The battle for a new MLB ballpark in San Jose is spilling over to the minor-league side, as local officials question whether the San Jose Giants (High Class A; California League) are paying enough in rent for Municipal Stadium.
The Cal League team, largely owned and managed by parent San Francisco Giants, pays $1,000 monthly in rent for the WPA-funded facility. In recent years the SJ Giants have invested over a million dollars in the old ballpark, as has the city.
Now the city is looking at an $85,000 expenditure on some sorely needed ballpark maintenance per the terms of the Municipal Stadium lease. That’s not sitting too well with some San Jose City Council members, who note the “Stand for San Jose” group suing the city over the proposed Oakland A’s ballpark is being funded by both Giants teams.
It’s good political posturing, but little will come of it: the time to object to the terms of a lease will be when the lease comes up for renewal next year.
Image of San Jose Municipal Stadium by John Moist.
RELATED STORIES: Giants: Nothing would tempt us to give up Silicon Valley territory; Selig: A’s can leave Oakland — just not for San Jose; Cal to San Jose: Slow down on new ballpark; A’s expected to push for ballpark decision at owner’s meetings; Today’s A’s/Giants update: nothing new; Wolff: A’s aren’t for sale; Suitors emerge for Oakland Athletics; Turf wars rage again in Bay Area: A’s say San Jose move doesn’t infringe on Giants; Oakland: One last gasp at keeping A’s; MLB: No, there’s been no decision on Oakland A’s to San Jose; Oakland bows out of Victory Court site for new A’s ballpark; Court ruling clarifies San Jose, Escondido ballpark statuses; San Jose to sell A’s ballpark land at huge loss; Oakland player plan depends on new ballpark; Obstacles to new ballparks in California: not as bleak as expected; San Jose rushing to acquire land for Athletics ballpark; Could Oakland bar A’s from moving?; Cal budget issues could alter San Jose, Oakland plans for A’s ballpark; Beware folks peddling simple solutions to complex problems; Oakland moves forward on environmental study of A’s ballpark site; Oakland may be in better financial shape to host new A’s ballpark; Oakland pitches new waterfront site for new A’s ballpark; As Giants win World Series, Athletics ballpark status in limbo
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!