Baseball will return to renovated Albuquerque park

Minor league baseball will return to Albuquerque, N.M. — but not in a new stadium.

Voters last Wednesday approved selling up to $10 million in general obligation bonds as the city's contribution toward renovating 33-year-old Sports Stadium but overwhelmingly rejected a second ballot question that sought funding for a downtown ballpark.

Almost two-thirds of voters chose not to fund a new facility, which would have called for a $15 million commitment by the city.

By passing the first ballot measure with 55 percent in favor, Albuquerque voters cleared the way for the arrival of the Class AAA Calgary Cannons of the Pacific Coast League.

Calgary's ownership group had signed a contract with Albuquerque that hinged on getting a new or significantly renovated stadium for the 2003 season.

"I'm sorry it's not a new stadium," said Mike Koldyke, one of the Cannons' owners, "but the important thing is that Albuquerque is getting baseball back."

The city's previous PCL club was sold to investors in Oregon and is playing this year in Portland.

The stadium issue drew about 48,000 to the polls, about 19 percent of registered voters.