The Winston-Salem Warthogs have hired a professional management company to run ticket sales and marketing.

Mandalay Baseball Properties has changed the names of teams it’s worked with in the past, so the possibility is strong that the Warthogs will get a complete makeover when they move into their new downtown stadium, just like Greensboro’s minor league team did when they moved into their new downtown stadium.

Speaking of Winston-Salem’s new stadium, I love this quote from Mayor Allen Joines, regarding the risk to Warthogs owner Billy Prim:

The downtown ballpark complex is being financed in part by a $25.4 million commitment from the city of Winston-Salem. The package includes $12 million for the site preparation – an amount that will grow, because it is being financed, to $17.4 million over 20 years – and $8 million in grants.

As part of the deal, Prim has agreed to pay the city $350,000 a year in ticket surcharges for 25 years.

“I think there is no one that has more at risk than the developer, so I have to think that whatever decision he’s making is good for the team,” Joines said. “He has a huge motivation to make them successful.”

The taxpayers are taking a risk, too, Mayor. Right?