Peter Freund
CEO | Diamond Baseball Holdings
Since forming in 2021, Diamond Baseball Holdings has gone from nine teams under ownership to more than 35, with a focus on positively impacting teams’ communities and bringing more events to their ballparks.
“DBH is still only a few years old, so every year is one of tremendous growth for us,” says Freund, who started DBH with executive chairman Pat Battle. Six teams were added to the DBH portfolio this year, the Inland Empire 66ers, Winston-Salem Dash, Harrisburg Senators, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Arkansas Travelers and Charlotte Knights.
Meanwhile, DBH launched two teams of its own to debut in 2025: the Hub City Spartanburgers single-A Texas Rangers affiliate in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the Columbus Clingstones, double-A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves.
“We’re bringing baseball back to two cities in the midst of exciting growth and revitalization,” Freund says.
This summer, DBH kicked off a new Music On The Diamond Series at multiple ballparks, featuring concerts by Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett.
“Bringing new events and experiences that foster community and draw more people to our ballparks has been a goal of ours at DBH since the very beginning, and we’re excited to see the series continue to grow,” Freund says.
Challenges this year included difficult weather across the board, which Freund says meant “an unprecedented number” of rainouts and events affected by inclement weather.
“It forces us and our teams at the local level to get creative around marketing and promotions and to maximize the opportunities we have,” he said. “When our teams band together to pull tarp or clear snow off a field in the middle of the night to make sure the park is ready for first pitch the following day, I’m reminded of the deep passion of those working in Minor League Baseball and why I love this sport.”
Love for the sport is a big reason why Freund is bullish on the minor league baseball business, which he says offers a “pure, family-friendly fun that you can’t experience anywhere else.”
He points to new popular drone and holiday light shows as examples of new technology that can add to the traditional baseball experience.
Customer service needs to match the amenities, Freund says, with a goal toward increasing and improving accessibility at ballparks across the board as DBH adds to its portfolio of teams and expands offerings at their ballparks.
“It’s important to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, seen, and cared for,” he said. “The customer service needs to be absolutely flawless. As operators, you have to keep listening to your fans because you’re never done learning about how you can make things better for them.” — Ryan Borba
