“What Could Have Been” Night introduces The El Paso Desert Gators

The date was October 22, 2013. The Plaza Theatre’s main auditorium was filled with an audience of youth baseball players and media, all awaiting the announcement of the name for El Paso’s Triple-A baseball team.

Would it be the Aardvarks, Buckaroos, Chihuahuas, Desert Gators, or the Sun Dogs?

Then it came. “The El Paso Desert Gators!”.

Well, that’s not what really happened. But come June 10, El Paso will get a glimpse of what could have been as the city’s Triple-A team takes the field as The Desert Gators.

What Could Have Been Night, presented by The Hospitals of Providence, will include specialty jerseys worn by the players and merchandise sold in the Team Shop.

The Desert Gators will take on Albuquerque at 7:05 p.m. at Southwest University Park.

The El Paso Chihuahuas said What Could Have Been Night originated from General Manager Brad Taylor’s former team, the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Under Taylor, the Hot Rods won the 2009 Minor League Baseball Promotion of the Year with their debut of What Could Have Been Night, changing the team name to the Cave Shrimp, a finalist in the Hot Rod’s name the team contest, similar to the Chihuahuas.

“This is all about having fun with an alternate reality,” Taylor said. “For a night, fans can know ‘What Could Have Been’ as we embrace the Desert Gators.”

The search for El Paso Triple-A Baseball’s team name began with a community-wide effort, allowing the region’s fans to submit names through the El Paso Triple-A website. The list was narrowed based on creativity, marketability, fun, relevance to El Paso’s unique character and the ability to trademark the name.

Since their debut more than two years ago, the Chihuahuas said they have had more than 1-million fans walk through the Southwest University Park gates; sold merchandise in all 50 states and over 10 countries; rank first in Minor League Baseball on social media on Facebook with 129,000 followers, more than 46,000 followers on Twitter and 30,000 followers on Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube combined; have contributed more than 1,100 community service hours; Chico, the brand’s mascot has made more than 1,000 community appearances; and have given more than $500,000 in charitable donations including jersey auctions.

“By living the brand, we have been able to do many positive things with our amazing community partners and fans,” said Taylor. “The love this town shows its team is unparalleled.”

Merchandise will be sold at the Chihuahuas Team Shop beginning on June 10th for fans in attendance at gates open (6 p.m.).

Fans are encouraged to purchase in advance by visiting EPChihuahuas.com or by calling (915) 533-BASE.

Fans are also encouraged to bring unopened cereal boxes or a monetary contribution to the game in exchange for cereal bowls. Proceeds will benefit the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank. For more information call (915) 533-BASE.