Phillies Chair Bill Giles "suggested" yesterday that a
new ballpark will be built near Veterans Stadium. Giles:
"It is no secret that for the last three years I've said
I've wanted to see the ballpark go downtown [Broad and
Spring Garden site]. But the hurdles we met there look
pretty much insurmountable" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/11).
...AZ Gov. Jane Hull's task force "charged with keeping" the
Cardinals in AZ "barred the public from its first meeting"
yesterday. But at the meeting, NFL consultant Rick Horrow
"told the committee that some level of government financing
would be necessary to make a stadium deal for the Cardinals
work" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/11). Also in Phoenix, Dan
Bickley writes on the relationship between Suns Chair Jerry
Colangelo and Cardinals Owner Bill Bidwill, which has been
described as "heated" in the past. Bickley notes that
Colangelo is now "bending over backward" for Bidwill in
support of a Phoenix stadium: "What gives?" But he adds
that if the Cardinals get a stadium in downtown Phoenix,
"Colangelo can claim with accuracy that he delivered all
four major sports to Phoenix" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/11).
...Twins broadcast analyst Paul Molitor, who "has a standing
offer" to join the Twins coaching staff and has interviewed
with the Mariners, on whether the failed ballpark referendum
in St. Paul could influence his decision: "Maybe very
slightly. ... Having it defeated is just prolonging a period
of having to play in an environment (Metrodome) that's just
not conducive to either public support or a competitive
team. And trying to endure these next three to five years,
if you're part of that (Twins) organization, is going to be
tough for everybody" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/11).
