FRL Puts Flatirons on Hiatus

FRONT RANGE LEAGUE PUTS BOULDER FLATIRONS ON HIATUS

Inability to secure playing dates forces a delay until the 2027 season

GERING, NE – The Boulder Flatirons of the Front Range League regretfully announce that the team will be on hiatus for the 2026 season.

The Flatirons organized and planned to play at Scott Carpenter Park while working with the City of Boulder to share the ballpark with another collegiate team, the Boulder 64s (Collegians). The 64s (Collegians), in September, turned the team over to the Front Range League, with ownership claiming they could no longer operate multiple teams.  The FRL took possession of the franchise and rebranded the team as the Flatirons.

The former owner of the 64s (Collegians) then returned more than two months later claiming ownership despite written documentation otherwise. Rather than fight for an entity, the 64s (Collegians), that had no assets and no real value as a business, the FRL continued building the Flatirons separately as an FRL expansion franchise. A coach was hired, players signed, potential sponsors were in place.

The Flatirons were perfectly willing to share the ballpark with the 64s (Collegians) and respect their right to play. We proposed that each team be allotted a week at a time, alternating weeks throughout the season to give each team a consistent schedule. The Flatirons were promised in December, in writing, by the City of Boulder that playing dates would be distributed fairly to allow both teams to succeed.

When the 64s (Collegians) submitted their own dates, months after the Flatirons submitted ours, they asked for 30 dates, almost all weekend dates, when in reality the team normally plays 8-10 home dates a season. We were told by the City that as a returning user, the 64s (Collegians) had first right of reservation for dates. Again, we respect that policy while arguing that reserving 30 dates was unreasonable considering the history of field use by the team.

But we know, the 64s (Collegians) know and the City knows that the 64s (Collegians) will not play 30 dates. Historically the Collegians would reserve far more dates than they intend to use, then cancel those dates just before the summer, with the intent of keeping others from playing at Scott Carpenter Park. This has been allowed by the City and it appears it is being allowed again. While the Flatirons were promised a fair distribution of playing dates, that has not happened.

With that, the Flatirons cannot conduct a professional minor league-level operation with a few random weekdays and minimal weekend dates. Knowing the 64s (Collegians) will tie up most of the family-friendly 2026 field dates, with the City’s permission, until it is too late for another team to operate, we will regroup and continue to attempt to work with the City to begin play in the 2027 season.

Our goal remains as it has been from the start – to bring to Scott Carpenter Park an exciting, valuable asset.  We do far more than just play baseball games in front of mostly empty seats.  We deliver inexpensive family entertainment with the expectation of filling the ballpark.