Officials from the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority were
"surprised" that Stafford Sports Ventures, hired to design a
financing plan for a $300M baseball stadium in Northern VA, "has
been offered a job by the enemy" -- Harris County, TX, which is
trying to keep the Astros from moving. According to the
WASHINGTON POST, Harris County officials have asked Stafford to
drop contact with the VBSA before it begins working on a $250M
plan to build a new stadium to lure the Astros -- a proposition
that "isn't going over well" with VBSA Chair Kenneth Crovo.
Crovo: "As far as I am concerned, we have a contract. And I
don't think it is breakable. I have contacted our attorney."
VBSA member William Buck: "It is less than professional and
hopefully it is not true" (Eric Lipton, WASHINGTON POST, 7/25).
HOUSTON MAY HAVE A PROBLEM: Astros Exec VP Bob McClaren
said he was "disappointed" that Harris County may have a problem
negotiating with Stafford since County Judge Robert Eckels had
indicated that talks with the team would "heat up" once Stafford
was hired. The HOUSTON CHRONICLE's John Williams reports Eckels
hoped to resolve the conflict as soon as possible but admitted he
may have to find another consultant. Eckels: "It clearly slows
down things. The quicker we get this resolved, the quicker we
can work things out with the team." Astros Owner Drayton McLane
has granted Harris County exclusive negotiating rights until July
31 to keep the team in Houston. According to Stafford's managing
partner, Carl Hirsh, the company does not view working for both
parties "as a conflict" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/25).
