ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 27, 1996 TAG: 9607300038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA
SOURCE: Associated Press
WHILE VIRGINIA IS TRYING to steal its Astros, Houston is trying to steal the consultant under contract to bring the Astros to Northern Virginia.
A team of would-be baseball owners wants to lure Houston's baseball team to Virginia, and now Houston says it has hired away a key player in the Virginia effort.
Virginia stadium authority officials were surprised to learn Wednesday that their baseball consultant has been offered a job by the county that is trying to stop the Houston Astros from moving to Northern Virginia.
Harris County, Texas, officials voted late Tuesday to hire Stafford Sports Ventures L.P. in a last-ditch effort to persuade the Astros to stay in town.
The Philadelphia-based firm already is working for the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority to design a financing plan for a $300 million stadium. The stadium would be built if the Virginia Baseball Club buys the Astros or some other major league team.
``They are experts in the field of sports, stadium and entertainment finance negotiations, and that is what the judge is looking for,'' said Sally Lehr, spokeswoman for Judge Robert Eckles, Harris County's top elected official.
Harris County has asked Stafford to drop its contract with the Virginia authority before it begins work on a $250 million plan to build a new stadium for the Astros. Lehr said the firm had agreed to do so.
The Astros now play in the 31-year-old Astrodome and have poor attendance.
``We will decide, based on both relationships we have, which is the best for us,'' said Carl Hirsh, managing partner of Stafford.
The move is not going over well with Virginia's baseball backers.
``I was surprised by it. ... As far as I am concerned, we have a contract,'' said authority Chairman Kenneth L. Crovo. ``And I don't think it is breakable. I have contacted our attorney.''
Stafford and its partner, Government Finance Group Inc. of Arlington, have rung up $120,000 in bills to the Virginia authority. Its contract allows it to terminate with 90 days' notice.
``They are the best in the business,'' stadium authority member William G. Buck said of Stafford. ``It would surprise me that a company of their integrity would consider doing this. It is less than professional, and hopefully it is not true.''
The tug of war between Northern Virginia and Houston for control of the Astros has been heating up as the Aug. 1 deadline that Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. set for a new stadium deal in Houston gets closer.
For Houston, the loss of the Astros would be a major embarrassment, especially after its professional football team, the Oilers, decided this year to move to Nashville.
McLane has told Harris officials that after losing more than $60 million since buying the team three years ago, he needs a new stadium with more luxurious boxes and other money-producing amenities.
If the county does not offer the Astros an acceptable stadium package by Aug. 1, McLane has said he will ask other baseball owners for permission to sell his team.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB