Expos to move to DC

[Rudey]

How do you all feel about this? I'm not sure if it's officially announced through major media networks yet or not, but a good deal of work is complete on the banking end to provide the city financing with stadium.

-Rudey

[Lil' Hannah]

Did they decide on DC or Northern VA? I haven't really been paying attention to the whole thing too much because I don't really care about baseball.

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

Well- from this article:
Hopefully they can clear up any concerns the natives have in regards to the location of the stadium. And hopefully this one will do better than the last 2 attempts. Would be good for the DC Tourism- see the Smithsonian, see your Senator, watch a ball game. Sounds almost.... American.

Expos' move to D.C. to be announced
http://www.arbiteronline.com/vnews/d.../4158040abb3f4

By Chris Foster and
Los Angeles Times
September 27, 2004

Major League Baseball’s executive council is likely to announce soon that Washington D.C. will be the next home of the Montreal Expos, multiple sources say.

The council met Thursday in Milwaukee and listened to a presentation from Baltimore Oriole Owner Peter Angelos, who says a team in Washington, about 40 miles away, would cost the Orioles $30-million to $40-million in annual revenue. Baseball’s relocation committee did not make a recommendation, but the executive council is expected to announce the Expos’ move despite Angelos’ concerns, sources said.

Issues surrounding who would buy the team and the location of a new stadium remain, but the protracted process will move to a conclusion next week with the nation’s capital likely to get a third crack at its own major league team. The previous teams, both called the Senators, left Washington after poor attendance and financial troubles – one became the Minnesota Twins after the 1960 season; the other became the Texas Rangers after the 1971 season.

The relocation plan would need the approval of 22 owners, but Commissioner Bud Selig rarely makes a major move without already knowing he has the necessary support. It is unclear whether Angelos would be compensated, sources said.

The Expos, a 1969 expansion team, have struggled financially for years. They were targeted for elimination in 2001 and have been run by Major League Baseball since 2002. The team has played several “home’’ games in San Juan, Puerto Rico the last three seasons.

The D.C. area has been the front-runner to land the team, although Portland, Ore., Las Vegas, Northern Virginia, San Antonio and Monterrey, Mexico are also candidates.

Washington’s hopes received a boost Tuesday, when the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission unveiled plans for a publicly financed stadium, which will cost more than $400-million – including $13 million to renovate RFK Stadium, where the team will play for three seasons until a new stadium is built.

Washington D.C. officials want to bring the team into the heart of one the city’s most blighted areas, on the western edge of the Anacostia River, a mile south of the U.S. Capitol. Though few argue with luring a new team, the proposed stadium has evoked disagreement among city officials and the public.

City officials say the stadium would benefit the neighborhood, attracting new businesses. But some – including three recently elected city council members who ousted incumbents in the Oct. 14 Democratic primary and will take their seats next year – oppose financing a stadium with tax money.

There are also concerns about the affect on the area where the stadium is planned.

Butch Hopkins, president of the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation said, “there’s nothing to displace in that area,’’ but others disagree.

Longtime D.C. resident Queen Esther Culver, 44, said she was excited about a team, but worries that the proposed location for a stadium would hurt the neighborhood.

“People there just got stabilized,’’ said Culver, who lives nearby. “If they put a stadium in, people might be forced to move out of there. We have too many other problems that we need to focus on, like our public schools and housing.’’

[Lil' Hannah]

It's definitely going to hurt Baltimore...driving up there from DC for games is a huge hassle. Also they've been trying to gentrify Anacostia and Southeast for a few years now...this might be what does it.

[33girl]

I didn't get that about the home games in San Juan - do they not have a stadium in Montreal?

As far as it helping the area - well, that's what they said about Three Rivers Stadium too, and it didn't help the North Side at all, in fact I think it made things worse.

[Lil' Hannah]

Originally posted by 33girl
I didn't get that about the home games in San Juan - do they not have a stadium in Montreal?

I think they weren't selling enough tickets in Montreal, so they played down there in hopes that people in San Juan would want to watch major league baseball.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
I think they weren't selling enough tickets in Montreal, so they played down there in hopes that people in San Juan would want to watch major league baseball.

It's not just tickets, but price of tickets (ie luxury boxes) but yah.

-Rudey

[breathesgelatin]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
Also they've been trying to gentrify Anacostia and Southeast for a few years now...this might be what does it.

You think? It'll be interesting to watch.

[SSS1365]

Well I'd rather it be Northern VA, but oh well. Now we'll officially never have any hope of ever having a professional sports team, unless they put one in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area, because northern VA is too close to DC and Baltimore.

But at least it's close enough where I'll be able to go whenever the Mets are in town, which is all I really care about anyway

[Lil' Hannah]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
You think? It'll be interesting to watch.

I remember Chinatown was a dump before they put in the MCI center, and now that's like the new hot neighborhood. The city has been trying to revitalize the Anacostia waterfront for a few years, so if they're already trying I'm sure with a new stadium they'll really put a lot of effort into it.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
I remember Chinatown was a dump before they put in the MCI center, and now that's like the new hot neighborhood. The city has been trying to revitalize the Anacostia waterfront for a few years, so if they're already trying I'm sure with a new stadium they'll really put a lot of effort into it.

They should put a new Moby Dick there. I could be the banker that makes that happen!!!

-Rudey
--Let them eat kabobs!

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by SSS1365
Well I'd rather it be Northern VA, but oh well. Now we'll officially never have any hope of ever having a professional sports team, unless they put one in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area, because northern VA is too close to DC and Baltimore.

But at least it's close enough where I'll be able to go whenever the Mets are in town, which is all I really care about anyway

Long live the Richmond Virginians.

[BetteDavisEyes]

I truly never give a isht unless it involves my beloved Dodgers!

However, it does suck for those who love their Expos & for those who have to commute. I've never been there but I've heard that the commute in Washington is already a pain in the a$$.

[KSigkid]

It will be interesting to see how it effects the Expos competitively; i.e., will they get free agents, will they have the money to build their farm system.

The Orioles seem like they're getting a pretty sweet deal out of this as well. I believe MLB has agreed to guarantee that their revenue would still reach a certain level, and that if Angelos were ever to sell the team, MLB would guarantee that a certain sale level was reached. This was in response to the opposition he had to another team coming into the D.C. area.

San Juan was an experiment for a team that didn't have any other options. Attendance was pitiful in Montreal, they weren't making money, and they needed to do something to make up for it. It was a way for MLB to further entice the Latin American market while slowing the bleeding of the Montreal franchise.

[shadokat]

As someone who has visited Camden Yards, that stadium is filled ALL THE TIME! Here in Philly, before the new ballpark opened this year, the Vet was lucky to sell 15,000 seats a night, and there was never that many people there. I remember going to Baltimore for a game, and the stands were full and then some, and it was so great to see. I don't know if the Expos move to DC will hurt them, but Camden Yards is a great park, and the Orioles have a huge loyal fan base. Of course the attraction of a new stadium/team is there, but I don't think it will kill Baltimore in the process.