Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 22, 1994 TAG: 9403220061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Maybe not, Buccaneers owner Kelvin Bowles said Monday.
Salem City Council voted last week to let residents decide via referendum whether to build a new home for the Bucs. But the limited window of time when a special election can be held means a stadium might not be ready for opening day '95.
And, Bowles said, "From the information I'm getting, I won't be able to keep the team in Salem next year without a new stadium."
A referendum seems likely to pass, since it appears most residents want to keep the Pittsburgh Pirate farm team in Salem. But neither Bowles - who has said he wants to keep the team in Salem - nor the Pirates wants to be in Municipal Field for another season.
"We have to work hard all year to just barely get into the black," because of the limited seating and concession areas at the park, said Bowles.
And, he said, "Pittsburgh has made it pretty clear to me they're not coming back to Municipal Field."
Major League Baseball has said this is the last year the field can be used for minor-league play because it doesn't meet professional standards in several areas, such as safety factors around the outside fence and the size of the field, the dugouts and the clubhouses.
Councilman Sonny Tarpley, who proposed the referendum, has said he thinks Major League Baseball would give the city an extension to use Municipal Field while a new stadium is built.
But Bowles, in a telephone interview from Florida where he's scouting for the Florida Marlins, said the original deadline was this April and the team has already been given an extension to use the field this season.
If plans are drawn up before the referendum, and construction begins "full blast" immediately if the measure passes, it's possible a stadium could be finished by next spring, Bowles said.
"No question about it, Salem is No. 1 on my list," he said. "I have to protect my investment, but . . . I don't want to even look at relocating."
Bowles planned to sell the team in February for $2 million, in part because of the lack of profit from Municipal Field. But council refused to transfer the lease to the prospective owner until members have a chance to study the city's financial picture in May and discuss building a stadium. Bowles then declined to extend the sale date to the buyer, New York sports psychologist Eric Margenau.
The referendum will ask voters if they want to build a stadium not Pittsburgh has made it pretty clear to me they're not coming back to Municipal Field. Kelvin Bowles to exceed $5 million in cost and not requiring a tax increase.
Because of legal requirements and the number of days that must separate regular elections and referendums, Salem must hold its special election between July 19 and early September.
Bowles, who said he didn't know about the referendum move until after council's vote, said he plans to talk to city officials when he returns from Florida at the end of the month.
"I can't wait until September to make that decision" whether to relocate next year.
But Bowles said he understands why council voted to defer the stadium question to the voters.
"I don't think the city's doing anything detrimental to me or to professional baseball," he said. "Whoever proposed this is doing what's best for the city."
He praised the city of Salem, saying, "I still have confidence the city will do something."
by CNB