In 2003, Joseph Finley and Craig Stein began actively pursuing their interest in bringing affiliated baseball back to Allentown. Initially, the duo pursued a Class A franchise when the Ottawa Lynx, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles at the time, were rumored to be moving to Harrisburg. When the city of Harrisburg was unwilling to upgrade Commerce Bank Park to Triple-A standards, the Orioles shifted their interest to Allentown because of its proximity to the Mid-Atlantic.
In 2003, Joseph Finley and Craig Stein began actively seeking to reintroduce affiliated baseball in Allentown. Initially, they planned to establish a Class A franchise when the Ottawa Lynx, then Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, were rumored to be moving to Harrisburg. However, due to Harrisburg's unwillingness to upgrade Commerce Bank Park for Triple-A standards, the Orioles shifted their interest towards Allentown because of its proximity to the Mid-Atlantic region.