European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse R saturday March 24,1990 the stars and stripes a a Page 25commentaryenver, St. Pete Lead expansion race a terms in the settlement for baseball Siock of were reported there was a Short phrase at the and of the list will announce expansion to two National ague cities within 90 to the fans who plan to watch games in the Staci my of the current 26 teams the expansion an ounce mint probably does no to mean much. But to those cities that have been competing for a a Trade for potential expansion franchises the �?�90 Aysk announcement is Akin to the release of the hostages. Who will be the Lucky two talks to a few baseball people have revealed Denver and Tampa St. Petersburg fla., As the front runners in the expansion Derby. Both cities have the stadiums and the most Brownie Points with the owners. They would be the first major Itcague franchises for both states. So the next 90 Days will be an anxious time in those cities hoping that they too will finally be Able to say a play Ball a predicting what the owners will do is risky business at Best. Rep. Jim Bunning of Kentucky says its a a done deals that Denver and Phoenix Are the two new National league cities. Not so says Bill Gatlin an account executive for the Phoenix firebirds a giants aaa farm team. He said in a phone interview wednesday that he thinks St. Pete Lias the Edge. He ass sed the race for the two franchises this Way a Florida Tampa St. Petersburg is a Given with Phoenix. Denver and Buffalo close behind a Gatlin said. A Florida has the dome and its ready to go. Denver and Phoenix have wide open television markets. A Buffalo is a bad to Market plus its surrounded by major league teams a Pittsburgh Toronto Montreal the Yankees the Gatlin also ticked off a string of problems Phoenix has in its bid. A the Phoenix City Council approved a referendum for a property tax increase for Phoenix property owners to finance a new stadium. But the property owners turned it Down 60-40. A so Tempe a Phoenix suburb picked up the Ball. They re trying to build a 15,000-seat stadium near Sun Devil stadium on the Arizona state Campus that would be expandable to 40,000 or 50,000, if we get a Phoenix also has a Public relations problem. A you done to want to do anything to tick off major league baseball a Gatlin said. A some radio stations Here wanted to organize a fan Boycott to protest the lockout. And they wanted us the firebirds to help. We had to Tell them a we re trying to get a major league team and we re trying to build a stadium so you need to put a Damper on that kind of to gel Denver a perspective the mile High City Swait Morrissette baseball representative the Colorado baseball commission was contacted by phone thursday night. A your slogan is a we re a time zone without a team a a commission president Neil Macy said. A the entire Mountain time zone does no to have a major league team. And baseball is supposed to be the National pastime. A we do not have any inside scoop at All but there a been a lot of press that Tampa and Denver Are the front runners because of the geographical balance a Tampa in the East and Denver in the West. A we have people who Are talking to the owners. It takes two thirds of the National league owners eight of 12 and half the american league owners seven of 14 to approve a Macy also has former Cincinnati reds general manager Bob Howsam working on his committee. Macy said Howsam believes baseball will not actually award the franchises in 90 Days. A Bob thinks the owners wont vote on the teams until the december Winter meetings in los Angeles. Baseball will probably just announce a timetable for selecting the teams in 90 Days a Macy said. Down in St. Pete the Florida Sun coast dome is open for business Complete with Box offices administration and a tape of upcoming events. Right now they re Selling tickets for an Auto show and a May 4 David Bowie concert. Unfortunately Only a tape recording was reached when a Call was made to the Sun coast dome in the wee hours Friday. Baseball last expanded 13 years ago when the Toronto Blue jays and Seattle mariners pushed the american league to 14 teams. The National league Hasni to opened its doors since 1969, when the san Diego padres and Montreal expos joined. Several of americans greatest cities lobbied and cajoled the baseball owners throughout the 1980s for a coveted major league franchise. You May remember in the Early �?T80s when former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth announced a a criteria that new franchise cities would have to meet local ownership a baseball Only stadium that seats at least 40,000, and Advance Sale of at least 15,000 season tickets. Well officials and wealthy businessmen from cities like Washington with Arm bending help from Congress Denver Phoenix Buffalo Tampa St. Petersburg and Miami lined up the necessary items a performed their song and dance for the expansion committee a Only to watch the baseball owners drag their feet because they did no to want to give up a piece of the pie. It was up to the late a. Bartlett Giamatti and his successor commissioner Fay Vincent to come up with the first meaningful expansion timetable. Washington has maintained a fan club the Washington senators baseball club since 1971, when . Lost its second franchise a the current Texas rangers. All to try to bring baseball Back to Frk. But Washington has three strikes against it. Besides being a two time franchise loser Washington has the Baltimore orioles 40 Miles up the Balti More Washington Turnpike. And the o s arc building a new Park downtown which is due to open for the �?T92 season and Host the 93 All Star game. Nevertheless Macy said Washington fan club founder Pat Malone helped him by posting a 24-foot-by-4-fool a baseball in Colorado Banner at Frk. During the nil monday night Broncos redskins game last season. Next to Washington Denver is the largest City in America a metro population about 2.5 million a without a major league franchise. Denver has been considered the front runner for a new major Laguc team because it has Long been a Strong supporter of the class aaa bears now named the zephyrs at mile High stadium. Also there Are no major league baseball teams Between Kansas City and los Angeles. Die hard major league fans in Denver drive 550 Miles East on interstate 70 to Kansas City to watch the royals. The St. Petersburg people began building the 43,000-seat, air conditioned Sun coast dome in 1988, when they were trying to lure the Chicago while sox South. White sox owners Eddie Einhorn and Jerry ruins Dorf decided to stay put after Illinois promised to build a new Comiskey Park. The Florida folks backed off graciously and impressed baseball owners in the Pursuit of the sox. Now that the dome and the bargaining agreement Are done the owners can return the favor. Buffalo built a state of the Art baseball Park Pilot Field with 19,500 seats and luxury boxes for buffaloes aaa team. The Park can be expanded to 40,000 by removing the grandstand roof and adding a third deck. But Buffalo has its problems too a a Small to Market and the five major league teams within a 200-mile radius according to Gatlin. Also hoping to lure a franchise the late Joe Robbie built his stadium for the Miami dolphins but with baseball in mind. The lower deck of the 75,000-seat octagonal stadium can be altered to install movable seats for baseball according to the 89 dolphins Media guide. So who a in from the conversations it looks like the Denver bears in the National league West a the nickname zephyrs was not As popular in Denver As the bears according to bears executive Brian Bain a and Tampa St. Petersburg will get its first major league franchise in the National league East. All this conjecture is just that until baseball a owners turn the dream into reality for two cities. Well know in 90 Days. Or in time for Christmas. The stars and stripes Marino confirms for Trade Miami apr quarterback Dan Anno said he does no to know whether he a a play for the Miami dolphins in 1990 a acknowledged for the first time that c has asked to be traded. 3 s by discussed put it that wave Piarino said. Ujj seven year Veteran said he has i about the matter with coach Don Quot a and club president Tim Robbie Anno made his comments thursday Onn re ran late re new at a banquet to Inu ormer dolphins Center Dwight it whose ally pro career was t Short by a 1987 knee injury. The Nril 5pe-Arance was Marinous first to flick Lii month be rated a rep cd Marino declined to discuss his con tract status or reports that he wants a Trade to the los Angeles raiders Chicago bears Indianapolis Colts or Pittsburgh Steeles. He also declined to explain Why he is interested in a Trade although he has acknowledged frustration Over Miami a four season playoff drought. Shula refused to discuss possible Trade Tulles a a that Sall confidential a he said. Shula previously said he is a not actively pursuing a Trade. Marino briefly sat beside Shula on the dais thursday and the two shared what appeared to be a comfortable conversation. They will be together again sunday night in Pittsburgh where Shula will be a speaker at a roast of Marino. 1 a where May quarterback Dan Marino go. To raiders bears Colts Steeles Anderson Sticks with bears Chicago apr Neal Anderson the Chicago bears leading rusher and receiver last year signed a contract Friday for what a source said was $6 million Over four years a figure that would make him the a Fly a highest paid running Back. Steve Rappenecker Andersons agent said from Gainesville fla., that the agreement will provide Anderson More than $5 million Over the four years. A source close to the negotiations who spoke on condition his name not be used said the total actually would be More than $6 million. Eric Dickerson of Indianapolis made $ 1.3 million last season. Bears spokesman Bryan Harlan said the Deal would make Anderson the highest paid player in the teams history. Three weeks ago Anderson threatened to seek out other teams aft of the bears withdrew a four year offer Worth an estimated $5.6 million
