NL President Leonard Coleman told Houston voters yesterday
that the city could be without pro baseball for years if voters
reject the November 5 sports facilities referendum, according to
Villafranca & Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Coleman was in
Houston to "drum up support" for Proposition One, the referendum
on a financing plan for a new downtown ballpark and a renovation
of the Astrodome. Coleman: "Right now, the fate of baseball in
Houston is not in (Astros Owner Drayton McLane Jr.'s) hands, it's
not in my hands, it's in the hands of where it should be, it's in
the hands of the voters." Villafranca & Williams: "While some
considered Coleman's statement a threat that could backfire with
voters, McLane said the possibility of the team leaving is great"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/30). Election results will "directly
impact" the product the Astros put on the field in '97, according
to Carlton Thompson of the CHRONICLE. If the referendum passes,
the Astros will try to maintain their '96 salary level of about
$29M. If it fails, McLane "has few choices other than to cut his
losses" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/30).
BIG SPENDERS: Campaign finance reports revealed that stadium
proponents outspent opponents, "almost" 70-to-1, $806,006 to
$11,261, according to John Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
Harris County Citizens for Proposition One raised $897,862 from
September 27-October 26. Large contributors include: Enron
Corp., Shell Oil Co. and Compaq Computer Co., $100,000;
NationsBank, Texas Commerce Bank and Cooper Industries, $50,000;
developer Hines Interests and Exxon Co. USA, $30,000; law firm
Vinson & Elkins, insurance brokers John L. Wortham & Son, Arthur
Anderson accounting and Natural Gas Clearinghouse, $25,000; and
RDM Enterprises, owned by McLane, $15,000. Also, the Aeros and
Rockets contributed $25,000 and $100,000, respectively, in radio
ad time. The proponents' PAC spent $571,744 on TV ads, with most
of the remainder spent on polling, consultants, print and radio
ads (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/30).
