Latest in Sky Sox affiliation saga - Latest: Upgrades confirmed in San Antonio's Stadium

[NeedMoreFans]

Metropolitan populations:

Seattle: 3,733,580

Atlanta: 5,710,795

Boston: 4,774,321

 

Milwaukee: 1,575,747

 

There just aren't as many people to draw from for the Brewers.

 

I thought about that after I posted, but I was hoping to show that MLB and AAA teams can coexist within the same market.

 

Currently, the Mallards average around 6200 per game, which would be in the middle of the pack in both the PCL and the IL. Ticket prices for a reserved seat in the grandstand at Warner Park range from $10-$15, which is in line with many AAA teams already. I don't think the presence of the Mallards discourages people from making the trek to Milwaukee. I actually go to more Brewer games than Mallards games, and Warner Park is less than 15 minutes from my house compared to an hour and 20 minutes. If there was no baseball at all in Madison, then I could see where there is an issue, but there is baseball that is having the same success as many minor league teams, and it hasn't hurt the Brewers.

 

I think that having a AAA team that is affiliated with the Brewers could benefit the Brewers because of the connection people will make with players as they make their way through the system and eventually make it to MLB. I know this was true when Prince, Weeks, et al were in Beloit...people from Madison would go to Beloit to see those guys, and I'm sure it is happening with the T-Rats.

 

I know using the Mallards as a comparison may not be fair because they play roughly 35 home games compared to 70 or so for a AAA team, but it's the closest thing I can come up with.

[Mass Haas]

San Antonio's civic ambition could provide a way for Sky Sox to stay in Colorado Springs

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

It seems there is one thing that could keep the Sky Sox in Colorado Springs - San Antonio's desire for bigger things.

 

As the rapidly growing Texas city begins diving into the logistics of building a stadium to accommodate the Triple-A baseball franchise, a primary source of resistance seems to be not the cost of the stadium, but a feeling the city would be better off waiting for a Major League Baseball team.

 

"I think what this business community has wanted has been Major League Baseball, NFL, MLS - the big leagues," Richard Perez, president and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce told the San Antonio Express-News. "We are still kind of relegated to Triple-A ball, which is not a bad thing, but we've been shooting our sights as a business community for the larger opportunity."

 

The Express-News reported that San Antonio business leaders, as well as sports radio hosts, are also trumpeting the theme that the city needs to aim higher, and such sentiment could make it hard for the city to find the necessary support to build a park that could cost anywhere from $60-75 million depending on the settled-upon location.

 

In these early stages, even a list of potential sites hasn't been made public.

 

City leaders in San Antonio remain committed to build the stadium and take the Triple-A team that has called Colorado Springs home since 1989. Mayor Ivy Taylor has led the movement since announcing the intention to work with the Elmore Sports Group to relocate the team before the 2019 season at a city council meeting earlier this month.

 

"I definitely am all in on pursuing this idea, this opportunity for San Antonio," Taylor told the Express-News. "I don't expect people to raise their hands and say that they're in complete agreement because we are just starting the process, and it's all just starting to come together. We're still doing due diligence, asking questions, looking at sites. The Elmores are doing what they need to do in order to move a team."

 

San Antonio's one top-level professional team is the NBA's Spurs, and the city has certainly done an adequate job of supporting that franchise. Attendance at Spurs home games has filled its venue to an average capacity of 99.1 percent over the past 10 years, a figure that has ranked in the top 10 in the NBA seven of those 10 years. It helps that the Spurs have been as consistent as any team in professional sports over that period at churning out championship-caliber teams.

 

San Antonio is currently ranked as the nation's No. 32 media market, which would make it the fourth-largest in the Pacific Coast League behind No. 14 Tacoma (which enjoys an inflated size because it is lumped in with Seattle), Sacramento (20) and Nashville (29).

 

Colorado Springs (89) is the third-smallest market in the PCL ahead of only El Paso (92) and Reno (106).

 

In the major leagues, San Antonio would be fourth from the bottom in market size, ahead of only Kansas City, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.

 

But this is looking at San Antonio at its current size. The population of the city has grown by nearly half a million over the past 25 years to nearly 1.5 million, and a study at the University of Houston projects that the population of the area will grow to more than 4.2 million by 2050.

 

Some residents have voiced displeasure that the current Double-A stadium wasn't built with enough foresight to be located in a vibrant part of the city and that it's not large enough to be used for a Triple-A team. The fear is that to commit to becoming a Triple-A city now, amid rapid growth, could also be considered short-sighted at some point.

 

So, while San Antonio struggles through a civic identity crisis, there's some hope that stadium funds won't be there and Triple-A baseball would be granted a reprieve in Colorado Springs.

[Mass Haas]

San Antonio won't use bond money for Triple-A stadium; funding plan not yet in place

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

San Antonio leaders have yet to put forward a plan to pay for a stadium that would become the new home for the Sky Sox.

 

The Elmore Sports Group announced in early April that it would move the Triple-A team from Colorado Springs to the Alamo City in three years, provided it would play in a new ballpark. Nearly two months later, the source of funding for such a ballpark remains in question.

 

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor, who has pledged full support of a downtown ballpark, told the San Antonio Express-News late last week that bond money will not be used.

 

San Antonio currently houses a Double-A team owned by the Elmore group, and the Express-News says local leaders are far from unified in the belief it would be worth the upgrades to move up a level. Some want to pursue a Major League Baseball team, others are just waiting for a concrete plan to be presented.

 

Meanwhile, Colorado Springs is left dangling. And nothing has changed to bolster the city's chances of keeping the team.

 

The Sky Sox rank 15th in the 16-team Pacific Coast League in attendance at 3,357 per home game. Two teams are averaging more than 8,000 per game, two more are over 7,000 and more than half of the league is drawing at least 5,000 per game over the season's first two months.

 

Weather has been a major issue, as seven of the 24 scheduled home games have been postponed or canceled because of snow, rain or cold. Only two of the 23 road games have been pushed back because of weather.

 

The Sky Sox are also 15th in team ERA at 5.02, as pitchers are again struggling at high altitude.

 

In short, the local conditions that prompted the Elmores to look for a more favorable destination continue to exist. It is just uncertain if the money can be found to make that new destination a reality.

[Mass Haas]

This is looking more and more like a "we'll believe it when we see it" situation.

 

Until then, it's Colorado Springs unless there's an escape hatch this fall (or in the fall of 2018, 2020, etc.)...

[jerichoholicninja]

[sarcasm]Just move them to Milwaukee and play in Miller Park when the Brewers are out of town.[/sarcasm]

 

Could that ever actually be an option?

[MrTPlush]

[sarcasm]Just move them to Milwaukee and play in Miller Park when the Brewers are out of town.[/sarcasm]

 

Could that ever actually be an option?

 

No it would have a really negative effect on the Brewers attendance and revenue.

[jerichoholicninja]

[sarcasm]Just move them to Milwaukee and play in Miller Park when the Brewers are out of town.[/sarcasm]

 

Could that ever actually be an option?

 

No it would have a really negative effect on the Brewers attendance and revenue.

 

How? Almost double the number of home games.

[1992casey]

Two teams sharing a field is really hard on the turf. Also, I would think that Miller Park would be an expensive place to open up for the small crowds that would come to minor league games, especially when heat is needed.

[MadThinker88]

Sounds very challenging to coordinate a AAA & MLB schedule out of the same location.

[1992casey]

It's challenging, but it's been done when two MLB teams have shared a stadium. And it's been done when MLB and NFL teams have shared.

 

But with all of the difficulties, sharing a stadium is probably best left as a temporary solution, such as when the Yankees played at Shea during the 1970s.

[jerichoholicninja]

Then the Sky Sox can play at Helfer Field. The offensive numbers would be the same as playing in Colorado Springs at least.

[torts]

shades of Nashville all over again

[FVBrewerFan]

I don't get it. The farm system is everything to the Brewers right now, it shouldn't even be an option to play there another year. They could use their Maryvale facility, or another facility in Phoenix area. Sure it's hot, but the rookies play there don't they?

 

Or there's a whole host of mid-sized cities all over that must have a decent neutral park facility to host AAA baseball for a year or two. Even if any situation is temporary, it's better than playing in CS another year or two, with no end in sight really.

[1992casey]

The Arizona League Brewers play games in the morning and don't sell tickets.

[Mass Haas]

AAA bylaws requires a minimum of 10,000 seats for any non-grandfathered in facility.

[FVBrewerFan]

Ok, 10,000 seats is an issue. But there are facilities in Phoenix area that have that, no? Talking Stick? Peoria? And they can play in the morning with no tickets for all I care.

 

Phoenix isn't ideal either, granted. But there's no 10,000 seat stadium anywhere in the US they could use for a year or two? I don't care if attendance is 73 fans a game, Brewers could reimburse the facility for operating costs etc. for a year if attendance is low.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

Tucson seems to have an opening for a AAA franchise; getting one to move back there is the difficulty. Two potential stadiums are present: Kino Veterans and Hi Corbett. Only independent baseball at Kino; University of Arizona is at Hi Corbett.

 

Tucson could also double as a home base for Spring Training, as it had done many years for various teams. Have to get over the need to travel to other Cactus League sites, but it's not like the Grapefruit League teams don't have to drive in Florida.

 

But without having a franchise wanting to move--or one to buy--even floating the idea is pretty much moot.

[DHonks]

Kino field is far superior to High Corbett, and it has great practice facilities. I'd consider it. I also would rather more to North Scottsdale or the Deer Valley area of North Phoenix for spring training, but could accept Tucson. I just wouldn't go to any spring training games in Tucson.

[brewmann04]

we knew the brewers don't want to stay in Colo Sp but they are not getting a new franchise.

It be curious who is out there when the time comes.

[davego]

Could the Brewers start an expansion AAA team in either league and then just choose a location? Much like what we hear from the Bucks and the NBDL coming to Oshkosh?

[And That]

A newly created team would have to be admitted to either the IL or PCL. It would probably be easier to buy an existing team and move them. They could certainly try buying the Sky Sox franchise.

[Mass Haas]

Amarillo Waits While San Antonio Ballpark Plan Develops

By Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest

[Mass Haas]

If (big if) the Sky Sox move to San Antonio happens, then the locals only want to bring a Pioneer League team (likely Helena) to Colorado Springs if a new, smaller downtown stadium is built.

 

Talk of a downtown Colorado Springs stadium resurfaces in minor league baseball shuffle

Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

[MrTPlush]

[sarcasm]Just move them to Milwaukee and play in Miller Park when the Brewers are out of town.[/sarcasm]

 

Could that ever actually be an option?

 

No it would have a really negative effect on the Brewers attendance and revenue.

 

How? Almost double the number of home games.

 

Two Reasons:

 

We don't own the AAA franchise. So what are we gaining?

 

Even if we did it would take a lot of ticket sales from the Brewers. AAA tickets are way cheaper to buy.

[ZBTMP]

So any chance of New Orleans? Doesn't get us to the IL but its better than current. If I was Gord Ash, that is who I would be targeting. I don't know if bridges were burned in the 1990s, but 90 minutes drive from Biloxi would be convenient. They have had (1) winning season in 7 years under the Marlins so they may be receptive to a change. The Brewers should offer to finish spring with exhibition games on the gulf coast annually. And New Orleans probably has plenty of flight options.