Johnny_Blaze_47
05-12-2005, 09:20 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/citycouncil/stories/MYSA051205.1A.MLS_plan.2666cbf58.html
Mayor set to serve up new ideas for soccer
Web Posted: 05/12/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Bowing to community pressure, Mayor Ed Garza said Wednesday night that his new plan to bring a Major League Soccer team to San Antonio asks the city to spend $2.74 million for improvements to the Alamodome and eliminates all other projects.
His original plan included an additional $18 million construction at Brooks City-Base of a 13-field youth soccer complex and a practice facility for an MLS team.
"This new plan still allows us to make needed improvements to the dome and make it a premier indoor soccer facility," Garza said.
Those improvements include the completion of 14 luxury suites, bringing the total to 52, the installation of new turf and the refurbishing of offices.
Garza said he also plans to unveil at today's City Council meeting changes to the memorandum of understanding between the city and the league. The memorandum serves as a framework for a lease agreement between the city and the MLS team.
"While this new plan is politically acceptable, it may not be acceptable to the MLS," Garza said.
Asked if he thought the MLS might end negotiations with the city because of the changes, Garza said: "It's hard to say how this shakes things up."
A message left with MLS spokesman Simon Borg for comment from league officials wasn't immediately returned.
Garza announced last week that he'd develop a new plan for soccer after hearing City Council members' complaints about his original incentive-laden package.
"I have heard loud and clear from my constituents that they are not happy with the (terms) of the memorandum of understanding," Councilman Art Hall said. "The perception is that we are giving away the dome."
The memorandum calls for the team to get the Alamodome rent-free for 20 games a year and as much as 80 percent of any revenue made on selling the naming rights.
Garza said the fate of his soccer project will be left to the new City Council, which won't be in place until late June because of the June 7 runoff election for mayor and two seats.
"And not a penny will be spent until a lease agreement is approved and 5,000 season tickets are sold," Garza said.
MLS officials have said they will grant the city a team if it sells 5,000 season tickets and produces a local ownership group.
Garza and his supporters say an MLS team would provide the dome with an anchor tenant and help reduce the building's annual deficit of $2 million.
"The irony today is that there is all this talk about the NFL (coming to San Antonio) and about rumors and potential," Garza said. "Well, the MLS is ready to come to San Antonio today."
Garza said he'll announce today the establishment of a blue-ribbon commission for the development of a youth soccer complex. He said the panel will include representatives of the San Antonio Sports Foundation.
"There is still a big opportunity to do things at Brooks," Garza said. "It will just be a different approach."
A local soccer advocate, Reagan High School boys coach Walter Rule, said he was disappointed that Garza wasn't following through with his original plan to construct youth fields.
"It's great that they are trying to bring MLS to the city," he said. "But ultimately, somewhere along the way we have to take care of our youth."
San Antonio has 164 soccer fields, a number dwarfed by Houston's 358, Dallas' 310 and Austin's 230.
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Blaze's Take: Let's see...help the youth of our community and actually attempt to pay off the expense by leasing the fields or continue to get raped by making upgrades on the Dome and giving the farm to a franchise that very few in San Antonio would openly support.
I can't believe this fucker gets ANOTHER 17 days.
Mayor set to serve up new ideas for soccer
Web Posted: 05/12/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Bowing to community pressure, Mayor Ed Garza said Wednesday night that his new plan to bring a Major League Soccer team to San Antonio asks the city to spend $2.74 million for improvements to the Alamodome and eliminates all other projects.
His original plan included an additional $18 million construction at Brooks City-Base of a 13-field youth soccer complex and a practice facility for an MLS team.
"This new plan still allows us to make needed improvements to the dome and make it a premier indoor soccer facility," Garza said.
Those improvements include the completion of 14 luxury suites, bringing the total to 52, the installation of new turf and the refurbishing of offices.
Garza said he also plans to unveil at today's City Council meeting changes to the memorandum of understanding between the city and the league. The memorandum serves as a framework for a lease agreement between the city and the MLS team.
"While this new plan is politically acceptable, it may not be acceptable to the MLS," Garza said.
Asked if he thought the MLS might end negotiations with the city because of the changes, Garza said: "It's hard to say how this shakes things up."
A message left with MLS spokesman Simon Borg for comment from league officials wasn't immediately returned.
Garza announced last week that he'd develop a new plan for soccer after hearing City Council members' complaints about his original incentive-laden package.
"I have heard loud and clear from my constituents that they are not happy with the (terms) of the memorandum of understanding," Councilman Art Hall said. "The perception is that we are giving away the dome."
The memorandum calls for the team to get the Alamodome rent-free for 20 games a year and as much as 80 percent of any revenue made on selling the naming rights.
Garza said the fate of his soccer project will be left to the new City Council, which won't be in place until late June because of the June 7 runoff election for mayor and two seats.
"And not a penny will be spent until a lease agreement is approved and 5,000 season tickets are sold," Garza said.
MLS officials have said they will grant the city a team if it sells 5,000 season tickets and produces a local ownership group.
Garza and his supporters say an MLS team would provide the dome with an anchor tenant and help reduce the building's annual deficit of $2 million.
"The irony today is that there is all this talk about the NFL (coming to San Antonio) and about rumors and potential," Garza said. "Well, the MLS is ready to come to San Antonio today."
Garza said he'll announce today the establishment of a blue-ribbon commission for the development of a youth soccer complex. He said the panel will include representatives of the San Antonio Sports Foundation.
"There is still a big opportunity to do things at Brooks," Garza said. "It will just be a different approach."
A local soccer advocate, Reagan High School boys coach Walter Rule, said he was disappointed that Garza wasn't following through with his original plan to construct youth fields.
"It's great that they are trying to bring MLS to the city," he said. "But ultimately, somewhere along the way we have to take care of our youth."
San Antonio has 164 soccer fields, a number dwarfed by Houston's 358, Dallas' 310 and Austin's 230.
------
Blaze's Take: Let's see...help the youth of our community and actually attempt to pay off the expense by leasing the fields or continue to get raped by making upgrades on the Dome and giving the farm to a franchise that very few in San Antonio would openly support.
I can't believe this fucker gets ANOTHER 17 days.