Melbourne Aces ABL Licence Changes Hands

Baseball Australia has announced the licence of the Melbourne Aces Australian Baseball League (ABL) team has been officially transferred to a group of investors.

The investors, led by long-time supporters of baseball in Victoria, Brett and Shaun Ralph, have taken control of the licence due to circumstances of ill-health within the former licence holder, FS Entertainment.

Baseball Australia chief executive, Cam Vale, said the investors are passionate supporters and have long been committed to baseball in Australia.

“Whilst the circumstances requiring the need to change are unfortunate due to the ill-health of the former licence holder, this consortium of investors stepping in on short notice is a credit to them in securing and ensuring the long-term future of the Melbourne Aces,” he said.

“Principal investors Brett and Shaun Ralph have been fantastic contributors to baseball and a range of sports in this country.

“To have them as the permanent licence holders of the Aces is a major coup for the sport in this country and another step forward for the Australian Baseball League,” Vale said.

One of the main investors, Jet Couriers managing director, Brett Ralph, said he is excited about the opportunity to continue growing baseball in Victoria.

“We have been involved with the sport of baseball, and, in particular, the Melbourne Aces for many years,” he said.

“We are passionate about the game and the opportunities that baseball has in Australia.

“We are looking forward to enhancing the fan experience at Altona and to the Aces playing a leading role in the continued growth of baseball in Victoria,” Ralph said.

Brett and Shaun Ralph have been directly associated with the Melbourne Aces ABL team since their inaugural season in 2010-11 as Jet Couriers, where Brett is the managing director and Shaun is the president, initially signed on as naming rights sponsors of the Aces.