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in 2021 the city of Gastonia opened what is now known as CaroMont Health Park, a baseball stadium just west of the downtown central business distict.  The Franklin Sports and Entertainment District (FUSE) was supposed to be a key to growth for the downtown area.

A minor league baseball team that became known as the "Honey hunters" (a kind of badger) hoped to draw crowds to the 5,000-seat stadium and other special events were expected to be staged there on a regular basis.

The Honeyhunters attendance was fair at best; the owners of the franchise who were supposed to pay stadium employees and vendors and take care of upkeep on the stadium failed to do so as attendance dwindled.  Now the city is involved in a lawsuit with the baseball club.

on Wednesday (Feb. 7th) the city held a news conference where Mayor Richard Franks introduced representatives of a new baseball team that will become a member of the 10-team Atlantic League.  Entering its 26th season in 2024, the Atlantic League offers an open classification of play, something essentially between AA (double A) and AAA (triple A).  

The new team will begin play in late April.  Its nickname is yet to be chosen.

Sawyer Sports & Entertainment, the partnership bringing the new team to Gastonia, promised at Tuesday's news conference to make good on missed pay to stadium workers and vendors.  

Franks called the event "a new day for Gastonia!"   

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