Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna and State Sen. Patrick Johnston
are prepared to help build a new baseball stadium in the city,
"most likely" at the Southern Pacific railyard, most likely
according to Bizjak and Matthews of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Serna
issued a press release Wednesday saying he would "announce a
major new initiative" and Johnston is set to introduce a bill in
the Legislature that would allow for the creation of a local
joint-powers authority -- needed to get a stadium built and
financed. To finance the stadium, Serna envisions floating
revenue bonds based on the potential profits from ticket sales,
PSLs, parking, and naming rights. Serna: "If people really want
a stadium, we can take it to the region and spread the cost. It
is not a new idea." Serna previously indicated he would like to
bring the A's to Sacramento, but A's Owner Steve Schott said his
"desire is to stay in the Bay Area." Scott: "I presume it's
like a lot of cities trying to get a team. A lot of times, if
you build a stadium first, you have a better chance of getting a
team" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 5/23).
