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Norfolk could get back in the baseball game

By HARRY MINIUM,
The Virginian-Pilot
January 17, 2006

The man who tried to bring Major League Baseball to downtown Norfolk in 2004 is trying again, but acknowledges the odds are against him.

William Somerindyke Jr., whose effort to lure the Montreal Expos to Norfolk failed, said he has been in contact with the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins were given permission by baseball officials in November to begin exploring relocation after they failed to negotiate a stadium deal in Miami.

Las Vegas, San Antonio and Portland, Ore., have been tabbed by the national media as relocation favorites, if the Marlins indeed leave Florida. Marlins officials have visited San Antonio and Portland.

"I was told that we're one of eight communities they are considering," Somerindyke said. "It's difficult to say what the odds are that this could happen, but we'll give it our best."

The Marlins front offices were closed Monday, and officials were unavailable for comment. Robert DuPuy, president of Major League Baseball, did not respond to e-mails.

The Miami Herald newspaper, quoting unidentified sources, will report in today's editions that the Marlins intend to visit Norfolk, though a meeting has not been scheduled. The team also plans visits to Charlotte; Monterrey, Mexico ; and n orthern New Jersey, according to t he Herald.

The Marlins play in Dolphins Stadium, designed primarily for football, that they share with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. They blame the stadium for poor attendance.

The Marlins drew 1.8 millions fans last season, second-worst in the National League.

The team's lease expires after the 2007 season, and Marlins' officials said they will stay in South Florida no longer than 2010 without a new stadium.

Somerindyke said he recently spoke with Marlins' officials, who said they would consider Norfolk even though it is just a few hours south of Washington, where the Expos moved and became the Nationals.

"I was told that Hampton Roads would not impede anything going on in Washington," he said.

"There are not a large number of season-ticket holders down here."

Somerindyke said he plans to make a trip to Florida this winter and hopes to persuade Marlins' officials to visit Hampton Roads.

"We have made them somewhat aware of what we did here for the Expos," he said. "We're going to make them more aware of it."

Somerindyke and city officials had a handshake deal in 2004 to finance a new stadium adjacent to where Harbor Park is located. It would have been built largely with rebates of state and local taxes generated on site and also with revenue streams – a portion of the city's meals and hotel taxes – already dedicated for a major sports facility. Taxes would not have been increased to build a stadium, city officials said.

Mayor Paul Fraim reacted cautiously after speaking with Somerindyke.

"If Major League Baseball wants to come to Norfolk, the welcome mat is out," Fraim said. "But we are not going to get in a position where we are bidding against other communities for this team."

He added that he doesn't think the Marlins will leave Miami, a market of more than 5 million people.

"Everything we know about Major League Baseball is that they hate relocation," Fraim said.

"They know it casts a certain image of failure over the league.

"It's hard for me to see a scenario where they would leave Florida."

Yet if they do, he added, "we're willing to talk."

Las Vegas, with 1.7 million residents, is the nation's largest metropolitan area without a major sports team. Hampton Roads, with 1.6 million people, is second.

The Marlins have struggled to draw well in spite of winning two World Series since the team came into being in 1993. They recently traded a number of high-priced players to cut financial losses.

Their search for a new home so far has been without success. San Antonio, about the size of Hampton Roads, seems an unlikely destination in that it already has an NBA team. T he NFL's New Orleans Saints also might move there.

In a meeting with Portland officials last week, the Marlins were told that the city would not help the team build a stadium. Portland Mayor Tom Potter said that fixing the city's public schools is a much higher priority than luring a baseball team.

The Nationals are having stadium problems of their own. They drew well at RFK Stadium last season, attracting 2.7 million fans. However, the stadium is old and was built largely for football.

The Nationals have been unable to consummate a deal with the city government to build a new stadium . Dec. 31 was the "final" deadline for a deal to be done.

DuPuy wrote a scathing letter published two weeks ago by T he Washington Post accusing the D.C. Council of "trying to walk away from the agreement that brought the team here in the first place."

The city officials are asking baseball to help pay for cost overruns even though they chose the site and design of the stadium and will oversee its construction.

"Asking baseball to pay for overruns when D.C. government officials are in charge of the stadium's design and construction is like MasterCard telling you to pay your credit card bill even though MasterCard gets to do all your shopping," he wrote.

Baseball stadium proponents told T he Washington Times last week that for now, stadium negotiations are dead.

However, said Fraim: "I believe, in the end, they will get the deal done."

Reach Harry Minium at (757)446-2371 or harry.minium@pilotonline.com.

Yea right...

quote:

Originally posted by Maury:
...even though it is just a few hours south of Washington, where the Expos moved and became the Nationals.

"I was told that Hampton Roads would not impede anything going on in Washington," he said.

"There are not a large number of season-ticket holders down here."

So you don't have a large number of people willing to drive a few hours to go to a game but you'll be a good market?

Merrittk92, what do you think of this?

quote:

Originally posted by The Cactus Leaguer:
Merrittk92, what do you think of this?

Well, I've always expected to get the *gratuitous* visit. At the moment the feeling around here is more or less the same as it is in Portland. That being the Marlins are not serious about relocating, and are only using us as leverage in an attempt to extort a better stadium deal out of South Florida.

I think Mayor Fraim said it best; "If Major League Baseball wants to come to Norfolk, the welcome mat is out," Fraim said. "But we are not going to get in a position where we are bidding against other communities for this team."

Oscar Goodman has been heard parroting an "I'm not going to be played" line lately. Then there's Potter, Fraim, and the various folks in Miami and Washington undermining local efforts.

Anyone think there might be some coordination going on here?

Are we getting to the point where governments balk at footing the bill?

quote:

Originally posted by Merrittk92:

quote:

Originally posted by The Cactus Leaguer:
Merrittk92, what do you think of this?

Well, I've always expected to get the *gratuitous* visit. At the moment the feeling around here is more or less the same as it is in Portland. That being the Marlins are not serious about relocating, and are only using us as leverage in an attempt to extort a better stadium deal out of South Florida.

I think Mayor Fraim said it best; "If Major League Baseball wants to come to Norfolk, the welcome mat is out," Fraim said. "But we are not going to get in a position where we are bidding against other communities for this team."

What exactly does Mayor Fraim mean by this? Doesn't he realize that they already were in a bidding war against other cities for the Expos? That's just business... it's the same for any other company considering relocation.

Speaking of the good mayor... anyone who wishes to go down memory lane can still go to their website and click on the MLB2Norfolk commercial... it's a classic!

http://www.norfolkmlb.com/

quote:

Originally posted by The Cactus Leaguer:

quote:

Originally posted by Merrittk92:

quote:

Originally posted by The Cactus Leaguer:
Merrittk92, what do you think of this?

Well, I've always expected to get the *gratuitous* visit. At the moment the feeling around here is more or less the same as it is in Portland. That being the Marlins are not serious about relocating, and are only using us as leverage in an attempt to extort a better stadium deal out of South Florida.

I think Mayor Fraim said it best; "If Major League Baseball wants to come to Norfolk, the welcome mat is out," Fraim said. "But we are not going to get in a position where we are bidding against other communities for this team."

What exactly does Mayor Fraim mean by this? Doesn't he realize that they already were in a bidding war against other cities for the Expos? That's just business... it's the same for any other company considering relocation.

Speaking of the good mayor... anyone who wishes to go down memory lane can still go to their website and click on the MLB2Norfolk commercial... it's a classic!

http://www.norfolkmlb.com/

Thats a fair point. I think at this point Fraim is just a little skeptical as to the Marlins true intentions. However if you give Somerindyke a little time he might be able to return Fraim's enthusiasm to its old level.

Just gonna have to wait and see. We still dont know exactly when Loria and the boys intend to come. I'll just kick-back and see what, if anything, developes over the next couple of months and enjoy the show.