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June 30, 2004
D.C. Baseball Update
USA Today is reporting that Major League Baseball's relocation committee is leaning toward sending the Expos to the Washington area, but can't decide whether to award the team to the group from the District or Northern Virginia. Here's what comissioner Bud had to say: Selig believes baseball made an unwise decision when it allowed the Kansas City A's to relocate in 1968 to Oakland, across the bay from the San Francisco Giants. Which would seem to lend creedence to this report by Eric Fisher in the Washington Times that Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos has lent his support to a 11th-hour effort from a group based in Puerto Rico. An analysis by USA Today rated the Northern Virginia site the best of all the proposals that have been submitted to MLB. Nota bene: USA Today is headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, about 20 minutes from the proposed ballpark. The author of the Washington Post's three-part series on baseball and the Expos favors Northern Virginia's bid as well: The bottom line is I really have no idea, but since you asked for an educated guess, I would say Northern Virginia. That guess -- and it is purely a guess -- has less to do with the relative merits of the sites and the financing proposals than the internal politics now in play. Virginia might be perceived inside baseball -- and in particular by Commissioner Bud Selig -- as posing less of a threat to the Baltimore Orioles and his close ally, Peter Angelos. It's the path of least resistance, which is what Selig usually prefers. That said, I would not be shocked at all if they go to D.C. or Vegas. I think Portland, Monterrey and San Juan are less likely. Primary assist to The Sports Economist, and Distinguished Senators. Skip also fronts news from Pittsburgh that the construction of new baseball and football stadiums has failed to create a significant economic impact, while the city may be headed into the municipal equivalent of bankruptcy. UPDATE: Washington Mayor Anthony Williams just took a shot at the financing behind Northern Virginia's bid. Bill Collins, a man who has labored long to bring Major League Baseball to Northern Virginia, tried to sell his proposal to Loudoun County Republicans last night, but some weren't exactly buying.
Eric
12:00 PM
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