, the squad continues to perform as uh, you know,
as as we expect. And today it was a great day.
It was our largest crowd of the year and we
had over two thousand school kids. It's our first day
game uh in in Warner Park and Union Omaha history
on the soccer site and uh we introduced Union Omaha
(08:52):
to a lot of new school kids.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
It's such a cool idea and I absolutely love to
hear that and you know, growing that sports specifically. Just
real quick before I get you out of here, Marty,
we got we're looking at this team being so successful
you mentioned for in the last five years hosting games
this is still a very new franchise as far as
UH sports are concerned in America, and there's a lot
of room to grow, especially with this new soccer stadium.
(09:15):
What about the infrastructure you guys have set up keeps
this team competitive not just to win matches, but to
be potential championship contenders. Ere in and you're out.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, I think, you know, coach Keshato is probably he's
probably better equipped to answer that. But you know what
Gary Green and myself and the rest of you know,
the leadership tries to do is to continue to provide
an environment in which players can develop on and off
the pitch. And there's no different on the baseball side,
you know, whether it's community appearances and engagements with fans
(09:47):
and those things we feel are important. And you know,
and and and from a soccer technical perspective, they continue
to sign quality younger players that we've developed, while also
bringing in veterans to and help teach and educate, you know,
the younger ones. And it's a rotation that that coach
j mem started when when we started the franchise and
(10:08):
since he's moved on back to home in Memphis. UH,
you know, DOM has continued that, and uh, it's I
don't know that it's a secret in any way. It's
just you know, we've just we've hired good people and
just let them go to work.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Really awesome stuff, and you know what, one thing at
a time. But it's so fun to have two very good,
not just competitive to win games, but championship contending teams
playing right out of Omaha and specifically at Warner Park
this year with the Stormchasers and Union Omaha. Marty Cordarrell,
the president of both of those clubs, thanks so much
for the time. As always, Marty, we'll talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Soon, Emory. I appreciate it. And if you want to
ride a bull at our first ever stamped event this
Saturday night, we're actually converting the soccer pitch to a
rodeo h uh uh set up as we speak, so
let me know if you want to come out Saturday
and check that out. Equally interested and if anybody's interested,
(11:02):
you can go to almost storm Chases dot com for
all the information on the Stampede and rodeo events that
we have for this coming Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
That's crazy, man, All right, sounds good. Thanks Marty, really
appreciate you for being a part of our show. Yeah, absolutely,
how about that. I added some funny stuff right there,
rodeo hat coming to uh Werder Park down there in
papillion more on the way stick around four fifty, news
Radio eleven ten kfab
We got a guy here and knows a thing or
two about that franchise, that organization because he helps run
the Omaha storm Chasers. His name is Marty Corderrell. He's
the president of both the Omaha Storm Chasers and Union
Omaha and he is joining us on our phone line.
Marty as always a pleasure. Thanks so much for being
on our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You know every trash can America. So you know once
the Tigers.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Won, Yeah, it's crazy, the trash Can thing, uh that
they'll until every single guy from the trash Can team
was gone. They're gonna still have to live that down.
They'll have to go through a full on rebuild before
America forgives them for that. Marty, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
When we playing sugar Land, the A team and the
National Championship about it. So, I think you're right, everybody
has to go first. But you know, we'll see what
happens this season. But it's great to see the other
from out on top.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah. So one underdog there, the City Royals. I think
a lot of people think the Baltimore Orioles are an
underdog franchise. They have a low payroll and all that stuff,
but they've won more games than the Royals. The Royals
kind of a sneaky playoff team this year. A lot
of guys that played in Omaha and it doesn't matter,
you know, how many guys went up to the big
roster here the last couple of years, because it was
(01:18):
a record setting year for the Omaha Storm Chasers. Take
me through the journey that this franchise had been on
in the Triple A level this year.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, you know, we won eighty nine games, which was
a franchise reck printing the record set back in nineteen
ninety so, which stood for quite a while. We had
fifty eight to fifty nine players on the roster at
some point this time, so you know, there's a lot
of player a little bit, but not as much as
last year. We had nearly eighty different players on the
roster in twenty twenty three, so a lot more stability,
(01:47):
and that really was created by the Royals having more
consistent production at the big league level and having fewer injuries. Yeah,
they had a lot of injuries toward the end of
the year, but for the most part, it was you know,
it was a more stable year in Kansas City, which
provided our manager, Mike Jershley who today was just named
the International League Manager of the Year. It provided him
(02:10):
with a more stable roster, and this team never gave up.
We had forty seven come from behind victories in the
regular season, and then we ended up having two more
come from behind victories in the International League Championship that
we hosted at Warner Park last week. So it was
just a magical year. And we ended up having two
of our release pitchers, which that was the strength of
(02:31):
our team this year. It was the top bullpen in
all of minor league baseball. We had them also named
Cisk and Pennington were named to the International League Postseason
Team of the Year just earlier today.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
That's pretty awesome. We're speaking with Marty Corderyl, who is
president of the Omaha Stormchasers and Union Omaha. The big
news yet last week, and you had texted me. I
was unfortunately out of the country, so we couldn't talk
about it before it happened. But it's pretty awesome to see,
you know, even in a restruke sured minor league system
to have a team this successful, some you know, winning baseball.
(03:04):
People can go to Werner Park and watch this team
and know that someday a lot of these players are
going to be playing at the major league level and
for a Royals franchise that is definitely trending upward. At
the same time, that wasn't necessarily even the biggest news
for people that don't follow this team regularly. There was
news that this team had been sold. So can you
kind of walk through what that was, because I know
this isn't the first minor league team in America over
(03:27):
the last few years to be sold in a manner
in which this occurred. Can you tuck me through kind
of what this process was like?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah? Absolutely, you know, I've been doing this twenty six
years in minor league baseball and on average every six
to eight years every seven years or so minor league
franchise and scholip And when you're when you're when you're
acquiring a club, you're not acquiring anything to do with baseball.
You know, you're acquiring, you know, the right to operate
in a market. You're acquiring the relationship with a sid
(03:54):
minor league team at a particular level. And Diamond Baseball
Holdings has been acquiring clubs of the last three years.
They're up that we're the thirty six club and we're excited.
We're excited about that. You know, Gary Green, for twelve
and a half years owned the franchise and you know,
did great things for the community, Sarpee County and the
greater Omaha metro area. But his focus is now soccer,
(04:16):
and understandably so. And I'm sure we'll get to that
here in a minute, but Diamond Baseball Holdings is really
focused on improving you know, relationships and really supporting staff
at the local level in each of their markets. And
you know, thirty five acquisitions before they left all management
(04:37):
and leadership in place, and that's really what they're buying.
They're buying markets that they think have growth potential, and
they're acquiring franchises that have stable and long term UH
management leadership in place. And that's what that's what they
did here in Omaha, and we're excited, we're excited to
have them. You know, they have the COEO recently came
(04:57):
from Top Golf after running that organization. Cheaper revenue officer
came from Live for a img UH and then you know,
their ticket lead ticket directors came from running tickets at
Live Nation. So we've got a lot of smart people,
people that I'm willing and excited to learn from and
I think it's going to be great for the franchise.
(05:18):
We're kind of a I don't want to call it
a revitalization, but there'll be a fresh, fresh outlook, and
you know, we're excited to get to work with our landlord,
Sharps County, and you know, how can we how can
we inject some some new ideas and some new life
into the franchise.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
No, for sure. Speaking with Martin Cordaryl, president of the
Omaha Stormchasers and Union Omaha, the soccer club, We'll get
to soccer in a second. Just to kind of reiterate,
I saw the Iowa Cubs kind of go through this
process a couple of years ago, and they needed a
ton of renovations done to their ballpark at Principal Park
down there in downtown De Moine. Is there going to
be any sort of visible, notable things that people from
(05:53):
the outside, like fans who want to watch this team
are going to notice about, you know, this franchise going
into next year and maybe the next couple of years
with this change.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, that's a great question. You know. One of the
things that you know that I've I've been very upfront
with with the folks at Sarpy as well as DBH
coming in as there are some things the ballpark is,
you know, fourteen years going on fifteen years old, and
you know there there have been conversations and quite frankly,
the county has started to do some things that are
cosmetic and that are fan facing. You know, for a
(06:22):
couple of years, it was primarily the things that Major
League Baseball wanted, you know, behind the scenes from the
standpoint of players and coaches and locker rooms and those
type things, and those those things are done, and you know,
now it's time, just it's time to spend a little
bit more attention and time on fan facing items. So
(06:42):
we're excited about that. But it's a little too early,
you know. The announcement just came out last Tuesday, and
it's a little early, you know for us to be
you know, making concrete plans, but we are excited about
what the future holds. Cool.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
So Mari, I was, you know, paying attention as I
always need a union Omaha, a soccer club that you're
also in charge with. You mentioned the ownership of these
two teams kind of now focusing on soccer there's a
lot of great future things to think about with the
new soccer stadium and all that jazz. But this team
one of four nil earlier. Today, we're getting towards the
end of the regular season. This team once again is
(07:16):
at the top of the league one standings. Give me
an update on where you and Omaha kind of sits
and what the planes for this franchise are now with
the ownership fully engaged on that side of things.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Now, you know, from a staffing perspective, not much is
going to change for the next year. One of the
conditions of the sale is, you know, is for that
staff to remain intact, if you will. There's a number
of folks that work both basball on soccer. So for
the next year, you're going to see myself in familiar faces,
and you know, when you look at on the pitch,
(07:46):
you know, coach Casciato continues to I use the word competitive.
Obviously it's much better than a competitive squad. As you
just mentioned. At the top of the table, we're now
six points ahead of the second place team, which is Madison,
have a four gold differential with only four regular season
matches remaining in table play, and you know, we we
play on the road at Richmond this Saturday, and you know,
(08:10):
a favorable positive outcome. Really, you know, it's not that
we're not in the driver's seat now, but I would
tell you victory on Saturday night will we'll put a
lot of doubts and will allow us to really start
to plan for home playoff matches. And our staff is
really eager to again host postseason soccer matches at Warner Park,
uh for you know, the fourth out of five seasons.
(08:31):
And you know that's kind of become norm and and
you know, the squad continues to perform as uh, you know,
as as we expect. And today it was a great day.
It was our largest crowd of the year and we
had over two thousand school kids. It's our first day
game uh in in Warner Park and Union Omaha history
on the soccer site and uh we introduced Union Omaha
(08:52):
to a lot of new school kids.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
It's such a cool idea and I absolutely love to
hear that and you know, growing that sports specifically. Just
real quick before I get you out of here, Marty,
we got we're looking at this team being so successful
you mentioned for in the last five years hosting games
this is still a very new franchise as far as
UH sports are concerned in America, and there's a lot
of room to grow, especially with this new soccer stadium.
(09:15):
What about the infrastructure you guys have set up keeps
this team competitive not just to win matches, but to
be potential championship contenders. Ere in and you're out.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Yeah, I think, you know, coach Keshato is probably he's
probably better equipped to answer that. But you know what
Gary Green and myself and the rest of you know,
the leadership tries to do is to continue to provide
an environment in which players can develop on and off
the pitch. And there's no different on the baseball side,
you know, whether it's community appearances and engagements with fans
(09:47):
and those things we feel are important. And you know,
and and and from a soccer technical perspective, they continue
to sign quality younger players that we've developed, while also
bringing in veterans to and help teach and educate, you know,
the younger ones. And it's a rotation that that coach
j mem started when when we started the franchise and
(10:08):
since he's moved on back to home in Memphis. UH,
you know, DOM has continued that, and uh, it's I
don't know that it's a secret in any way. It's
just you know, we've just we've hired good people and
just let them go to work.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Really awesome stuff, and you know what, one thing at
a time. But it's so fun to have two very good,
not just competitive to win games, but championship contending teams
playing right out of Omaha and specifically at Warner Park
this year with the Stormchasers and Union Omaha. Marty Cordarrell,
the president of both of those clubs, thanks so much
for the time. As always, Marty, we'll talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Soon, Emory. I appreciate it. And if you want to
ride a bull at our first ever stamped event this
Saturday night, we're actually converting the soccer pitch to a
rodeo h uh uh set up as we speak, so
let me know if you want to come out Saturday
and check that out. Equally interested and if anybody's interested,
(11:02):
you can go to almost storm Chases dot com for
all the information on the Stampede and rodeo events that
we have for this coming Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
That's crazy, man, All right, sounds good. Thanks Marty, really
appreciate you for being a part of our show. Yeah, absolutely,
how about that. I added some funny stuff right there,
rodeo hat coming to uh Werder Park down there in
papillion more on the way stick around four fifty, news
Radio eleven ten kfab
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.