The Oakland Ballers are doing something they say no professional sports team has ever done.
Yeah, never leaving Oakland would probably qualify. But the Ballers said Friday they will become the first U.S. professional sports team to include a fan as an elected member of the team’s board of directors.
Earlier this year, more than 2,000 fans of the independent minor league baseball team literally bought into the Ballers’ crowdfunding effort.
Each of these fan owners, regardless of the dollar amount contributed, was invited to sign up as a board member to help make key strategic decisions for the team.
“We wanted to build a team that puts the fans first,” Bryan Carmel, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers, said in a statement. “A board position elected by fans, representing fans, is an important part of our unique sports ownership model. This is another step toward showing how the Ballers are truly by Oakland and for Oakland in a very tangible sense.”
To be eligible for a seat on the Ballers Board of Directors, applicants must be a fan owner and a U.S. citizen.
They are expected to attend quarterly board meetings and propose proposals to enhance the fan experience and also innovate in the field of baseball. Interested candidates must complete the application survey sent to all current fan owners.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Our fans are our owners. Our fans are our everything,” Paul Freedman, co-founder of the Oakland Ballers, said in a statement. “And we need real collaboration if we want to see the Ballers succeed in Oakland long-term. From providing input on the team’s marketing strategy, season ticket offerings and hiring key front office staff, this position is a historic opportunity to have a real say in team management.”
In the coming weeks, the Ballers will choose up to 10 finalists from the submitted applications. Fans have full control in choosing the board member by casting their votes. The winner will be determined from the two best candidates in early December.
