Right now it looks like SA has a good chance of landing the Marlins if they are serious about moving cities, atleast the MLB president has said that San Antonio is the "focus" right now for the relocation site. who knows what that means. It was reported that Red McCombs was looking to become a minority investor in the team should they decide to move here, apperantly the Marlins want some local owner ship in the team as well if they move. However, it was just a couple of days ago I read a story that the Spurs were trying to persuade the Marlins NOT to move here, saying that a study showed that SA could not support two pro teams...this mind you was written, supposedly, by Spurs spokesman Leo Gomez. Now in an about face, the team is saying that they would like to purchase a pro baseball team?? Anyone see the point in that? is that to take advantage of year round revenue since the two sports would overlap for only part of the season? I don't get it.
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Spurs Consider Buying MLB Team
Florida, Oakland, Minnesota Among Possibilities
POSTED: 10:00 am CST March 7, 2006
UPDATED: 10:25 am CST March 7, 2006
SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs have joined efforts to bring a Major League Baseball team to San Antonio, team officials told KSAT News on Monday.
The Spurs are looking at the "probability" of owning a major league team, and are not limiting their search to the Florida Marlins, which visited San Antonio in December.
Sources close to the negotiations said the Spurs also plan to visit with the Oakland A's and Minnesota Twins to explore the possibility of relocation.
"Right now the Spurs are in business besides basketball," Spurs spokesman Leo Gomez said. "We're sincere in looking at the possibility of Major League Baseball in San Antonio."
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who had led the county's potential negotiations with the Marlins, embraced the Spurs' plans on Monday. Wolff said he introduced the Marlins to the Spurs during a December visit by the MLB team.
"You've got a bird in the hand," Wolff said. "We'll work with that bird, and if anything else comes along, we'll see what happens in the future."
Wolff said he will present a stadium-financing plan to Marlins management this week. A report from the county's financial advisor is expected to determine what kind of investment the county can contribute to building a new stadium.
Wolff has proposed asking voters to extend the county's hotel-motel tax to pay for a new stadium, which could cost up to $300 million.
"Bottom line, Major League Baseball will do their own research, and so will the Marlins," Wolff said. "They're not going to come here if we cannot support them."
In a related matter, car dealership magnate B.J. "Red" McCombs was among a handful of local private investors Wolff called on recently in an effort to lure the Marlins to the Alamo City.
Sources told KSAT 12 News on Monday that McCombs, who used to own the Spurs, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Vikings, may be willing to once again be at least part owner of a professional sports franchise.
McCombs did not return phone calls for comment.
