MountainStar, the group that owns our new ball club stepped up to the plate and agreed to spend $70,000 to extend their ability to play in Tucson one more year, just in case our new ball park is not finished in time. I believe that at one time there were penalties in the contract between the city and Mountainstar if our ball park is not finished in time. Will this bill get sent to us?
Just in case — unforseen — strictly a backup plan
I took the quotes in this post from an El Paso Times article.
“It is a just-in-case alternative in the event something unforeseen takes place with the construction schedule,” said Alan Ledford, president of the MountainStar Sports Group, “Right now, everything is going along as planned, but this helps us make sure we have a contingency plan in place because with any construction project unforeseen things could come up. We are just making sure we have a back-up plan.”
“A lot of the angst about Triple-A baseball (ending here) could be for naught and they might be back again next season,” said Pima County District 5 Supervisor Richard Elías in a statement.
Note that MountainStar did not buy rights for a week or two or even a couple of months. They contracted for the whole season. That doesn’t make me feel confident that our facility will be ready as scheduled.
MountainStar Sports Group will have to pay a $35,000 termination fee and Kino Stadium will be open for other events [if the Tucson facility is not needed for the full season].
“Whether it’s half a season here or five games here, we get our $35,000,” said Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry.
MountainStar Sports Group will have to pay $35,000 anyway and with the relatively low cost of the extension, it is a safe backup plan if any holds up the construction, Ledford said.
“It is a matter of the team exercising an existing option at a very modest cost to extend that lease,” Ledford said.
“There is a $35,000 termination fee regardless, and an additional $35,000 to bring it to $70,000 in the event we want to extend it to use the stadium for the 2014 season.”
Even the team manager recognizes that they may “want to extend it to use the stadium for the 2014 season”, referring to the Tucson facility. The whole season.
Now the obvious
We all realize that the chances of our ballpark being ready on time are slim. It might happen though.
The obvious question is why not have the games at Cohen stadium until the new ball park is ready?
Is a rift growing between the sports group and the city?
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
When you ask if a rift is growing between Mountainstar and the city, do you mean city administration or the people who live in the city?
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