Reunion Sports Group, the outfit behind the independent United League Baseball, bounced a second check for back rent at the Amarillo Dilla Villa — but this time there’s no wiring of funds to cover the shortfall, leaving Potter County officials wondering what to do.
The league had agreed to lease the Amarillo Dilla Villa for the Amarillo Dillas in 2010 at a base rate of $100,000, with four $25,000 payments due during the course of the season. None of those payments were made, but Potter County gave the league a payment schedule to make up the deficit: $25,000 on Sept. 17, $25,000 last Friday, and $50,000 this coming Thursday. The Sept. 17 payment bounced, but the league quickly wired funds to make up the difference.
Turns out the second payment bounced too, but this time the league is not wiring funds to make up the difference and is reportedly not returning phone calls. This leaves Potter County with a dilemma: how to handle the lease in the future. A special meeting of county commissioners has been called for Friday, and we’re hearing a majority is willing to walk away from United League Baseball and entertain offers from other leagues. The independent American Association is apparently interested: Amarillo was perhaps the leading market for United League Baseball, as attendance-wise the Dillas led the league and would be a nice addition for the competing indy circuit.
Still, all of these issues are not stopping ULB from looking at new markets for 2011. We hear from some pretty good sources that league officials have contacted Tyler, Texas about putting a team there next season.
RELATED STORIES: ULB bounces check for Amarillo rent, but immediately corrects it
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