Main owner puts Macon Bacon (and Florence) up for sale

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Every week at a store, bacon is for sale.

          Now, so is the team that calls Luther Williams Field home.

          Co-owner Steve DeLay posted Monday on his LinkedIn account that Macon and the Florence Flamingos are for sale.

          “In the spirit of my mantra, “Don’t wait to do something,” it’s time for change. First, a little history...” DeLay began, before going into his early involvement with the Savannah Bananas and other work activities.

          “In July of 2017, Jon Spoelstra and I launched a CPL team in Macon, Georgia. The Macon Bacon drew global merchandise sales and national media attention (including SportsCenter)…but that was only the start.

          “We renovated a historic stadium and hosted our first sellout in May of 2018 –and it snowballed from there:

          “ * Selling out every weekend game since the first season with thousands of ticket packages and tens of thousands of group tickets.

          “ * National publicity in June 2023 with hundreds of merchandise orders from around the country due to some sort of doctor organization claiming our name promoted unhealthy eating!

          “The team is sizzling like, well, Bacon.  I enjoyed the experience so much, I wanted to take on another.”

          Next came buying the Florence team in the Coastal Plain League in 2020, and then listing its highlights before the latest announcement:

          “TEAMS FOR SALE TO A GOOD HOME

“Macon and Florence are now successful franchises, built on solid fundamentals, great cities and staffs that are led by strong Presidents. They are poised to continue to grow.

          “But, it’s time to do something new, and as always I am not opposed to going outside the box to achieve the right objective.

          “I’m announcing today these teams are for sale. They aren’t rebuilds or turnarounds. What they need is someone committed to continuing to deliver a superior fan experience, see staff grow and evolve and serve the communities they call home. I don’t need to sell them, and this isn’t a distress auction. But I would like for them, like the dogs I rescue, to go to a home.

          “Interested? If you know me, you know how to find me. If you don’t, feel free to message me here on LinkedIn. I will be selective, as these are more than properties to me. Let's break the mold again.

          Bacon president Brandon Raphael is, according to his bio on the team website, “also co-owner of the Florence Flamingos with Steve DeLay.” It doesn’t indicate if he has any ownership stake in the Bacon.

          Macon began play in the CPL in the summer of 2018.