Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino thought a change was needed to reinvigorate baseball in the city and put Sal Maglie Stadium to better use as a community asset.
He believed the stadium, which reopened earlier this year after an almost $2 million renovation, and semi-professional team that plays there needed to be run by an established organization with a track record at other venues.
In walked Robbie Nichols of CAN-USA Sports, who leads the ownership group of two teams in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. CAN-USA Sports kept baseball in Batavia by taking over the Muckdogs organization after the New York-Penn League folded in 2021 and took over sole ownership in 2017 of the reinvigorated Elmira Pioneers franchise.
Both franchises have seen upticks in interest and attendance while playing in the wood bat summer league featuring mostly Division I college prospects ages 18 to 21.
Nichols will now try to bring that success and his brand of quality baseball combined with a fun night out at the ballpark to Niagara Falls.
“Every night will be a show at the stadium,” he said Friday during a news conference at the Niagara Falls Convention Center.
Nichols and CAN-USA will take over the franchise that has been known as the Niagara Power for the past three seasons in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The team has been rebranded as the Americans in order to get a fresh start in Niagara Falls.
“There wasn’t enough energy,” Restaino said. “We thought we needed to ignite the stadium for not only the locals but also for visitors to Niagara Falls. Once I got into discussions with CAN-USA, I could tell right from the first conversation that they had the kind of management style that will breathe some life back into Sal Maglie Stadium.”
Nichols, who grew up in Hamilton, Ont., and played, coached and served as a general manager in professional hockey for years, said he was sold on the idea by Restaino and is…
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