$PORT$ BU$INE$$ NEW$

December 4, 1998

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A's to stay in Oakland: Several months ago, the Oakland Athletics threatened to move out of the Oakland Coliseum and the city of Oakland altogether. The A's have reached an agreement to stay in the Coliseum for at least three more years. The current owners have but one goal and objective, to sell the team to local buyers. The A's will receive $2 million from the Coliseum and will be reimbursed for luxury seating installed last year. The rent the team pays has also been decreased, along with other charges payable by the team.

A not so surprising reaction: As SBN reported yesterday, the city of Miami and the Florida Marlins have lost the right to host the 2000 Major League All-Star Game. The game has been moved to Atlanta. Marlins owner in waiting, John Henry came out swinging in comments in comments he made to the Palm Beach Post, "It’s outrageous, shocking, disappointing and uncalled for." Despite Henry’s plies to commissioner Bud "B.S" Selig, all BS promised Henry was that Major League Baseball would take a look at Miami as soon as a new stadium was built. As Henry correctly pointed out, after everything South Florida baseball fans have gone through in the last twelve months watching former Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga dismantle their team, the All-Star game would have brought some hope to Miami baseball fans. Instead, it’s another kick in the pants from baseball’s ineffective leadership.

Atlanta steals one from Miami: Miami which had hoped to play host to the 2000 Major League All-Star Game, has lost the right to host to game. The game will now be played at Ted Turner Field in Atlanta. Concerns arose in Miami in regard to the Florida Marlins ownership problems. Wayne Huizenga has sold the Marlins to John Henry. However, the procrastinated nature of the sale, led to the game being moved. The Marlins were awarded the game in 1995. Atlanta had been in line to host the 2002 game. Before anyone gets too excited in Miami, the 2002 game is expected to be awarded to Milwaukee, with the 2004 game headed to Montreal, if the Expos follow through on their pledge to build a new baseball stadium in Montreal.


Read this entire article on the Sports Business News website.