Florida Marlins may be looking for San Antonio home

[Architecture in Helsinki]

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has held quiet conversations with Florida Marlins officials that could eventually lead to the Major League Baseball franchise relocating from South Florida to South Texas.

Florida Marlins may be looking for San Antonio home

This is exciting news.

[txstate25]

Florida Marlins may be looking for San Antonio home

This is exciting news.

Do you or anyone know what other cities the marlins are considering??? So far all I know for sure is SA and Vegas

[Architecture in Helsinki]

Do you or anyone know what other cities the marlins are considering??? So far all I know for sure is SA and Vegas

Portland and Vegas are the only other serious bidders.

But you can pretty much take Vegas off the list because they would have to have all the casino's wipe MLB bets off their books and that is NOT happening.

[eastsider]

Do you or anyone know what other cities the marlins are considering??? So far all I know for sure is SA and Vegas

Like Architecture in Helsinki said, Portland and Vegas seem to be the serious contenders. There has been talk about them looking at Charlotte, but few people here think the city could support a third team yet. Other places that I have seen mentioned in various articles include, Puerto Rico, The Medowlands in New Jersey, and Monterrey.

[Architecture in Helsinki]

A spokesman for a development group looking to build a complex of sports facilities and related amenities on the East Side said it would be willing to put together private investments for much of the cost of a venue.

"If HollyHills can do anything to make the Florida Marlins a reality in San Antonio, then HollyHills is behind this 100 percent," said T.J. Connolly, a spokesman for Los Angeles-based HollyHills Development Inc., which recently unveiled ambitious plans for MLB, NFL and NASCAR facilities near the SBC Center and the city-owned Willow Springs Golf Course.

"We have the plan, the land and the credibility."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories...s.121c14ad.html

Like Architecture in Helsinki said, Portland and Vegas seem to be the serious contenders. There has been talk about them looking at Charlotte, but few people here think the city could support a third team yet. Other places that I have seen mentioned in various articles include, Puerto Rico, The Medowlands in New Jersey, and Monterrey.

You can pretty much knock Vegas and Monterrey.

Vegas casino's will never wipe MLB betting from their books, they'd lose too much money.

And the Marlin's President has already said he isn't interested in a site in Mexico.

[eastsider]

Another article about the Marlins' visit to San Antonio last week. This is what the team president said about the city:

"What excites us is where this city has been and where it is going," says Samson about the nation's eighth largest city. "You've got leadership here that is committed to making this a major league city. When you have the combination of that leadership and a city that is growing and jobs that are being created and a corporate support base that already exists, you're talking about a major league city."

San Antonio Business Journal: Marlins' president says Alamo City is a major-league contender

[St. Louis UAB Blazer]

San Antonio needs another pro franchise in a bad way. Baseball would be perfect in San Antonio, especially considering the .0001 chance of rain delay.

[MrJoshua]

Baseball?

I don't think this town is much of a "baseball" city. Certainly not enough of one to build an appropriate stadium. You saw all the whining from certain quarters of the city just to build the Spurs a modest stadium. I can promise you two things: (1) No baseball team will want to make the alamodome a long-term home (2) COPS/LULAC/Whatever they call themselves these days will fight a new stadium tooth and nail.

Save your powder for football.

[Architecture in Helsinki]

I don't think this town is much of a "baseball" city. Certainly not enough of one to build an appropriate stadium.

Funding for a new stadium (whether its NFL or MLB) is already in place.

You saw all the whining from certain quarters of the city just to build the Spurs a modest stadium.

Could you give me one city that doesn't have its local residents in an uproar when a talk of an increase in their taxes is called upon to pay for a sports arean/stadium.

It isn't a "San Antonio" thing.

I can promise you two things: (1) No baseball team will want to make the alamodome a long-term home

You're right. Because they can't. The Alamodome wasn't built with baseball in mind Sso wouldn't work as an domed MLB stadium.

COPS/LULAC/Whatever they call themselves these days will fight a new stadium tooth and nail.

Why?

They didn't fight the arena nor would they fight another stadium because funding is already in place.

Save your powder for football.

Whoever strikes while the irons hot gets the new stadium, the other has to wait for our seconds.

[eastsider]

Apparently, talks between the Florida Marlins and San Antonio have been on going since the Marlins officals visited SA in December.

Bob DuPuy, president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, says San Antonio "has become the focus of [the]Marlins' relocation discussions," according to the Miami Herald.

The article denied that SA was the front runner, but did say that talks have progressed further than other cities.

Austin Business Journal: S.A. is 'focus' of possible Marlins move

[Architecture in Helsinki]

San Antonio under `serious consideration'

San Antonio has become the focus of Marlins' relocation discussions, Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy said Wednesday.

Asked if San Antonio has emerged as the front-runner, DuPuy said, ``I would not go that far. All I would say is that right now, that seems to be the temporal focus. I think it's too early to have a front-runner.''

The Marlins have spoken with officials with San Antonio, Portland and Norfolk, Va., but the talks with San Antonio have progressed further than the others.

Marlins president David Samson said the team and San Antonio officials are speaking three or four times a week.

www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/baseball/13995528.htm

Bexar steps up to plate with stadium plan

County Judge Nelson Wolff said Thursday he will present a stadium financing plan next week to the Florida Marlins, a step that may lead to more intense relocation negotiations between the county and the Major League Baseball franchise.

www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA030306.01A.San_Antonio_Marlins.1d1b9942.html

[richyb83]

Wow ! Florida looks like they could lose both MLB teams . I know the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have been struggling with laughable crowds as small as the old Montreal Expos. If the Marlins leave what will Florida do for baseball ?

[Dale]

Suitors: Be careful what you wish for. Whoever gets them.

Deserves them.

[copperfiend]

Wow ! Florida looks like they could lose both MLB teams . I know the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have been struggling with laughable crowds as small as the old Montreal Expos. If the Marlins leave what will Florida do for baseball ?

Who said Tampa is leaving? They are not going anywhere.

[Aporkalypse]

Who said Tampa is leaving? They are not going anywhere.

They were dead last in MLB attendance at 14k a game. Even Florida managed 22,700 to be 3rd from last.

[eastsider]

The owner of the Marlins, Jeffrey Loria, has invited seven San Antonio politicians including Mayor Hardberger to watch the teams opening game with him on April 3rd in Houston.

Bexar County (San Antonio) has offered the Marlins a deal in which voters would be asked to extend a hotel and car rental tax to cover $200 million toward an open-air stadium that Wolff estimates will cost at least $300 million, a figure that some believe is too low. Wolff hopes Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan would help with the campaign.

Miami Herald: San Antonio officials get an invite

[eastsider]

A proposed baseball-specific stadium in Bexar County that would serve as a home for the Florida Marlins likely would seat 38,700 and include 69 suites, County Judge Nelson Wolff said Friday during a meeting with local business leaders.

A baseball stadium in San Antonio is expected to cost about $310M. The county would put up as much as $200M for the stadium trough an extension of a car rental tax used to pay for the AT&T Center, if voters approve it. The rest of the construction costs would be paid by the team.

San Antonio Express-News: Here's the pitch on Marlins

[facilities man]

Don't get your hopes up too high. My feeling is the Marlins are using other cities to entice one of the cities in South Florida to step up and build them a new stadium. What team would want to leave a market of 5.5 million people for a market of 2.0 to 2.5 million people, (San Antonio, Charlotte, Portland)? Neither city has the population to effectively support baseball without revenue sharing. Look at Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and other similar population sized cities.

Stick to football. San Antonio would be a good market for the NFL.

Baseball prices itself out of mid size to smaller markets by not having revenue sharing.

[eastsider]

Major League Baseball will announce soon wether it thinks San Antonio is a viable market for the league, according to city officials.

MLB president Bob DuPuy spoke to Hardberger and Wolff in separate phone calls that lasted about 20 minutes each. The Marlins are waiting for baseball to finish its analysis of San Antonio before they respond to Bexar County's stadium-financing offer.

San Antonio Express-News: Baseball: S.A. reps say talks with MLB go well

[Aporkalypse]

What team would want to leave a market of 5.5 million people for a market of 2.0 to 2.5 million people, (San Antonio, Charlotte, Portland)?

I don't know, ask the Houston Oilers Nashville Predators. Do I need to remind you LA has no NFL team?

When attendance problems are as bad as they are for the Marlins, does it matter? I think they'd rather be anywhere, especially somewhere that will foot the bill for a new facility.

Austin is about the same distance from SA as West Palm is from Miami. If you count the Austin metro along with San Antonio's it highly competitive with South Florida in terms of population.

[facilities man]

I don't know, ask the Houston Oilers Nashville Predators. Do I need to remind you LA has no NFL team?

When attendance problems are as bad as they are for the Marlins, does it matter? I think they'd rather be anywhere, especially somewhere that will foot the bill for a new facility.

Austin is about the same distance from SA as West Palm is from Miami. If you count the Austin metro along with San Antonio's it highly competitive with South Florida in terms of population.

Actually San Antonio to Austin is about 15 miles further and still has about 2,000,000 people less than the Miami Dade Metro. I think the Marlins just have too much competition with other entertainment to draw enough fans. It's the same with the Devil Rays in the Tampa Bay area. Too many sports and entertainment options.

I think the Marlins will go where they get a new stadium. I think their first choice is to stay in South Florida, but San Antonio looks like a close contender.

[eastsider]

County Judge Nelson Wolff is planning to impose a deadline for the Marlins to say if they will pursue relocation to San Antonio.

"We are not going to play this game too long," Wolff said. "We know the Marlins need to get a stadium deal done in Florida. They've made that clear. But they're going to have to burn a little midnight oil. We aren't going to wait on them too much longer."

San Antonio Express-News: Baseball: Wolff plans to give Marlins a deadline

[hoobo]

Actually San Antonio to Austin is about 15 miles further and still has about 2,000,000 people less than the Miami Dade Metro. I think the Marlins just have too much competition with other entertainment to draw enough fans. It's the same with the Devil Rays in the Tampa Bay area. Too many sports and entertainment options.

I think the Marlins will go where they get a new stadium. I think their first choice is to stay in South Florida, but San Antonio looks like a close contender.

How many people want to sit for 3 hours in the South Florida heat and humidity to watch baseball? If the Marlins had a domed stadium, they'd do fine.

I still wonder about San Antonio's ability to support a second pro team. I know the corporate support is there but what about population and fans' disposable income.

[up+down=midtown]

Ok im loving some of the comments I'm reading from you guys, attendance is not down due to no one not wanting to go to the games or because of competition with other fans, or even weather. The miami dolphins have among the nfls highest attendance rates, and so do the miami heat in the nba. WHY BECAUSE THE TEAMS ARE ACTUALLY GOOD. Miami's population is mostly cuban, dominican, and puerto ricans all which have a huge passion for baseball, why doesn't anyone want to go to the games because ever since the marlins joined the mlb they haven't been able to put 2 winning seasons back to back, yea they've won 2 world series, and if you look at those seasons there attendance was really high what happenend the year after, all the players were released,traded or anything they had to do get rid of payroll. Which is why everyone in miami calls the florida marlins, the triple a team. and considers the owner a sellout.

also might i remind everyone that the current owner of the marlins, was the old owner for the montreal expos which insisted over and over that he wanted a new stadium in montreal, once they didn't he said the team was moving, once he moved the team he sold them for a ton of money, he then bought the marlins did the exact same thing again, this guy just wants to make money just like every owner in every sports league.

And i can't believe san antonio, is stupid enough to pay for him to build a stadium, you guys most be insanely dumb.

[Aporkalypse]

I think the Marlins just have too much competition with other entertainment to draw enough fans. It's the same with the Devil Rays in the Tampa Bay area. Too many sports and entertainment options.

I think the Marlins will go where they get a new stadium. I think their first choice is to stay in South Florida, but San Antonio looks like a close contender.

I agree with all of that. It just seems like South Florida and Loria both have a sense of entitlement that will keep them from coming to an agreement. Also, the Florida legislature isn't willing to give the Marlins the same break they've given other sports teams because Huizenga used that money twice on the same stadium.