Virginia Baseball Chair William Collins, who is leading the
charge to return baseball to the DC area, "apparently has turned
his attention" to the Giants, according to the WASHINGTON POST.
Lipton & Maske report Collins was in the Bay Area last week for a
meeting with Giants execs, according to a consultant that has
worked with Collins. Robert Hope, an Atlanta baseball
consultant, said Collins "was there and I know he met with them,"
but did not know the results of the meeting. Virginia Baseball
spokesperson Michael Scanlon said Collins was "on a business
trip" to the West Coast this week, when asked if Collins was in
CA trying to buy the Giants. Giants Managing General Partner
Peter Magowan said the club is not for sale and that no meeting
with Collins took place. Magowan: "Our club is not available."
The Giants reportedly lost $20M this year and have seen
attendance drop to 12,000/game. The club has the right to get
out of its lease at 3Com Park, but must notify the city by the
July of the year prior to their departure. James Lazarus, S.F.'s
Dir of Special Projects, said the Giants have made no such
notification. MLB sources have told the POST that the Giants and
Collins have not requested permission to conduct formal talks
(WASHINGTON POST, 10/14).
NOT SO FAST: In the current WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL,
John Lombardo reports Collins could face "major problems" in
bringing a team to the DC area due to the lack of a "specific
stadium plan." Any team Collins would acquire would have to play
temporarily at RFK Stadium until the Virginia Stadium Authority
could work out a plan for a new stadium in the DC suburbs.
Virginia Baseball's Scanlon dismissed speculation of future
problems and insisted a stadium deal "will be quickly worked out"
if they get a team (WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/13-19 issue).
