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Padres: Leaving Bevos permanently in Tucson is option

Portland BeaversWith the electoral landscape and support for total public funding of a new Escondido ballpark altered after Tuesday’s elections, reps from the San Diego Padres say buying the Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and leaving them permanently in Tucson is definitely on the agenda.

The dynamics of Escondido politics changed Tuesday when ballpark supporters Lori Holt Pfeiler and Dick Daniels lost their bids for City Council and ballpark opponent Ed Gallo was elected. Pfeiler and Daniels were two sure votes for the plan to devote city redevelopment money to a new $50-million Portland Beavers ballpark, perhaps as soon as 2012.

The current council — which includes Pfeiler and Daniels — is set to take up the ballpark proposal on November 30. But the incoming mayor — who happens to be a current councilman — and another council member want to delay that vote. It doesn’t necessarily kill the project, but a new council will surely be skeptical of the plan. (They should: it basically ties up every redevelopment dollar in the community for the ballpark, and the proposed lease from the Padres gives the team virtually all the revenues from the ballpark. Of course, the specifics of the deal have not been released to the public.)

The response from the Padres: they want a unanimous vote on the council for the project, but if not they’ll look at keeping the Beavers permanently in Tucson. Not the best solution, as you can’t exactly jump into the car and drive to Tucson from San Diego. But it is a short flight away, and the facilities in Tucson are close enough to the other Padres extended-spring and training facilities in suburban Phoenix. And the relocated Beavers can probably eke out a profit playing at Tucson Electric Park.

RELATED STORIES: Election shows mixed support for new Escondido ballpark; Tuesday elections could determine fate of Bevos; Bevos to Tucson for 2011; Escondido ballpark vote delayed after pollution found at site; Fate of Bevos in the air until November, maybe December; Padres pitch one-sided lease to Escondido; Escondido: Show us some money, Padres; Escondido in, San Marcos out of Bevos ballpark mix; Portland Beavers to…Lake Elsinore?; Could bidding war erupt for Bevos?; Portland Bevos update: Tucson-bound?; Come 2011, where will Beavers play?; Paulson finalizes deal for PGE Park soccer conversion; whither the Bevos?; Paulson withdraws bid for Bevos ballpark in Beaverton; Decision on Bevos ballpark could go to Beaverton voters; Beaverton, Bevos reach agreement on new ballpark sans site; Land woes could kill Bevos ballpark in Beaverton; Picketers greet pro-Beavers rally in Beaverton; Landowners not thrilled with Beaverton Bevos ballpark plan; Bevos eye Beaverton for new ballpark site; Paulson withdraws request for Bevos ballpark in Lents; Portland to move ahead with soccer renovation, put off plans for Bevos ballpark; Thursday vote could determine Bevos ballpark fate; New Beavers ballpark lacks support on City Council; Bevos, city close to final funding proposal for new ballpark; Rose Quarter location officially off the table for new Bevos ballparkBevos ballpark plans back up in the air — and maybe doomed; Portland ballpark vote delayed as mayor adjusts site, financial plans; New Beavers ballpark wouldn’t happen until 2012 — at the earliest; Cost of Portland redevelopment mushrooms to almost $300 million; Crunching the numbers on a new Bevos ballpark; Portland proposes tearing down Memorial Coliseum for new Bevos ballpark; Portland City Council votes to move ahead with new Bevos ballpark — but takes $15 million from the equation; Paulson agrees to Portland’s financial demands; still may not be enough; Bevos ballpark plan runs into serious financial obstacles; Portland task force gives preliminary approval to new Bevos ballpark — with plenty of conditions; Portland ballpark discussion shifts to Rose Quarter; Decision on new Bevos ballpark location delayed; Will new ballpark fly in Lents?

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