Barrett Sports Group Founder Daniel Barrett, who is assisting Anaheim City Council members over lease talks with the Angels, yesterday said that it "could cost" $600-$700M to relocate the team to another Southern California city, according to Art Marroquin of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. This comes after Angels Owner Arte Moreno recently said that he "felt ongoing negotiations were 'going backward' in striking up a new stadium lease with Anaheim city officials." Moreno "has since met with Tustin city officials to discuss the possibility of moving the team." Barrett said, "There have been discussions about Tustin. I don’t know if that’s real or not, but there are potential relocation areas." Barrett speculated that the Angels "could also potentially move to Irvine or Industry," adding that L.A. officials "could change their mind about building a football stadium adjacent to Staples Center and opt instead" to build a ballpark. Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, who opposed Moreno's negotiating terms, yesterday asked city staffers to "ensure that any potential lease agreement with the Angels undergo a 30-day public review prior to a vote by the City Council" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/5).
SOUTHERN PLAYALISTIC: In Atlanta, Douglas Sams reported the region's "largest contractors will soon make their pitch" to build the Braves' proposed $672M ballpark in Cobb County. The team "is expected to issue" RFPs by the end of April. No contractors currently "appear further along than American Builders," a group led by Kennesaw-based Brasfield & Gorrie LLC. The team also includes contractors Mortenson Construction, Barton Malow and New South Construction, which "is the current contractor for renovations at Turner Field." Other contractors also "are gearing up to make a run at the project," including Skanska USA, Turner Construction Co. and Holder Construction (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/28).
