Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Selig expects Expos decision by July

SUN WIRE REPORTS

NEW YORK -- Commissioner Bud Selig expressed confidence Thursday that the Montreal Expos will know the identity of their new home by mid-July.

Major League Baseball wrapped up two days of owners meetings at league headquarters without elaboration on the relocation prospects of the Expos' various suitors, Las Vegas being one of them with Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia considered in most circles as the main competitors in the Expos sweepstakes.

The other contenders are Monterrey, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Portland, Ore., and the Norfolk, Va.

Baseball's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, had said on Wednesday that a committee of owners would give Selig a recommendation on where to move the franchise within a month, and that a new owner will be selected after the city is picked. Major League Baseball paid $120 million before the 2002 season to take over ownership of the team.

"I do feel comfortable. ... absolutely," Selig said when asked about the chances of having the Expos relocated in 2005. "While this has been a painful process, the time I think has probably helped us because it's given the cities and given everybody a chance to respond and do the things they have to do.

"Sure, in a perfect world, you'd like things to happen quicker. It's time to get this done."

Meanwhile, the Washington Times reported today that northern Virginia's effort to acquire the team received another boost to its cause when the owner of land near Dulles International Airport said he had begun talks with the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority about a parcel of land just north of the intersection of Route 28 and the Dulles Toll Road. That would be the site of a stadium to house the Expos.

The northern Virginia effort was roadblocked a year ago when Arlington County officials and activists teamed to derail a stadium plan for Pentagon City.

Transportation for the northern Virginia site remains an issue. Traffic around the site is usually clogged in rush hour and a proposed high-speed rail system isn't likely to reach the area for at least 10 years.

Both the Washington and northern Virginia efforts still face challenges from Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who has repeated his stern opposition to placing another franchise so close to his.

Selig acknowledged as much.

"It isn't only the Orioles," he said Thursday. "It's all teams. I think it's the commissioner's responsibility to protect the 30 franchises."

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