Posted on 09/12/2003 10:19:36 AM PDT by bedolido
PORTLAND - The City of Portland will not bid to play temporary host to the Montreal Expos next season, choosing instead to focus on drawing the big-league team permanently, Mayor Vera Katz announced Thursday.
The city had considered pitching a proposal that would bring the Expos to town for the entire 2004 season, while Major League Baseball sorted out where the team would play in the future. But Katz said in a prepared statement that such a proposal would “divert critical time and resources” from the city’s goal of becoming the permanent home of the Expos.
The city remains open to the possibility of hosting a series of big-league games, Katz said.
Baseball’s relocation committee said it has not ruled out any option for the Montreal Expos next season.
The options for the team include finding a buyer, playing all 81 home games in Montreal, or playing a split home schedule between Montreal and San Juan or Montreal and Monterrey, Mexico, commissioner Bud Selig said Wednesday at a news conference in Puerto Rico.
There is also a proposal by local Puerto Rican promoter Antonio Munoz to host all 81 home games in Hiram Bithorn Stadium, where the Expos play 22 "home" games this season.
"Obviously the options are the various cities that have expressed interest (to relocate), as well as the cities that have expressed interest in a series of games or all the games," Selig said.
"The relocation committee is hard at work in finding a home for the Expos. We'll make that determination in the coming weeks, or how long it takes. We haven't ruled out anything out yet."
The Expos, bought by the other 29 major league teams before the 2002 season, are being sought by Portland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Expos players met Tuesday and decided not to vote on whether to accept another split home season. They did agree to present their concerns over playing another 22 home games away from Montreal and also made suggestions on how to improve their working conditions.
"Comfort and competitiveness" were the main issues, player representative Brian Schnider said. "We want everything to be better."
Selig praised the effort made by the city of San Juan and Munoz to bring the games to Puerto Rico, and the commissioner said he was pleasantly surprised at the organization and the fan support the Expos received.
"This has worked out far better than anyone had the right to expect. This has been a wonderful success," Selig said.
Munoz and San Juan mayor Jorge Santini said they want to bring back the team next year.
"We are strongly committed in trying to repeat this event next year and in years to come," Santini said.
Munoz said he presented three proposals to major league baseball: one for 81 games, for 36 games, and for 22 games.
"I feel positive. We've done everything possible to make the players comfortable in Puerto Rico," said Munoz.
The average attendance for the Expos' first 20 games has been around 15,000.
Name that team--
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