Virginia Baseball's admission that "their first choice" in a
renewed effort to find a stadium site is surplus Army land south
of Springfield, VA, was "met with quick and stern opposition"
from county supervisors who had previously rejected such plans.
According to the WASHINGTON POST, Virginia Baseball Exec VP
Michael Scanlon noted the site "has access to major highways,
public transit and to downstate Virginia." Supervisor Dana
Kauffman: "I would encourage them to look elsewhere. As far as
I'm concerned, the two sites in my district are off the table."
The Stadium Authority has begun reviewing previously rejected
sites in Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington, while also inviting
suggestions from private landowners. Stadium Authority member
Michael Frey: "If someone has 200 acres available for a stadium,
I would suggest they color it on a map and send it in" (Eric
Lipton, WASHINGTON POST, 6/19).
LOCALS CHOOSE SIDES: "A potentially nasty conflict over the
national pastime has erupted in Arlington," according to the
WASHINGTON TIMES. Rex Bowman reports two groups -- COST, the
Coalition Opposing Stadium Site, Taxes and Traffic, and Play Ball
Arlington, a pro-stadium lobby --have formed, with COST member
Arlene Camm predicting the fight is "going to get dirty." Play
Ball, has 80 members and claims to have the support of hotels and
restaurants as well as the Chamber of Commerce. COST claims over
200 members, 1,000 signatures on an anti-stadium petition and the
backing of small businesses (WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/19).
RUH-ROH RASTRO: Despite the fact that no Northern VA
stadium sites were secured by Monday's deadline, Astros Senior VP
Bob McClaren maintained that if no plan to keep the team in
Houston is forthcoming by the end of July, the Astros will seek
permission from the MLB to negotiate the sale and relocation of
the team (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/19).
