I heard there was something on ESPN Insider that the Expos could be moving to a Texas city. Anyone with Insider please help.
Major League Baseball looking at San Antonio W. Scott Bailey Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has confirmed that Major League Baseball has reached out to him in an effort to find a new home for the struggling Montreal Expos. Sources say San Antonio is one of eight localities the league has contacted regarding a possible relocation of the Expos, who have been unable to build a large fan base in Canada. Other places expected to make presentations to the league concerning a relocation of the Expos include Charlotte, N.C.; Mexico City; Northern Virginia; New Jersey; Portland, Ore.; Virginia; and Washington, D.C. But Wolff says San Antonio is not yet ready to make such a proposal. "I have talked with them," says Wolff about Major League Baseball officials. "They called me. But I told them that I thought this was premature, that the demographics just aren't there yet." Wolff, whose name adorns the city-owned home of the Texas League Champion San Antonio Missions, says he did tell those same officials that San Antonio could get into a position where it could support a team if some key issues are resolved. Two of those issues, explains Wolff, are securing a new Toyota manufacturing plant and PGA Village. "I told (Major League Baseball) that if those things happen, San Antonio will be poised." He adds, "They will continue to look at us and we will continue to talk to them over the next few months." As for the Missions, President Burl Yarbrough says his organization was unaware of any ongoing dialogue between San Antonio officials and Major League Baseball concerning the Expos. "We're not involved," says Yarbrough, whose Missions are the AA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Representatives of the Houston Astros had little to say about the Alamo City landing on Major League Baseball's radar screen. They are, however, aware of the list and the fact that San Antonio is on it. Many older San Antonio baseball fans continue to hold a grudge against the Astros, who were at least partially responsible for the demolition of Missions Stadium several years ago. The park, which was located just south of downtown, was considered one of the jewels of minor league baseball in its time. Wolff Stadium, one of the legacies of the former mayor and current county judge, seats less than 7,000 fans for Missions games. It would require substantial upgrades and a hefty expansion to accommodate a Major League Baseball franchise. http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2003/01/13/daily11.html
Thanks, Bob. I wouldn't mind having the Expos in San Anotnio. They need a stadium though. One Question: Why do they need a Toyota Plant and a PGA Village before they could be in position for a MLB team.
I'm not sure what the PGA Village is, but the Toyota plant would bring thousands of well-paying jobs to the area. They're not exactly a booming corporate town, and with the escalating cost of attending pro sports games you need a solid business community to support the teams. Why move from Montreal to another "small" market? Another Question: What is the story behind the Astros involvement with the demolition of Mission stadium?
First baseball game I ever saw was at Mission...I was about 6 months old at the time. Went back twice when I was in college, it really was a beautiful place.
