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Baseball Australia has announced that it has secured 100% ownership of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) with former league partner, North America’s Major League Baseball (MLB), dropping out.

The new arrangement clears the path for Baseball Australia to control the highest level of baseball in Australia.

Since the league’s inception in 2010, the ABL had operated as a joint venture between MLB and Baseball Australia.

The MLB will continue its major presence in Australia after signing a three-year development agreement with Baseball Australia, whereby they will support the local growth of the sport through investment in youth academies, grassroots initiatives and promotional activities.

The news comes on the same day as the International Olympic Committee reinstating baseball into the Olympics program for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.

In the six years of the ABL, the league claims to have achieved over $9.6 million in sponsorship revenue, double digit annual growth in match day ticket sales, a majority fanbase between the ages of 18 to 35 and the fastest growing grassroots baseball participation in the world.

Baseball Australia Chief Executive Brett Pickett commented, “MLB has been an incredible partner for over 20 years.

“On behalf of everyone involved in Australian baseball, I thank MLB for all it has done for the game in our country. We could not have re-established the ABL without the support of MLB.

“Today represents a watershed moment whereby the Australian baseball community can take control of its own league within an environment of continued support by MLB for the development of baseball in Australia Baseball Australia.

“(Our) decision to acquire 100% ownership of the ABL would not have been achieved without the support of our member state and territory bodies who have been integrally involved throughout this entire process.”

The seventh ABL season begins on Thursday 17th November 2016.

4th August 2016 - NEW SPORTS CONFIRMED FOR THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES

12th December 2014 - 2014 ABL ALL-STAR GAME COUNTDOWN UNDERWAY

13th November 2014 - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NAMED AUSTRALIA’S TOP EVENT, SYDNEY SHOWGROUNDS NAMED BEST VENUE

2nd April 2014 - AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL NEEDS BACKING FROM GOVERNMENTS

9th December 2013 - BASEBALL AUSTRALIA UNVEILS PREMIUM NATIONAL, STATE AND CLUB WEBSITES 

8th November 2012 - NEW UNIT TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF AUSTRALIA SPORT  

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We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

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