Mayor Edna Jackson released a statement after Sand Gnats owners announce they're leaving Savannah.

"Savannah has a long history with professional baseball, and we are confident our City's future will also include plenty of baseball. We would like to thank the Savannah Sand Gnats and its current owner, Hardball Capital, for partnering with the City at historic Grayson Stadium, one of the oldest professional ballparks in the nation. It's been a good relationship. At Hardball's request, we have invested more than $3 million into Grayson over the past six years, including installation of a new field and lighting system, replacement of the grandstands, and construction of the three-level Landshark Landing. 

We continue to believe Grayson is an ideal and family-friendly setting in which to locate a professional team. While we all love baseball in Savannah, we understand it is a business, and Hardball's decision to move its Single A affiliate to Columbia is a business decision. We wish them well.

The City continues to have active discussions with several other professional baseball owners to locate a team in Savannah. While we have enjoyed nearly a century of professional baseball in Savannah, we have experienced a number of seasons when we have had no team. We are confident that, just as before, baseball will return to Savannah soon enough."