With all the requisite paperwork and permissions complete, MountainStar Sports Group has taken control of the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), paving the way for a move to El Paso in 2014.
Realistically, the sale of the team was close to final when MountainStar Sports Group signed a Franchise Purchase Agreement on Sept. 26: that was the point of no return, when the sale was inevitable. Still, the announcement today that the last set of permissions from MiLB had been granted on the team sale is certainly an occasion to mark. The last set of permission from MiLB means the team is controlled by MountainStar; it also means that the move to El Paso in 2014 is still on schedule, unless a ballpark deal gets derailed.
“Last month’s decision made by your City Council and Mayor put all the elements in place for El Paso to be approved as a Triple-A city,” said PCL President Branch Rickey via press release. “Your community and the ownership group have been reviewed very carefully by the Pacific Coast League, Minor League Baseball, and Major League Baseball, and they have completed the many steps necessary to be approved and to bring the Tucson Padres to El Paso. We know El Paso will be an outstanding home for this team, and an exciting place for visiting Pacific Coast League teams to play. On behalf of the game of Baseball, congratulations.”
“With final approval by the Pacific Coast League, Major League Baseball, and Minor League Baseball, El Pasoans can be very proud of our community and what this will mean for El Paso families and for our City,” said Josh Hunt, a member of MountainStar Sports Group along with his father, Woody Hunt, and Paul and Alejandra Foster. “In approximately eighteen months, El Pasoans from all parts of town will be headed to a brand new, state-of-the-art ballpark to see their team on opening day and enjoy the best in affordable family entertainment.”
The Tucson Padres are committed to play at Kino Stadium in 2013.
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