During the summer, the Gastonia Honey Hunters finanical struggles came to light.
In July, players refused to take the field to bring attention to their unpaid salaries. Staff members also saw significant delays in receiving their paychecks.
The city of Gastonia also came after the team for over $80,000 in unpaid rent and related services for the use of Caromont Health Park.
In the midst of the season, with the Gastonia Honey Hunters fighting for a playoff spot (that ultimately led to them losing in the championship series), the Atlantic League stepped in and paid the city and players everything that was owed.
Ballpark Digest reported at the beginning of August that it appeared as though all of the back pay was caught up and the team continued playing as normal.
But, it seems as if the Atlantic League will not be supporting the Gastonia Honey Hunters any further.
Today, the Gastonia Gazette reported that the Atlantic League has terminated their membership with the Honey Hunters siting more than $1 million dollars in debt.
The lawsuit, filed Friday by the city of Gastonia, alleges that real estate magnate Brandon Bellamy, the president of the company that operates the Honey Hunters, received a letter Aug. 28 stating that the team was in violation of the Atlantic League Bylaws and the League Affiliation Agreement. Essentially, the letter said, if the team did make efforts to pay its debts and improve its financial standing, its membership in the league would be revoked. Bellamy also received a letter Sept. 11 stating that his company was in default for failure to pay an outstanding debt. The team owes the league more than $1.1 million, according to the lawsuit.
Gastonia Gazette
Check out today’s article (November 22, 2023) from the Gastonia Gazette for more details about the financial debts and the lawsuit filed last Friday by the city of Gastonia against the Honey Hunters,
Indy Ball Island 