Chase Lio, Owner, Raleigh Red Oaks

Invest: spoke with Chase Lio, owner of the Raleigh Red Oaks, about building a locally rooted collegiate summer baseball team, supporting young athletes, and creating an affordable game-day experience. “The one thing that technology cannot take is personal experiences,” Lio said.

What inspired you to take ownership of the Raleigh Red Oaks?

At a high level, we were looking to do something that could have an impact and create value in a community. Emily and I are both from the West Coast and are not originally from the Raleigh-Durham area. I played baseball throughout my life, and I also work in marketing for a large medical device company with an office in Raleigh.

We wanted to do something different that was interesting, exciting, and meaningful. We came across an opportunity to acquire a small collegiate summer baseball team based in Raleigh. We play in a league with teams throughout North Carolina. It is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the country, and our players come from across the United States, although many are relatively local.

There was a strong pull for us, particularly for me, because we help players chase their dreams. I followed a similar path when I was younger. These college athletes want to improve, be seen by coaches, and possibly be drafted to play professional baseball. Summer baseball teams are an important part of that journey.

What makes a locally focused sports organization distinctive?

Local sports teams can connect with people in ways that larger organizations often cannot. We are not the Carolina Hurricanes or the Durham Bulls. Those are large professional franchises with reach across the state. We are local.

I am building relationships with small businesses and organizations located within five to 10 miles of our stadium. We want to become more ingrained in the community. We can have an impact on the players who spend the summer with us while helping local organizations become involved in that same journey.

The one thing that technology cannot take is personal experiences. Technology will continue to expand, but it cannot replace face-to-face, in-person events. Sports and music are two powerful ways to bring people together, and sports remain difficult to automate.

People are increasingly surrounded by technology and artificial intelligence. Baseball offers an opportunity to sit around a field at night, watch a game, and connect with others in person. I believe there will continue to be a significant opportunity to create those personal connections.

Why did you involve Raleigh residents in choosing the team’s identity?

It was partly a way to raise awareness that the organization existed. Everyone wants an opportunity to name something, so we provided five possible names and invited people to vote.

More importantly, it helped drive engagement. People want to be part of movements and organizations. They want to participate rather than remain on the sidelines. Having the community help name the team was the first way we could invite people to become directly involved.

Building awareness remains our greatest challenge. We recently completed our second season, and we are already planning for next year. There is a great deal of work ahead as we continue developing the brand.

There are examples around the country of collegiate summer teams building large audiences. The Savannah Bananas began as a regular summer baseball team, while the Portland Pickles have also grown significantly. That demonstrates there is a market for this kind of experience. We are taking it step by step, increasing awareness, and creating something enjoyable for players and fans.

What role do partnerships with local businesses play?

We have worked with several locally operated partners, including the two downtown Raleigh Marriott properties, a local Jersey Mike’s franchise, a nearby sandwich shop, and Domino’s.

Some of those names are larger brands, but the locations are owned by local entrepreneurs and franchisees. That fits our model. We are finding that other small business owners see value in being part of something positive and community-focused.

When I speak with potential partners, I am not primarily promising increased revenue, social media followers, or a specific number of impressions. Those outcomes may happen, but that is not the central message.

The organization exists for two reasons. The first is to help players pursue their goal of playing professional baseball. The second is to allow the community to watch them compete.

We ask sponsors whether they want to support that mission. Our sponsorship packages are relatively simple and affordable. The funding helps us pay coaches, rent the field, purchase equipment, support the players, and put on games for the community throughout the summer.

How do you create a valuable experience for young athletes?

We want to provide players with a high-quality and supportive environment. Our coaching staff includes college coaches, and we have relationships with local groups that assist with training routines, offseason planning, and general player development.

The atmosphere around the games is also important. Players want to compete in front of fans who are engaged and enjoying themselves. We invite local youth baseball teams to attend games, run the bases, collect autographs, and join players on the field before games. We also work with churches and community organizations.

Fans get to watch good baseball and connect with players, while the athletes experience what it is like to compete for and represent a community.

Over time, we would like players from across the country to hear about the experience of playing for the Red Oaks and reach out to us proactively. Today, we still recruit players and invite them to join the team. In the future, we want the experience to attract them to us.

How do you make games appealing and accessible to families?

We are still working on that and improving the experience each year. We have a squirrel mascot named Carl who moves around the stadium, and we offer in-game activities, themed nights, and sponsor-supported events. Much of it comes down to small touches that make the evening more enjoyable.

Affordability is also central to the model. Sporting events have become expensive, particularly for families. I have three children, and attending a professional basketball or baseball game can quickly become a major expense once tickets, parking, food, and drinks are included.

Our adult tickets are $10, and children’s tickets are $5. We also offer affordable concessions. Families do not have to choose between attending our game and another major expense. They can spend a modest amount, watch good baseball, enjoy a local outing, and still get home before bedtime.

That accessibility is one of the things that attracted me to this opportunity. We want the games to feel easy to attend, not financially restrictive.

What do you want the Raleigh Red Oaks to represent over the next three to five years?

It comes back to great baseball for Raleigh. When people enter the stadium, I want them to know they are going to see good baseball in an environment that is locally oriented and locally driven. When they leave, I want them to feel that they watched a great game and participated in something connected to their community.

I would like to continue expanding partnerships with local businesses. Ideally, those businesses will set up tables during games, interact directly with fans, and help create a stronger environment for spectators and players.

Every year, we want to become incrementally better. That means improving the quality of the team and the player experience while strengthening the fan experience.

One of the strategic questions we are considering is how to balance those priorities. Summer baseball is not solely about winning, but winning is more fun, and we want to field a competitive team. We are evaluating how much of our resources should go toward building the best baseball team possible and how much should go toward expanding the entertainment and overall experience.

Both sides matter. Our objective is to remain as community-oriented and locally focused as possible while building an organization that players, fans, and local partners are excited to support.