Using late payments as a legal reason to void a lease, Edinburg city officials are seeking bids for a Edinburg Baseball Stadium lease for 2013 and beyond.
The lease at the 4,000-seat ballpark had been held by Edinburg Equities LLC, owners of the Edinburg Roadrunners (independent; United League Baseball), but after the owners missed two rent payments (which have since been paid), the city council decided to void the current lease and seek a new tenant for the ballpark.
It’s pretty much a sure deal the Roadrunners will once again bid on the lease. Edinburg Equities is owned by John Bryant and Byron Pierce, owners of United League Baseball. They seem pretty intent on continuing operations for 2013 and beyond, especially after shelling out $4 million for LaGrave Field, home of the Fort Worth Cats. Keeping Edinburg is key to the league’s future fortunes: Edinburg/McAllen is a major market, and while the Roadrunners had a pretty subpar 2012 at the box office, drawing just 1,553 fans a game, the Roadrunners have traditionally been a good draw.
For Edinburg, attracting competition for the lease is the rationale for letting it out to bid, but the city make have waited too long. The only other realistic suitor for a $75,000 annual lease would be the independent American Association, and that league has already set on a lineup and schedule for 2013. Now, there’s some flexibility in that schedule — each team has a set of unspecified games reserved for Can-Am League play — and other games could be shifted to accommodate an Edinburg team. Sources tell us no decision has been made on bidding for the Edinburg lease.
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