Sunday, April 11, 2004
D.C. Plan for Ballpark Doesn't Sway Angelos
Sun Rises in the East Dept.: Orioles owner Peter Angelos is still opposed to a major league team in Washington, D.C.
"I have said it before and I'll say it again: Two major league franchises within 35 miles of each other spells mediocrity for both."
Mr. Angelos, meet the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. They play less than 20 miles from one another. Furthermore, according to 2000 Census Bureau data [warning: .PDF link], they play in a market with 600,000 fewer people than the combined Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, and since they both play at the north end of their region, fans at the southern end have a long trip to either stadium. They seem to be doing okay.
Angelos should concentrate his efforts on lobbying the D.C. City Council, many of whom are already skeptical-to-opposed to spending so much public money on a ballpark. Even Finance and Revenue Committee chair Jack Evans, a stadium supporter, insists that MLB must act first: "I will not agree to spend one dime until baseball commits to coming to D.C."
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Sun Rises in the East Dept.: Orioles owner Peter Angelos is still opposed to a major league team in Washington, D.C.
"I have said it before and I'll say it again: Two major league franchises within 35 miles of each other spells mediocrity for both."
Mr. Angelos, meet the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. They play less than 20 miles from one another. Furthermore, according to 2000 Census Bureau data [warning: .PDF link], they play in a market with 600,000 fewer people than the combined Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, and since they both play at the north end of their region, fans at the southern end have a long trip to either stadium. They seem to be doing okay.
Angelos should concentrate his efforts on lobbying the D.C. City Council, many of whom are already skeptical-to-opposed to spending so much public money on a ballpark. Even Finance and Revenue Committee chair Jack Evans, a stadium supporter, insists that MLB must act first: "I will not agree to spend one dime until baseball commits to coming to D.C."
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