Despite a final plea from the ULB’s Laredo Broncos, the city reaffirmed a decision to go with Ventura Sports for a new team at a new $18 million ballpark.
Officials from Ventura Sports and HKS were on hand last night as the City Council approved a budget of $18 million for a 7,000-seat ballpark that will have a slight Spanish design to it. The City Council then reaffirmed the decision to sign a deal with Ventura Sports to develop and manage the ballpark.
The Broncos made one final pitch to replace Ventura Sports, despite the fact Ventura Sports was chose after an RFP process earlier this year. Here’s the press release issued by the Broncos after the vote:
The Laredo Broncos are disappointed with today’s budget approval vote given to Ventura Group to operate in the new baseball stadium.
The Laredo Broncos are proud of the 5 years that we have operated at a stadium which many consider to be outdated, but we were anxious to get baseball back in Laredo after a decade without America’s pastime, so we put our heads down and resurrected the life of pro baseball, working hard with the hopes of a new stadium that we were instrumental in pitching for and ultimately the taxpayers voted for in approval.
It’s been hard to operate out of Veterans Field, but we never complained, the Broncos continue to strive to put the best product available with the limited resources Veterans Field can provide a modern day minor league baseball operation.
Through the years, our loyal fans is what kept us going, year in and year out.
We have 11 games left in the 2010 season, 8 games starting August 11th, we urge fans to come out for the last 11 games and pack the place and send a message to the city council that you support the Laredo Broncos.
Like the Broncos teams of the last 5 years, we fight for every inch, until the very last out.
While we are down and out right now in the political scoreboard, the game is not over and it’s now your turn to bat……..What are you going to do?
Play Ball !
– The Laredo Broncos Organization
RELATED STORIES: It’s official: Laredo, Ventura Sports announce ballpark deal; Ventura Sports nabs Laredo ballpark deal
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