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OREM — It appears professional baseball is leaving Utah County.
The Orem Owlz, the rookie league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, is set to announce its intention to move to Pueblo, Colorado, according to Colorado Springs NBC affiliate KOAA. The formal announcement of the move is set for Wednesday in Pueblo.
The Orem Owlz franchise did not immediately return a request for comment on the report.
KOAA reports that Owlz owner Jeff Katofsky plans to build three hotels, as well as host a youth baseball tournament, in Pueblo as part of the move. The Pueblo City Council approved a plan to bring a minor league baseball team to the town last Monday, and it appears the city is set to build a stadium for the Owlz.
The Owlz first moved to Utah County in 2001, first as the Provo Angels before moving to Orem and changing the team's name in 2005. The team has won five Pioneer League championships and eight division titles.
Since moving to Orem, the team has played at UCCU Ballpark at Utah Valley University, with a 5,000 person capacity. In 2017, the Owlz averaged an attendance of just 1,513, sixth in the eight-team Pioneer League.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
