More trouble for Gastonia's Honey Hunters
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball terminated the Gastonia Honey Hunters' membership earlier this month over more than $1 million dollars in unpaid debt, according to a lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed Friday by the city of Gastonia, alleges that real estate magnate Brandon Bellamy, the president of the company that operates the Honey Hunters, received a letter Aug. 28 stating that the team was in violation of the Atlantic League Bylaws and the League Affiliation Agreement. Essentially, the letter said, if the team did make efforts to pay its debts and improve its financial standing, its membership in the league would be revoked. Bellamy also received a letter Sept. 11 stating that his company was in default for failure to pay an outstanding debt. The team owes the league more than $1.1 million, according to the lawsuit.
Honey Hunters Chief Operating Officer Veronica Jeon declined to comment, saying that because the lawsuit is a legal matter, there is little she can share.
The Honey Hunters, who play at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia's FUSE District, a city-owned stadium, played their inaugural season in 2021. The team came under fire in July for financial problems, as the organization owed the city of Gastonia $35,808 for the current year's lease, $50,000 in management commissioners, and $2,230.75 for the cost of a mobile stage that was purchased for the stadium. The team also owned Gaston County more than $22,000 for services provided by GEMS, paychecks to employees were twice several days late, and Jeon admitted in a previous interview that the team has had "a few" checks bounce.
The Honey Hunters paid both Gastonia and Gaston County, but the team still owes the city money that is part of an annual payment for naming rights, according to the lawsuit. Their 2022 payment for naming rights was due on Oct. 31, 2022, and was paid on Aug. 3, 2023. This year, the payment was due on Oct. 31, 2023, and the team again is delinquent, according to the lawsuit.
In August 2023, the organization also failed to pay the gas bill for the stadium, according to the lawsuit. The gas supply was shut off, and the emergency generator at the stadium malfunctioned. The city incurred costs for diagnostic service and repair for the emergency generator.
Now that the team has been terminated from the Atlantic League, the team has even less incentive to meet its financial obligations, the lawsuit stated.
In addition to not paying its bills, the team also has not properly maintained the stadium, which it leases from the city, according to the lawsuit.
A city inspection earlier this year found that the upkeep of the restroom facilities was "extremely poor," and that there were maintenance issues in the kitchen as well. Furthermore, the lawsuit stated, there were weeds growing through the facility's concrete, and excessive trash had accumulated near both dugouts. There was also an unattended leak in the first aid room, and mold was discovered, the lawsuit stated.
"In sum, virtually every public-facing or public-use component of the premises was in woeful condition after what appears to have been months of maintenance neglect in the off season, to say nothing of ongoing issues arising during the season," the lawsuit stated.
The city of Gastonia asked in the lawsuit to terminate its agreement with the team for the use of the stadium, and the city wants the team out immediately, according to the lawsuit. The city also asked for an unspecified amount of damages.
The city of Gastonia issued a statement on the lawsuit, saying that the city sued the team for breaching its contract.
"The city of Gastonia filed suit against NC Gas House Gang, LLC, for breach of contract. The city is seeking a preliminary injunction to establish sole possession of the ballpark facility in order to protect the significant public investment," the statement said. "The city will continue to make the ballpark facility a viable place for all types of future events, including Atlantic League Professional Baseball."
Rick White, president of the Atlantic League, confirmed that the Honey Hunters were terminated, but said that the Atlantic League intends to field a team in Gastonia in 2024. He declined to comment further.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Honey Hunters terminated from Atlantic League
