Community Corner

Koeppen Files Suit Against Lake County Fielders

Field of Dreams has become a Field of Nightmares, said former Fielders public address announcer Greg Koeppen of Grayslake. He has filed suit against the team and the owner of the Lake County Fielders.

Greg Koeppen of Grayslake, who served as the public address announcer for the Lake County Fielders baseball team in Zion, filed a lawsuit in Lake County Circuit Court against the Lake County Fielders and owner Rich Ehrenreich.

“It is unfortunate I have to file a lawsuit against Rich and the Fielders, but after repeated attempts to collect the money I am owed as stadium public address announcer for the team, I am left with no other choice,” Koeppen said in a statement released Dec. 12.

Koeppen not only served as the public address announcer for the past two seasons, he also hosted one of the players this past season.

“I supported the team from the beginning as I thought it would be a great tourist and local attraction for Lake County, unfortunately Rich has made it an embarrassment not only for Lake County, but for all of baseball,” said Koeppen, who is also a director with the Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Lake County Fielders, part of the independent North American League, was owned in part by baseball fan and actor Kevin Costner. The Fielders stadium was located at Route 173 and Green Bay Road in Zion, although it originally was set to be located on 9th Street.

Once it moved to its current location, the Fielders stadium never was finalized. According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, the unfinished Zion stadium became a disruption for both fans and players. The outfield grass was nearly dead. The team locker room was a rented trailer. Players sat on the floor to change, went to the bathroom in Port-o-Potties and cleaned up under portable showers that only occasionally worked, according to an Oct. 22 article in the Sun-Times.

There also were money problems reported for the Fielders. There were bounced checks, unpaid meal money and poor home stadium conditions. Coaches and players quit or were fired. The end of this year's season was played repeatedly against a team from Kenosha.

According to the Daily Herald, Zion officials announced in September that the Fielders owed $340,000 in back rent and other fees associated with the city’s temporary stadium dating to the team’s 2010 inaugural season. However, Ehrenreich still contends Zion violated a contractual promise to build a permanent facility this year, which is why he stopped paying rent. There also was a lawsuit from a bus company that claims it is owed money by the team.

These and other problems led to a disappointing end to the Fielder's 2011 season. Although the team’s website is still up and invites patrons to purchase tickets, the Fielder's will not be taking the field anytime soon.

For former employees like Koeppen, the losses need to be rectified.

“I am fortunate to have a full-time job, outside of the Fielders organization, but I truly feel sorry for all the Fielders part-time and full-time staff who have yet to be paid either,” he said.

Koeppen said there were high school and college kids who worked for the team this season who have not been paid. He encouraged others in similar situations to come forward.

“For me, it’s not about the money, but rather the principle,” said Koeppen. “I am encouraging anyone who worked for the Fielders and has yet to be paid, to file suit against the Fielders and Rich Ehrenreich.”

Koeppen said he is owed about $500. He is unaware of any other suits filed yet but believes others are still owed money.

“It’s appalling to me how many lives the team and Rich Ehrenreich messed with this past season and how he, with good conscience, can owe tens of thousands of dollars to single parents, students and individuals trying to make an honest living,” says Koeppen.

“Out of respect for Ehrenreich and the team, I held off on filing a lawsuit, but after numerous emails and attempts to collect the money I am owed, I gave Ehrenreich several deadlines and unfortunately he failed to follow through as promised,” he said.

“Ehrenreich made a mockery of baseball in Schaumburg and has done the same thing here in Lake County,” says Koeppen. “As residents and business owners in Lake County, we shared our homes and hearts with the team and the players. Unfortunately, Ehrenreich left many fans and players heartbroken.

“His (Ehrenreich’s) Field of Dreams has become a field of nightmares for so many who worked for and supported the team."


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