MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said that he feels
Washington, DC, deserves an MLB franchise, but he doesn't
see any team relocation occurring in the near future,
according to Richard Justice of the WASHINGTON POST. Selig,
on a team in the DC area: "It's helpful to have a team in
the nation's capital. ... It's helpful politically and a lot
of other ways. As far as I'm concerned, Washington deserves
[an MLB] franchise. ... But we're not going to expand, and
at the moment, it doesn't appear there are any movable
franchises." More Selig, on a DC team possibly having a
"negative impact" on the Orioles: "I would be less than
candid if I didn't tell you of course I'm concerned with
Baltimore" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/28).
DATA ON FAN HABITS: Conventions, Sports & Leisure Int'l
conducted a report at the request of the DC Sports and
Entertainment Commission gauging the impact a potential MLB
DC franchise would have on the Orioles. Based on two exit
poll fan surveys conducted by GW Univ.'s Sports Management
Program, the report found: only 22% of people who attend
Orioles games come from the DC area, 48% come from Baltimore
and 30% from other locations; 85% of those questioned said
that a DC franchise "would have no impact" on the Orioles'
attendance; two-thirds of DC respondents said that a DC team
"would not impact their attendance" at Orioles games; 86% of
DC-area corporations would "definitely or likely keep their
suites" at Camden Yards; 70% said that they would keep their
season tickets and two-thirds said that they would keep
their club seats (WASHINGTON POST, 10/28).
