Kenosha Kingfish
Industry: Sports and entertainment
Address: 7817 Sheridan Road, Kenosha
Employees: 10
Website: www.northwoodsleague.com/kenosha-kingfish
The Kenosha Kingfish have only been playing for two seasons, but they’ve already captured the hearts of the Kenosha community.
“The Kenosha community has been great. We wouldn’t be here without Kenosha, our sponsors and all the people involved in helping make this thing possible,” said Jake McGhee, general manager of Kenosha Baseball Club.
The organization debuted in fall 2013 as part of the Northwoods League under the parent organization Big Top Baseball, which also oversees the Madison Mallards, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, and Green Bay Bullfrogs.
The team took over Simmons Field, and in partnership with the City of Kenosha, invested more than $1.5 million into the stadium.
“The first season was incredibly successful,” McGhee said. “We averaged more fans per game than we had seats in the stadium.”
The goal of the organization is to provide affordable, family-friendly fun for the Kenosha community.
According to McGhee, sponsorships and ticket sales surpassed expectations the first year, and continued to grow in year two.
The team sold out 30 of 33 games, McGhee said. And three were cancelled because of rain.
The Kingfish will continue to make investments in the facility, and plan to continue to listen to fans.
“Our fans know we’re listening,” McGhee said.
The organization surveys attendees at the end of each season and responds accordingly, he said.
The team plans to continue to make capital investments and add more sales and marketing employees.
“What will never change is that we are a part of the community and remain affordable and family friendly,” McGhee said. “Every decision that we make, we make with our fans and supporters in mind, and if we continue to do that, we think we will be here for a very long time.”
