New ownership is in place as the NH Fisher Cats celebrate its 20th anniversary. Last fall, the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays was sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH). Real estate investor Arthur Solomon owned the club for most of its existence. In the Fisher Cats’ inaugural season at the old Gill Stadium, it won the Eastern League after the franchise moved here from New Haven, Connecticut.

“Arthur Solomon stepped up for us in 2006 and 2007 when he purchased the team and put forward the plans that we ran for so many years,” says Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner, who has been with the club for more than 13 years. “It was pivotal to our success and vitality. It was a huge investment of his time, effort, and money, and it shows.

DBH owns 36 Minor League clubs, including the Worcester Red Sox and the Portland Seadogs. It is owned by Silver Lake, a private equity firm focused on technology and technology-
enabled investment.

“Arthur was a vital part for so many years, and it was the right time for him to transition and DBH was the right ownership group to grow this team,” Brenner says. “We are fortunate to be owned and operated by a group such as DBH in terms of the sports business. It’s a phenomenal combination of
good things.”

Over the past two decades, the club has been part of the fabric of the city, he says, and the Fisher Cats Foundation has given nearly $6 million in goods, services, and cash to the community.

The Fisher Cats has also put nearly $6.5 million into renovations and improvements at Delta Dental Stadium, including upgraded seating, a dining area, a live music stage, and a front entrance. “This is necessary to keep up with the expectations and needs of the fans and the players today,” Brenner says.

Post pandemic, crowd sizes are returning. Individual ticket sales picked up more quickly than group outings, but that is changing as companies are doing more events, Brenner notes. Those stadium improvements are key to the club’s plans to expand the use of the stadium beyond baseball games and to enhance the guest experience. 

“There are only 30 double-A baseball teams and just 120 minor leagues in total so to be working in this industry and to be in this community is a privilege and an honor,” he says. “It’s very special, and we take it very seriously.”