Pioneer League's Rocky Mountain Vibes Cease Operations

For the first time in 37 years, Colorado Springs will not have professional baseball.

Pioneer League President Michael Shapiro confirmed to the Denver Gazette that the Rocky Mountain Vibes will not return in 2026.  Colorado Springs's KRDO-TV separately confirmed that the Vibes will shut down all operations.

Professional baseball came to the Springs in 1988, when the Elmore Sports Group purchased and relocated the Hawaii Islanders to serve as the Cleveland Indians' AAA affiliate, renaming the team the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The Colorado Rockies joined Major League Baseball in 1993.  Located just 70 miles from Denver, he Sky Sox became the Rockies' AAA affiliate in 1993 -- and would remain so until 2014.

The Sky Sox were then the Milwaukee Brewers' AAA affiliate from 2015 until 2018. Owner D.G. Elmore announced in 2017 that the Sky Sox would relocate in 2019 to San Antonio and would play as the Missions; the Pioneer League's Helena Brewers (A) then replaced the Sky Sox in Colorado Springs, leaving the city without a AAA affiliate for the first time in 31 years.

Elmore also announced that the team would rebrand, debuting as the "Rocky Mountain Vibes" in 2019. When MLB converted the Pioneer League to an unaffiliated, independent league in 2021, Colorado Springs also lost its 33-year connection to an MLB parent club.

The Sky Sox averaged more than 4,100 fans for a 72-home game season according to the Denver Gazette. Over the 48 home games in 2025, the Vibes had an average attendance that was approximately 40 percent lower (2,390).

blocktickets Park, Photo by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey

2025 has been a tough year for professional baseball in Colorado, as none of the Centennial State's three Pioneer League teams will return. Owners of the Grand Junction Jackalopes recently announced an intention to relocate the franchise, and the Northern Colorado Owlz ceased operations during the 2025 season.