GASTONIA, N.C. — Last Friday night’s game between the Gastonia Honey Hunters and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs was supposed to start at 6:35 p.m. It was unexpectedly delayed until 7:15 p.m., and it wasn’t due to the weather.
What the Honey Hunters didn’t say at the time was that the players were protesting. They refused to take to the field until their payment issues were resolved.
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In just their third season, the Honey Hunters, led by owner Brandon Bellamy, are struggling financially. News of the Honey Hunters’ financial struggles was first reported by Indy Ball Nation.
The team is now working with the Atlantic League to ensure players are paid. The league declined to comment, citing a policy of not commenting on internal league matters.
A spokesperson for Bellamy’s Momentous Sports and Entertainment did not return a request for comment and did not make Bellamy available for an interview.
Veronica Jeon, the chief operating officer of the Honey Hunters, confirmed to Channel 9 the protest and the financial challenges.
However, Jeon did not go into specifics.
“There have been some challenges, specifically around cash flow that other startups face,” she said. “We’re working through it quickly and as diligently as possible.”
It is unclear how much financial trouble the team is in. Gastonia City Councilman Robert Kellogg posted on Facebook saying the issues extend beyond player pay.
“I stand in solidarity with our team players, first responders, employees and vendors. As an elected official for the city of Gastonia, my first priority is to the people of this city,” Kellogg wrote. “That responsibility is a sacred trust and because of that trust I cannot condone the reported actions that are bringing hardship and distress to players, employees, first responders and vendors. I don’t want to kick anyone when they are down and certainly understand the plight of a small business that appears to be in turmoil. However, we need some answers. We have spent much of the past year in the dark and it is time for the light of transparency and accountability to shine. This is not too much to ask for.”
Kellogg did not return a request for comment.
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The city of Gastonia is in a contractual relationship with the Honey Hunters to own and operate in the Atlantic League and run the day-to-day operations of the ballpark in the FUSE District. The city invested $26 million in the stadium’s construction.
A spokesperson for the city did not say if the Honey Hunters owe any money to the city or to city employees but says the city has been in contact with the team about its situation.
“The city of Gastonia continues to communicate to the Honey Hunters organization the importance of meeting their contractual obligations and also working with the Atlantic League to ensure that the team is fulfilling all commitments to continue competing to the end of a successful season,” said communications director Mary Elliott. “The city has met or exceeded all contractual obligations to the Honey Hunters and the Atlantic League and continues to invest in the sports and entertainment facility while also partnering with private economic development entities in the FUSE District. The city continues to support the players and coaching staff as they endeavor to complete their winning season and we ask for the public’s continued support for them as well.”
Despite having a new 5,000-seat ballpark and being in first place, the team is only averaging around 1,700 people a game, according to the Atlantic League.
Jeon hopes fans will rally around the team.
“We really do need everyone’s support so that we can make it through this together and make this place a true sports and entertainment destination,” she said. “We’re here for the community.”
The large investment from the city and financial challenges have some residents questioning the decision.
“I think they could have done a lot better with the money that they paid for that thing,” resident Ben Rupert said. “They could have planted trees. It would have benefited the community better.”
This is a developing story. Channel 9 will continue to push for more information on the ongoing financial issues with the Honey Hunters and the impact on the city of Gastonia.
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