It's Official: SSG Lands Swamp Dragons For New Frisco Park

	Proposed Frisco, TX Baseball Stadium

TX-based Southwest Sports Group (SSG) and CA-based Mandalay Sports Entertainment (MSE) agreed to joint ownership of the Double-A TX League Shreveport Swamp Dragons, who will play in a new $22.7M, 8,800-seat ballpark in Frisco, TX in '03. MSE currently owns the franchise, but SSG will assume part-ownership after the '02 season, with MSE serving as operating partner. The name of the team will be announced at a later date, and season ticket packages and Founders Club memberships for '03 are available for $7-18 per game (MSE). In Ft. Worth, Sean Wood writes the move gives Rangers/Stars Owner and SSG Chair & CEO Tom Hicks "a baseball toe-hold in Collins County, which provides a strong fan base for his" hockey team. The Rangers don't draw "as well from Collin County," as do the Stars, but Hicks is hopeful that his latest project will change that. The idea is that fans will watch players develop in the minor leagues and then want to see those players as they move to the majors" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/4).