Dave Elmore has been a succesful entrepreneur for several decades, but his interests took an exciting new turn in 1981 when he acqured his first professional sports team. Since that time, Mr. Elmore has dedicated his considerable business experience and love for sports to the development of the Elmore Sports Group.
In 1981 it was Elmore's purchase of the Pacific Coast League's Hawaii Islanders that initiated the formation of the Elmore Sports Group. In 1988 he moved the Islanders franchise to Colorado Springs and renamed them the Sky Sox. Including the Missions, which were purchased in 1987, the Elmore Sports Group now consists of seven Minor League Baseball teams and one hockey team. The Elmores also run the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Double-A), Inland Empire 66ers (Advanced-A), Lynchburg Hillcats (Advanced-A), Eugene Emeralds (Class-A Short Season), Idaho Falls Chukars (Short Season Rookie Level), and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class-A Short Season) in Minor League Baseball as well as the East Coast Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies.
Since 1991, Elmore has served on the Joint Committee of the National Baseball Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, The committee is comprised of four Minor League owners and four Major League owners. Together they work on all issues concerning both leagues.
Elmore was elected into the Texas League Hall of Fame in June 2016 and in December of the same year he was named the "King of Baseball" by Minor League Baseball.
In 2018 the Elmore Sports Group was named the 2018 Organization of the Year by Ballpark Digest due to the collective success of the seven teams it owns as well as guiding three franchise shifts.