VISALIA, CA — OnDeck Partners and the Visalia Rawhide will host a community celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Valley Strong Ballpark on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. The event marks the start of a new era for the baseball franchise under its new ownership.
The festival is set to run from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the stadium in downtown Visalia. The event will include a family-friendly celebration featuring live music, local food trucks, and bounce houses for kids. At 5 p.m., OnDeck owners and Visalia city officials will hold a ceremony to kick off the festivities.
The celebration follows the recent sale of the team to OnDeck Partners, an investment group led by Marc Lasry of the Avenue Capital Group. The sale marks a major change for the team as it heads into the new season. Despite the change in ownership, the Rawhide will remain the Single-A minor league affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, continuing its long-standing role in professional baseball.
The owners see the celebration as a first step in showing residents how they plan to modernize the ballpark and improve the fan experience while keeping the team's local roots strong. According to a report from The Business Journal, the new owners aim to enhance local community connections through these updates.
This is the first major public event for the new owners, who hope to introduce themselves to the community through a day of family fun. It also offers fans a chance to explore the stadium and enjoy the pre-season atmosphere before the team takes the field later this year.
The new management wants to honor the team’s history while looking toward the future. They hope this event welcomes the community back to the stadium for the 2026 season.
