The plunging loonie is the main decision behind the sale of the Thunder Bay Border Cats to a Florida-based group.
Owner Brad Jorgenson said the team just couldn't survive on an uneven playing field.
"Probably the biggest determining factor is the U.S. and Canadian dollar," Jorgenson said, reached by phone on Monday afternoon. "With all of our revenue in Canadian and all of our expenses in U.S. dollars, we couldn't compete."
Jorgenson noted the NBA's Toronto Raptors have appealed to that league for relief for the exact same reason, its player salaries paid out in American dollars.
"That's basically it. We felt the difference, in regards to the disparity of the Canadian dollar, was just too big."
The Border Cats play all 36 of their road games south of the border.
Jorgenson said he made the move with mixed emotions.
"There's no two ways about that," he said. "In that same note, we're incredibly proud of the job we did."
Jorgenson and his family took over the team from founding owner John Wendel in 2008. Wendel is believed to be involved in the new ownership group. A press release issued by the league on Monday indicates the Border Cats new ownership group includes the league's co-founder. Wendel fits that bill and is from Florida, where he practices law.
However, Jorgenson was unable to confirm whether or not Wendel was involved in the sale.
The outgoing owner and general manager said his fondest on-field memory was bringing a second Northwoods League championship to Port Arthur Stadium in 2008. The team also won in 2005, its third season of existence.
In the release the Northwoods League team said Superior Baseball Club Inc. will take over the team, a move unanimously approved by the league’s board of directors.
“Owning the Border Cats over the last eight years has been an absolute privilege,” Jorgenson said in the release.
“The ballclub was more than just a business for us, but a passion. We look forward to assisting the new ownership group through this transition.”
The team’s new owners say they plan to hold a press conference in early March to introduce themselves to the Thunder Bay community.
The release does not state whether or not the new ownership plan to keep the team in Thunder Bay for the long term.
Jorgenson said the team will definitely remain in the city in 2016.
"They're going to stay for this year. Anything further, I'm not privy to that," he said.
The Border Cats were second-last in the the Northwoods League in attendance last season, averaging just 759 fans a night. Only the now-defunct Alexandria Blue Anchors drew smaller crowds.
