Syracuse Mets

Syracuse's Triple-A history dates to 1934, when the franchise began play in the International League. Over the ensuing six decades, the team operated under various names — most prominently the Chiefs — and affiliated with numerous major league organizations including the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and others.

MacArthur Stadium, which opened in 1934 and was expanded multiple times, served as the franchise's home for over 60 years. The ballpark became a beloved landmark in Syracuse, hosting generations of future major leaguers. Notable alumni from the Chiefs era include Bob Gibson (who played in Syracuse during the Cardinals' brief affiliation), Tim Raines, and countless other players who used central New York as a springboard to the majors.

The franchise won multiple Governors' Cup championships during this period and was a consistent draw in the International League. By the 1990s, however, MacArthur Stadium was showing its age, and plans were underway for a modern replacement that would keep Triple-A baseball in Syracuse for the long term.

The construction of what is now NBT Bank Stadium in 1997 ushered in a new era for Syracuse baseball. The 10,815-seat facility in the city's northern suburbs replaced the aging MacArthur Stadium and gave the franchise a modern, fan-friendly home. The team operated as the SkyChiefs during parts of this period, affiliating with the Toronto Blue Jays (1978-2008) and the Washington Nationals (2009-2018).

The Blue Jays affiliation was particularly productive, lasting three decades and producing a steady stream of major league talent. The Nationals years saw the franchise adjust to a new partnership, developing players like Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner before they became stars in Washington.

In 2018, the New York Mets organization purchased the franchise outright for approximately $18 million, marking the first time in the team's long history that the parent club directly owned its Triple-A affiliate. This set the stage for the franchise's most recent identity transformation.