The Phillies' "indecision" on a new ballpark site could
"cause a year's delay" for both them and the Eagles, who
"feel they need to have a deal approved" before City Council
breaks for its summer recess, according to Christopher Hepp
of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. With the Phillies "still
undecided about a location," the deadline of the two teams
opening their new facilities in 2002 "is looking more and
more like a longshot." Eagles Exec VP Joe Banner: "I don't
understand the logic here. I'm not saying this will happen,
but you could be endangering the whole deal if we wait until
September when Council comes back." Phillies Chair Bill
Giles said, "It could be done in 30 or 40 days. There are
still a lot of things we are looking at: environmental
studies, parking issues, acquisition of land, community
relations. We have to solve all of that yet." The Phillies
"are looking" at two sites, Broad and Spring Garden Streets
and a site near Veterans Stadium. The Eagles "plan to
build" near Veterans Stadium. The Phillies' "first choice"
is Broad and Spring Garden Streets, but "it comes with
significant problems." It would cost between $30-80M
"extra" to build there, money the city says "has to come
from the Phillies." More Giles: "We have a difficult
decision to make. We have to decide what is best for us in
the long run. The sooner we can make up our mind, the better
it will be for everyone" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/27).
