Heavy-hitting minor-league baseball owner Art Solomon is making his next pitch at the Lowell Spinners.

The owner of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods has submitted a bid to manage LeLacheur Park, home of the successful New York-Penn League franchise.

Solomon's company, DSF Sports & Entertainment, made a bid when the city of Lowell sent out a request for proposal on the heels of its expiring 10-year lease with the Spinners.

If the city accepts the undisclosed bid, DSF Sports would manage the facility -- similar to an arrangement in Manchester in which SMG Worldwide manages the city-owned Verizon Wireless Arena.

Solomon

The move comes amid a down economy in which professional sports franchises are experiencing layoffs, and, in the case of the Arena Football League, suspending operations for a year.

Solomon, meanwhile, is coming off a season of record attendance for the Fisher Cats and will open a new Single-A stadium in Kentucky this spring.

In a matter of a few years, Solomon's ownership group -- based in Waltham, Mass. -- has proven to be a serious minor-league player. Management of the short-season Single-A affiliate of the Red Sox could be another home run for DSF Sports.

"We have the experience, and it's a way to expand our business," Solomon said. "My senior people working in organizations between Kentucky and New Hampshire have been responsible for handling nine different baseball facilities. We know all the aspects of facilities management, and this one is not far away and easy for us to handle."

The city of Lowell will also entertain a management bid from Drew Weber's Lowell Spinners, who pay a $40,000 lease under the existing contract and retain revenue from ticket sales, advertising and concessions, according to a report in the Lowell Sun.

It was Weber who brought Double-A baseball to Manchester, delivered an Eastern League championship in 2004, and sold majority ownership to Solomon in 2005. In July 2008, Solomon purchased from Weber the remaining interest of the franchise to become sole owner. A message left on Weber's cell phone was not returned yesterday.

The former business partners, who remain good friends according to Solomon, expect to receive word from the city of Lowell by mid-January. It appears Weber and Solomon are the only serious bidders to manage the city-owned facility, which sells out nearly every home game.

"This (opportunity) was advertised in Baseball Digest. Everybody in the baseball world was aware of it," Solomon said.

Fisher Cats President/General Manager Rick Brenner, who also serves as president of DSF Sports, remained tight-lipped on the bidding process in Lowell but said, "I can assure you nothing will change our commitment to Manchester and fans in New Hampshire."

The nation's ongoing economic crisis hasn't severely impacted the Fisher Cats, who set franchise records by averaging 5,332 fans per game in 2008. Major League Baseball's attendance dipped 1.1 percent to 78.6 million, but Minor League Baseball as a whole experienced an increase of 1.1 percent to 43.3 million.

The Arena Football League cancelled the 2009 season but its minor-league brethren, including the Manchester Wolves, remain full-steam ahead when the season begins in March.

The Fisher Cats, who will not raise ticket prices in 2009, have plans to add another full-time employee within days.

Loren Foxx will serve high on the front-office depth chart as vice president of marketing. Foxx was former general manager of the Inland Empire 66ers Baseball Club of San Bernardino, Calif.