Marlins press conference (big changes coming for Marlins)

[CubRock2]

Does anyone know the chance of Indy ever getting a team? I am moving there in a few weeks and would love to see a MLB team go there. I heard it mentioned once or twice in reference to the Expos but no one really discussed it in depth. I think the Indians do well there, but am curious about the feasiblity of an MLB team.

 

I don't think there is much in the works. Back in the '80s, there was some talk of relocating a team to Indy and a feasibility study was done, IIRC. This was shortly after the Colts move, so there was some minor momentum. In fact, I think they may have even floated a name (the Indianapolis Arrows?). I think it would be a difficult market with regard to current MLB expectations. Not to mention the fact that it sustains a very nice AAA facility presently. However, I don't live in Indy, so I'm sure there are people with more info than me.

 

Well said, JC. I just don't see Indy being able to support an MLB team. Economically, the city isn't in real good shape, where Portland and Charlotte have a much more positive economic reputation with projected growth. Charlotte, for one, has nearly doubled in size the last 10-15 years, and the school systems in the area are some of the fastest growing in the nation. I've heard nothing but good things about Portland from people I know there. I think it would be neat to see one there.

 

I lived in the Raleigh-Durham area, and I don't think they could support an MLB team quite as well as Charlotte. I think the success of the Panthers there would suggest the Queen City as a better fit.

 

I don't know who mentioned it, but an MLB team in San Antonio would be a very good idea. It brings a major hispanic population a popular team. However, that didn't work out too well in FLA, either. I would hope it would mirror the success of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County Of Southern California in the United States of America, where Latino leadership on and off the field has been a rousing success with the Hispanic fanbase.

[Wheelimus]

INDIANAPOLIS!!!!!

 

:D

[soapy]

INDIANAPOLIS!!!!!

 

:D

 

I wish. Move Pitt back to the east please. Hello 9-10 more Cubs games for this guy!!

[Wheelimus]

Hehe, they could just put a wall up to make the Green Monster look small, and put them in the Hoosier Dome :lol:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Portland officials are already getting ready to make their pitch.

 

Link

 

Shortly after Tuesday's announcement, Oregon Sports Authority President Drew Mahalic called MLB officials and the Marlins to "begin a relationship."

 

Steve Kanter, president of the Portland Baseball Group, called it "a significant announcement," although talks are preliminary.

 

"It just reminds everybody that Portland needs to think about this hard in the next six months or so, and if we want to make a pitch for it, we really need to do it," Kanter said.

 

 

I'd put Portland as the front runner to get the team if they move.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

New Jersey Marlins?

 

On the day baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced he had given the Florida Marlins permission to explore moving the team out of South Florida, sports officials in New Jersey contacted the team's owner about moving to the Meadowlands.

 

The pitch to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is the latest move in a two-year quest by George Zoffinger, chief executive of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, to bring Major League Baseball to what is becoming an extremely crowded sports complex. Zoffinger has had previous conversations with Loria, a New York art dealer, and Jerry Reinsdorf, the influential owner of the White Sox who helped relocate the Montreal Expos to Washington, D.C., but yesterday's conversation marked the first time the sports authority presented Loria with a concrete plan to house his team.

[goonys evil twin]

The meadowlands would be a mistake. Baseball in the NY area is primarily a public transportation sport. They need to be in an area with many trains, including easy access from Manhattan. The Devils and Nets failed in the swamp, so will a baseball team. Put them along the river in Hudson county, with close access to the turnpike, lincoln and holland tunnels, PATH and NJ Transit trains and ferry service. 40,000 people won't drive to the meadowlands 81 times a year. It's great for a football, a tailgating sport, bad for hockey and basketball, and terrible for baseball.

[FloridaCubbie]

So, what will this team look like next year? Would they draft Sing in the Rule 5 or are they happy with their own version of Sing in Josh Willingham? Then again they could trade LoDuca and use Willingham at C. Maybe try to keep one of Pierre or Castillo? It should be an intersting offseason.

 

The only locks I can thing of are Willis, Cabrera, Hermida, and maybe Vargas. Who will the other 21 be?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

How about the Puerto Rican Marlins?

 

The businessman who brought Montreal Expos games to Puerto Rico now wants to lure the Florida Marlins.

 

Antonio Munoz would like the Marlins to move to Puerto Rico permanently or at least consider playing some of their games there, as the Expos did from 2003-04. He said he will soon discuss his idea with the team to see if it is interested.

 

"We would like to see the Marlins play in Puerto Rico," Munoz said from the Dominican Republic in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

 

[EricG]

I have always thought that Buffalo New York would be a good place for a team. It's near a summer tourist area (Niagra Falls). They have other major sports teams. They could name them the New York Knights. It might be too close to Toronto.

[B]

Louisiana needs a sports team, and the Marlin name would still actually make some sense. :lol:

[NCCubFan]

Charlotte.

 

I lived in NC for a year, and even though the NHL in Raleigh is a monumental failure, I wouldn't be surprised to see the MLB put a franchise there. The southern fanbase is strong, and would have only ATL to compete with. The Carolinas have a strong baseball tradition near the Coast, Piedmont and Lowlands. I think a ballclub - with solid talent like FLA currently has - would be very, very viable.

 

Don't forget that FLA also has a strong following in NC. The Mudcats are in Zebulon (near Raleigh), and a lot of people love Dontrelle and Miggy.

 

Plus, the Bulls are wonderfully popular, and the Charlotte Knights (Sox AAA team) has decent attendence considering the crap that's run through their farm system the last few years.

 

Carolina Baseball would work.

I'd be a happy camper if there were an NL team within an hour of my home (I live about 30-45 minutes from Raleigh, depending on what part of town). I do think Charlotte is more likely; that would still be close enough for me to go whenever the Cubs are in town.

[CubRock2]

Louisiana needs a sports team, and the Marlin name would still actually make some sense. :lol:

 

Do they? I understand the sentimental value of bringing a sports team to NO/LA, but aren't there more important things to worry about right now? NO owner will entirely fund a stadium, and I don't think any citizen would be willing to pay for stadium.

[Careless]

I still think San Antonio would be a good place for a baseball team. The Saints have had a very good showing so far there and the Spurs are maybe the best runned organization in all of sports (I realize very different owners). Given the very large Latin and Hispanic market in the region I don't see why they couldn't fill 35,000 on a regular basis. The city want more professional sports involved, and I think would be more than willing to participate.

 

Another baseball team in Texas??

It is the second most populous state. Of course, florida is or soon will be the third most populous.

[wastra]

I don't think Indy would be that high on the list, to be honest.

 

I really can't think of a better place than San Antonio or somewhere in Texas. It's really one of the better baseball-loving states.

 

They might look international again...Mexico City or Puerto Rico.

 

In a sort of morbid suggestion...Castro hasn't been well of late, if he passes away first and the embargo is lifted...I doubt you'd find a place where the citizenry was more motivated behind their team than Havana. Yeah, it's a long shot, not only due to politics, but due to differences in wealth level between Cuba and the US.

[hardcorecubfan]

Louisiana needs a sports team, and the Marlin name would still actually make some sense. :lol:

 

what are you saying? They don't marlin fish in OKC or Vegas?

:lol: