The Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS) confirmed on Saturday during a meeting at the 26th Coach Convention in Bologna that Novara is going to join the Italian Baseball League for the 2011 season. They are replacing the Catania Warriors, which had to withdraw because of the ballpark situation on Sicily. They will play in the Federal Championship.
As already announced by the organization a few days ago, the North East Knights will remain in the IBL. A joint-venture between the clubs in Godo and Verona is going to be the IBL1 team. Dynos Verona is entering the franchise as the IBL2 team. The Knights faced major financial problems this winter and they will have to operate with a reduced budget.
Meanwhile president Riccardo Fraccari is already looking ahead and would like to expand the IBL throughout the next couple of years, starting with ten teams in 2012 en route to a long term goal of 16 teams in two conferences.