blaze89
06-09-2005, 07:50 AM
Soccer kicks about S.A. stance (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/citycouncil/stories/MYSA060905.9A.MLS_negotiations.2f699e23a.html)
Web Posted: 06/09/2005
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Just hours after Phil Hardberger promised at a news conference to say goodbye to Major League Soccer, the league ended negotiations with the city Wednesday in a sharply worded letter to outgoing Mayor Ed Garza that accused the city of negotiating in bad faith.
Garza, the architect of the more than yearlong effort to provide the Alamodome with an anchor tenant, called the development a "big disappointment." He said there's no chance of rekindling the talks.
"I held out hope that (a lease agreement with MLS) would be reached," Garza said, "but the forces against the plan were just too significant."
In the letter, signed by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, the league said the plan developed by Garza and league officials "was subjected to a barrage of politically motivated criticisms that were not based on objective analysis of the (proposed lease) agreement or its benefits to the city."
The league said criticism "made it impossible" to sell 5,000 season tickets or recruit local investors, two requirements MLS had for granting a team in 2006.
In a phone interview late Wednesday, Garber directed much of his criticism at Hardberger, an outspoken critic of the plan, who defeated Julián Castro in Tuesday's runoff election for mayor.
"This has been changed at the 12th hour due to politics, and it is appalling," Garber said.
"We wish the new mayor luck."
Reached at Hardberger's home, a family member said the mayor-elect would have no comment.
In the letter, Garber also accused the city of changing the terms in a council-approved memorandum of understanding that served as the basis for a lease agreement.
The city staff presented the league with a proposed lease May 27.
The lease "contained many terms that are in direct contradiction of the memorandum of understanding," the letter says. "The draft agreements reflect terms that would be impossible for any sports team to operate under.
"I am particularly appalled that without any discussion, the proposed agreements included substantial new terms that had never been discussed in the six months of negotiations leading to the completion of the memorandum of understanding."
Garza said he never saw the proposed lease.
"All I know is that it went from (a 12-page) memorandum of understanding to 1,000 pages plus," Garza said.
Hardberger, Castro and several council members criticized the terms outlined in the memorandum, which called for the team to receive rent-free use of the dome for 20 games and other incentives.
In the days before the runoff, Castro and Councilman-elect Roland Gutierrez said they wanted the team to pay rent. Hardberger said there was no community support for MLS and that he would not negotiate with the league.
Garza and MLS countered by saying an anchor tenant in the dome would help cut the building's operating costs and its annual deficit.
"Never in my 25 years in pro sports," Garber said, "have I seen a sports team reach out to aid a city and bolster their economy and then due to politics change their mind.
"This has been disappointing and frustrating."
Said Garza: "This would have been a financial plus for the city, not a giveaway."
The city last month approved a $2.9 million improvement package for the dome, including a plan to finish out 14 suites. Those improvements will be made despite the loss of MLS.
Garza noted that Houston is pursuing an MLS team.
"I guess I will just go to Houston to watch some games," he said.
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Web Posted: 06/09/2005
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Just hours after Phil Hardberger promised at a news conference to say goodbye to Major League Soccer, the league ended negotiations with the city Wednesday in a sharply worded letter to outgoing Mayor Ed Garza that accused the city of negotiating in bad faith.
Garza, the architect of the more than yearlong effort to provide the Alamodome with an anchor tenant, called the development a "big disappointment." He said there's no chance of rekindling the talks.
"I held out hope that (a lease agreement with MLS) would be reached," Garza said, "but the forces against the plan were just too significant."
In the letter, signed by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, the league said the plan developed by Garza and league officials "was subjected to a barrage of politically motivated criticisms that were not based on objective analysis of the (proposed lease) agreement or its benefits to the city."
The league said criticism "made it impossible" to sell 5,000 season tickets or recruit local investors, two requirements MLS had for granting a team in 2006.
In a phone interview late Wednesday, Garber directed much of his criticism at Hardberger, an outspoken critic of the plan, who defeated Julián Castro in Tuesday's runoff election for mayor.
"This has been changed at the 12th hour due to politics, and it is appalling," Garber said.
"We wish the new mayor luck."
Reached at Hardberger's home, a family member said the mayor-elect would have no comment.
In the letter, Garber also accused the city of changing the terms in a council-approved memorandum of understanding that served as the basis for a lease agreement.
The city staff presented the league with a proposed lease May 27.
The lease "contained many terms that are in direct contradiction of the memorandum of understanding," the letter says. "The draft agreements reflect terms that would be impossible for any sports team to operate under.
"I am particularly appalled that without any discussion, the proposed agreements included substantial new terms that had never been discussed in the six months of negotiations leading to the completion of the memorandum of understanding."
Garza said he never saw the proposed lease.
"All I know is that it went from (a 12-page) memorandum of understanding to 1,000 pages plus," Garza said.
Hardberger, Castro and several council members criticized the terms outlined in the memorandum, which called for the team to receive rent-free use of the dome for 20 games and other incentives.
In the days before the runoff, Castro and Councilman-elect Roland Gutierrez said they wanted the team to pay rent. Hardberger said there was no community support for MLS and that he would not negotiate with the league.
Garza and MLS countered by saying an anchor tenant in the dome would help cut the building's operating costs and its annual deficit.
"Never in my 25 years in pro sports," Garber said, "have I seen a sports team reach out to aid a city and bolster their economy and then due to politics change their mind.
"This has been disappointing and frustrating."
Said Garza: "This would have been a financial plus for the city, not a giveaway."
The city last month approved a $2.9 million improvement package for the dome, including a plan to finish out 14 suites. Those improvements will be made despite the loss of MLS.
Garza noted that Houston is pursuing an MLS team.
"I guess I will just go to Houston to watch some games," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]