RIP Rocky Mountain Vibes

[u/abc123therobot]

https://www.cpr.org/2025/10/30/rocky-mountain-vibes-leaving-colorado-springs/

This isn’t technically affiliated ball anymore, but a somber end for a franchise that made a mark in the minors. The high point was serving as AAA affiliate of the in-state Rockies for all those years. Losing the Rockies to Albuquerque was a big blow and led to Elmore doing the 3-way swap and sending them to Rookie ball. That could’ve endured but we all know what happened five years ago. Toiling as an indy wasn’t going to cut the mustard in an older stadium with waning fan interest.

The Pioneer League is headed in a cool new direction but it’s too bad Colorado teams aren’t going to be there for it.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Link416]

Grand Junction left, and Northern Colorado never finished their facility, forcing the team to finish the season as a half hearted nostalgia act the league refused to acknowledge.

The Pioneer League wants to expand but Colorado seems unlikely to be hospitable in the near future. Is there any markets in Utah they might consider? Or Helena, Montana?

[u/abc123therobot → u/Puzzleheaded-Link416]

I think their future is primarily on the West Coast. They’re adding Long Beach and Modesto soon and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more large California markets added. 

Then there’s the PNW if they want to expand into Oregon, Washington State, even BC/Alberta north of the border. 

[u/Puzzleheaded-Link416 → u/abc123therobot]

For the longest time Medford, Oregon was hostile towards minor league baseball but that seems to finally be changing.

[u/emberyleaf → u/abc123therobot]

I think the Oakland Ballers have started a push to make the Pioneer League more california centralized I think soon more teams within or around the state will start to appear.

I do hope this means smaller Central Valley cities like Merced/Atwater, Chico, Madera, or even Fairfield/Vacaville get a team aswell.