Copyright cleveland.com
AVON, Ohio – The Lake Erie Crushers will be playing in ForeFront Field this coming season. The team in Avon and Cleveland-based ForeFront Technology Inc. signed a multi-year deal that takes place immediately. Terms were not disclosed. Len Komoroski, Crushers chairman and managing partner, described the deal to cleveland.com as a “long-term relationship” with ForeFront, which is led by Chief Executive Office Josh Cornett. “Technology is at the forefront of virtually every aspect of our world,” Komoroski said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled than to develop a relationship with Josh to really start to build on that integral aspect of our world. Because frankly we have a long journey to go.” He added: “We’re working to make an investment back in the venue and ForeFront Field and every aspect we do technologically. It truly is an overall partnership.” He said the naming-rights deal is wide-ranging, but it does not affect the team name. “Crushers” is a reference to Ohio’s wine industry, which has roots to the 19th century. In 2017, the team rebranded to stress the connection to wine. “As it relates to the Lake Erie Crushers name, we have our brand and not necessarily looking to make changes with our name or brand,” Komoroski said. “As it relates to ForeFront Field, absolutely.” That means the ForeFront Field brand will be showcased prominently throughout the venue and across all digital platforms. It will be featured on major signage, gates, scoreboard, home-plate backdrops and online channels. The partnership also encompasses a range of cross-promotional and community initiatives, such as technology-driven fan experiences, the Wi-Fi portal and collaborative education events. The stadium is about more than baseball. In recent years, sports venues have begun to use their facilities for more than just games to avoid dormant times – i.e., not have opportunities to bring in revenue. Fests, winter events and other activities became popular, especially throughout Northeast Ohio. The Crushers host more than 200 events annually. That includes more than 50 baseball games plus concerts, charity functions, beer fests and more. “We’re the largest driver of destination economic activity of any venue in Lorain County,” Komoroski said. He said a Tacos & Tequilas event, for instance, drew 9,000 folks, many of whom came from hours away to the ballpark, which is located adjacent to Interstate 90. “We look at ForeFront Field as basically the community’s living room,” Komoroski said. “We’re going to do more of those type of fests.” ForeFront – which focuses on technology consulting, cloud architecture and IT infrastructure – is the official technology partner for the Crushers. The ballpark, like Cleveland’s other sports venues, is cashless. And while the company aims to use technological advancements to enhance the fan experience, Cornett said it was the human element that drew his company to the deal. “It’s Len, Vic (Crushers President Vic Gregovits) and the Crushers team,” said Cornett, a Medina County native. “We see their commitment to the community, we see where they want to go with both venue with the team and the events occurring in the venue, and we want to be a part of that. We want to enhance this living room that is such an integral part of Northeast Ohio.” The Crushers ownership already was familiar with ForeFront, which had previously partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, Komoroski said Rock Entertainment Group was engaged by the Crushers to lead the search for a strategic development partner. That search drew “a tremendous amount of interest,” said Komoroski, who spent close to 20 years as an executive with the Cavaliers, then Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Rock Entertainment Group. Cornett added the company is “looking at the foundational aspects” to create a “smart stadium.” “That was a key driver for us,” Komoroski said. “This is our primary biggest strategic partner as we go forward. They are effectively going to be our CIOs.” The Crushers have competed in the independent Fronter League since 2009. Under previous ownership, the team began playing in Mercy Health Stadium in 2021. Before that the ballpark was called Sprenger Stadium and All Pro Freight Stadium. But last year a consortium of regional investors took over the team, promising more fan-friendly initiatives. “We’ve been on quite an adventure here,” Komoroski said. “We’ve been building out the team, building out our ability to impact every aspect from the fan experience and also really making an impact in the community as a whole. It’s been a terrific venture so far in a short amount of time.”
