Before a Class AA franchise in Connecticut can be moved to Richmond, Minor League Baseball says it wants to see firm evidence that the city will get a new ballpark.
Tim Purpura, Minor League Baseball's executive vice president, said this week that the organization, which oversees all minor leagues affiliated with Major League Baseball, wants a sense of "what commitment is made by the municipalities involved, and some rudimentary idea of the leasing arrangements" before allowing relocation.
A group of Richmond investors is working to acquire the Class AA Eastern League franchise in Norwich, Conn., and move it to Richmond for the 2010 season. However, a $60 million ballpark -- proposed by Highwoods Properties as part of a $363 million development, Shockoe Center -- has not been approved by the city.
The Eastern League president, Joe McEacharn, said a relocation application must be submitted by August for an Eastern League franchise to be in a new locale for 2010. The August deadline is for scheduling, marketing and sales purposes, he said.
"At the present time, we have no relocation applications submitted to us," McEacharn said. "If a relocation application were to be filed, and I want to reiterate that none has been, the facility, as well as lease terms and long-term viability are all factors that are investigated and reviewed, prior to making any decisions on relocation applications."
The league's timetable coincides with an Aug. 1 deadline for Mayor Dwight C. Jones' administration to sign a letter of intent to move forward with the Shockoe Center development. City officials continue to study the proposal and are planning to hire a consultant to review the project's finances and other aspects, said Tammy Hawley, Jones' press secretary.
The House of Delegates and the state Senate have voted to approve House Bill 1803, proposed by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, which would use a portion of sales-tax proceeds to pay for a Richmond ballpark that's part of Shockoe Center.
The legislation would designate 2.5 percent of the sales-tax collections derived from the stadium -- and the development it spawns -- toward paying the bonds to finance the construction.
A companion bill, Senate Bill 1021, sponsored by Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, has passed the Senate and now is in committee.
A group of Shockoe Slip business owners has asked lawmakers to refer the bills back to committee out of concern that they might allow private facilities to be financed with public bonds.
"At a time when our economy is in a major recession, tax dollars should not be spent to fund the so-called private facilities," the group wrote in a letter to lawmakers. "In addition, private business in the city should not be placed at a disadvantage due to a special financing vehicle provided by the commonwealth."
The group includes representatives of The Tobacco Company Restaurant, the Omni Richmond Hotel, Richbrau Brewing Company, and Sam Miller's Restaurant.
Several sources identified the Norwich franchise as the one Richmond Baseball Club LC is attempting to purchase for about $15 million. If the deal is completed next month as expected, Richmond Baseball Club LC would operate the franchise in Norwich this season with the intention of moving it to Richmond for 2010.
"Certainly the Eastern League has significant interest in the Richmond market," the Eastern League's McEacharn said. "It was host for a Triple-A team [the Richmond Braves] -- a very successful one for a number of years. It's got great demographics."
There are no Class AAA franchises for sale in the International League, which is why the Richmond investment group is targeting Class AA.
"There's a reason there are no Triple-A teams available," said Bryan Bostic, chairman of the Richmond group. "The reason is they have [new ballparks]. We don't."
A Class AA franchise sale to Bostic's group could be announced soon after Minor League Baseball secures a Class A franchise for Norwich. That franchise would start play in Norwich in 2010, so that community would have uninterrupted professional baseball.
The Class AA franchise in Norwich is affiliated with the San Francisco Giants in an agreement that extends through the 2010 season
The current proposal doesn’t include a realistic rent on a $70mmm faciltiy, or the luxury box revenue or the naming rights as prerequisites and elements of the financing. That’s because Bryan Bostic needs/wants all of those.
ReplyDeleteThis thing just doesn’t make sense.
What does make sense is a AA team playing in a facility that a AAA team just vacated. Does it needs some sprucing up, yes. Should it have some activity around it, yes. Might it include a new stadium on the Boulevard, yes. All of those were part of the prior plan that the Braves and the Counties were cool with.
Minor League Baseball is worried that the high cost of purchasing teams will make them unfeasible and unstable. That is a real concern. That is the only point of the quoted language in the RTD article - but the reporter went over the top and inserted what I assume are his own personal views.
But a city needs to be concerned first with growing its tax base and service to all of its citizens, not with providing an “adequate” return to an amenity that doesn’t generate real economic benefit.
Proponents will say that this stadium will generate that, but their own plan shows this is not so - ALL of the tax growth goes to THEM, none to the taxpayers. If any revenue in the surrounding area plows into their area, they get it. That is bad business, bad public policy and bad news.
Does Shockoe Bottom need infrastructure and attractions that will draw nice people - yes. There are other ways to do that. For example, this is the one place in the NATION where a true nation slavery museum should be located, because it’s real.
From a bottom line point of view, this whole proposal depends upon nearly 200,000 square feet of retail, mostly restaurants to get the meals tax money. If, say, 60% is restaurant, that means around THIRTY national chain restaurants in a couple of blocks. THIRTY!! THIRTY!! That is THREE TIMES the number in Stony Point! Has ANYONE told the Shockoe Bottom businesses that? And the revenue that goes from them into the baseball district will come off the tax rolls, which means that their businesses will be impacted, and the taxpayers get hit. Has anyone told them THAT? That’s why this thing won’t work.
Has Highwoods Properties agreed IN WRITING to guarantee the tax revenues that underlie this scheme? No. They put their name on the pictures, but then back off to say they are merely the “master developer” and “will find other developers” to make it happen. *COUGH - bul******
Let’s have a little truth in advertising here - Bryan Bostic wants a team a new stadium and a minimal rent to him. If you don’t agree, you lack “vision” or worse.
The “rent” that Bostic’s new team will pay will be far less than the Braves paid on what he says is a bad facility. But then, he is the Braves’ general manager’s buddy - go figure. Didn’t hear about that on Sports Radio, did ya?
Let me ask you these two questions: (1) why aren’t Henrico and Chesterfield rushing to propose sites (of which there are many) for a new stadium under their underwriting, and (2) why can’t anyone see that we already HAVE a stadium that the entire regional governments will support and improve?
When someone tells you it’s not about money, check you wallet ... taxpayers pay attention.
Mayor Jones ought to get with Hazlett, Stegmeyer and Harris and see about a community team purchase, with a good facility if the REGION wants baseball.
AAA Team Were with this Major team who will now have
ReplyDeleteLas Vegas 51s Los Angeles Dodgers Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes Florida (Miami) Marlins New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs New York Mets Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons Cleveland Indians Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers Washington Nationals Syracuse Chiefs
Syracuse Chiefs Toronto Blue Jays Las Vegas 51s
2011 look like see New Orleans Zephyrs Washington Nationals Syracuse Chiefs (Miami) Marlins Buffalo Bisons Toronto Blue Jays Las Vegas 51s New York Mets Bryan Bostic may buy New Orleans Zephyrs move pcl to International League and move New Orleans to Richmond
ReplyDeleteA few factoids:
ReplyDeleteThe Richmond Renegades attracted 101,000 to downtown last year, which is not bad considering the substandard facility they play in and the lack of walkable amenities.
Minor League Baseball is setting new attendance records. The Norfolk Tides downtown park attracts 450,000/year.