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Hall of Fame pitcher backs San Antonio Marlins idea

By Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted: 03/21/2006 12:00 AM CST

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.

"You never rule things like that out," Ryan said. "We would be interested in seeing where the (Marlins) ownership is on that."

Ryan's comments came after he had lunch with County Judge Nelson Wolff, County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, County Budget Officer David Smith and County Chief of Staff Seth Mitchell at the Plaza Club atop Frost Bank's downtown tower. Ryan's sons, Reid and Reese, also were there.

Wolff, who is spearheading local efforts to land the Marlins, said he was thrilled to hear Ryan's comments. Wolff has a framed picture of Ryan, baseball's career strikeout leader, at his office at the Bexar County Courthouse.

"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."

Wolff has said the Marlins must include local owners in a minority role if they move here. Auto magnate B.J. "Red" McCombs said recently he would "seriously consider" investing if it would ensure relocation to San Antonio.

"I'm going to pass on what Nolan said to the Marlins, and we'll see where it goes," Wolff said.

Texas has two Major League Baseball franchises, the Houston Astros and the Rangers in Arlington. Ryan, who played for both in a 27-year career, is a special assistant to Astros general manager Tim Purpura.

The Marlins are exploring relocation options because stadium talks in South Florida have stalled.

Last season, the Marlins drew 1.8 million fans to rank near the bottom of the National League. Team officials believe attendance would increase if the club played in a baseball-specific stadium rather than the stadium it shares with Miami's NFL team.

The Marlins are waiting to hear from MLB on whether they can engage in more serious relocation talks with Bexar County.

MLB decided to take a closer look at the San Antonio market after Wolff faxed a stadium-financing proposal to the Marlins on March 8 that called for the county to pay two-thirds of the cost for a $300 million open-air ballpark.

Wolff says the county could raise $200 million if voters were to extend hotel/rental-car taxes used to build the AT&T Center. The deadline to call a November election is August.

Wolff hinted Ryan would campaign for the tax extension.

"It would help us tremendously to have his name attached to this," Wolff said. "It would make an election in November a lot easier."

Marc Ganis, a national sports marketing expert who was a relocation consultant for the NFL's Cardinals, Raiders and Rams, said Ryan adds "celebrity cache" to Wolff's project.

"He has credibility, which can be helpful from a marketing standpoint," Ganis said.

Ryan and Houston businessman Don Sanders are the principal owners of the Round Rock Express and the Corpus Christi Hooks, both minor-league teams. Reid and Reese Ryan also have stakes in the teams.

"Our teams are San Antonio's neighbors to the north and the south," said Reid Ryan, chief executive officer of the Express and the Hooks.

"We wanted to go down and talk to the judge and find out what his take was about the possibility of the Marlins moving to San Antonio and how it would affect our fan bases. It wouldn't be wise for us to sit around and do nothing."

This is a nice positive for SA.

Not as nice as a Stadium, but nice nonetheless.