Relocation and Stadium News

by craig on Mar 21, 2006 7:01 AM EST in News Comment 2 comments

San Antonio continues to make noise about bringing the Marlins to their city. This time they bring in the expertise of a member of the Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan on Monday endorsed Bexar County's efforts to lure the Florida Marlins to San Antonio, saying Texas could support a third Major League Baseball franchise and this city is the right spot for it.

"The demographics of the state allows for another team to come here," Ryan said. "Given the projected growth of the state and the exciting things happening in San Antonio, I think (San Antonio) would support (a team)."

Ryan also suggested he would consider investing in the Marlins should they move here.

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"What Nolan said adds credibility to our efforts and will have an impact locally and with Major League Baseball," Wolff said. "It's great to hear he thinks Texas can have a third team and that (San Antonio) can support one. Those are key statements."

With all due respect to Mr. Ryan, I don't remember reading his work in the field of economics in the AER or the QJE. But maybe I missed a few issues of the journals.

While I completely agree that if a third team is brought into Texas it needs to go to the state's second most populous city but still, I have trouble believing it is really a viable option for relocation at this time. Maybe I'm wrong - I have been there before, but this bid doesn't add up to me.

One other thing about possibly using Nolan Ryan as a catalysts for relocation:

(Nolan Ryan) is a special assistant to Astros general manager Tim Purpura.

The way I understand his duties for the Astros he is an ambassador for the team. Given his present contract with the Houston club I would think he would be limited in doing P.R. work for moving a team to San Antonio.

At present the negotiations are in a state of limbo:

...the team and Major League Baseball will look into the feasibility of the market.

The league and Marlins want to analyze San Antonio's stadium proposal, the media market and the economics of the city. This process likely will take a couple of weeks.

If San Antonio is deemed big-league ready, a second visit from Marlins officials is expected in the near future.

We shall see. I will give San Antonio this: when they jump into a pool they do make waves.

To top it all off Wayne Huizenga in a speech yesterday had the following to say:

Asked to share his vision of a stadium for the Marlins, Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga said Monday he isn't convinced South Florida can support a Major League Baseball team.

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Although a new stadium might help, he said, "Would it be the answer? ... I'm not 100 percent sure baseball is going to work in South Florida."

No one and I repeat no one is stepping up to the plate on this issue in South Florida. This doesn't forebode well.

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Well, they gotta go somewhere...

...'cuz I don't see them staying here. Right now it seems that TPTB in SoFla have a major case of "who-gives-a-$h!t-itis" about the potential move of Die Fische.

Nolan Ryan is no economist, but: (1) he has dabbled in team ownership on the minor-league level, with a team in the Austin 'burbs I think and maybe another; (2) he more or less has both the Rangers and Astros tied around his pinky finger; and (3) he is about as deified in the state of Texas as any non-football athlete can be, based on my experience in my limited stay there.

Anyway, if Ryan is serious about being willing to invest he becomes a second possible "local" investor (along with Red McCombs). MLB won't disparage that.

San Antonio may be nearing the point at which they only have to avoid screwing up, if only because no one else has really stepped forward (haven't heard from Charlotte in a while).

by Dr F on Mar 21, 2006 6:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No offense, but...

Ryan doesn't need to be submitting economic reviews to either journals you listed, to understand how a market can handle a baseball team. As Dr. F pointed out he has been managing minor league teams, which have done very well. I can understand the frustration that avid Marlin fans are experiencing with the possible thought of having their team move because of the lack of interest, a city not helping with a new stadium and the constant adding to and dumping of roster by the owner, to max out the profits.

My take on looking at an area to determine the suitability to house a large sports team is based more on common sense than statistics. For example look at LA, they have had the chance to host a couple of NFL teams, yet could never truly support them in the past 10 years. Also look at South FLA, where all the numbers show that area should be able to host more than one professional team, but the Marlins can't boost attendance even after winning two world series in the past 10 years. Everyone knows there are issues outside of the idea of "if an area can support a team", mainly how the city and team owners market and run the team, that effect the performance.

The fact that Ryan, McCombs, the Marlins and the city of San Antonio are working out the details proves to myself that the only true opinions on how the team will do in South Texas are the ones making it happen.

by leudog on Mar 22, 2006 10:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs