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Rumors of Omaha Royals relocation to Sugar Land denied by city
By AUDREY M. MARKS
City officials say reports that Sugar Land is courting the Omaha Royals, a AAA-minor league baseball team affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, are not true.
“We’re not in negotiations” with the team, Doug Adolph, city spokes man told the Sun Aug. 13.
“The team owner had made some public comments relative to negotiation with the county in the [Omaha] area where he referenced” a southern location.
The Nebraska CBS affiliate, Action 3 News, reported they received two separate confirmations that the Omaha Royals owners and Sugar Land politicians made contact about relocating the team to the city’s proposed cultural and entertainment district.
But the city officially denies those claims.
“We’re not at that point yet,” Adolph said.
Before the city begins to look at a team for Sugar Land, Adolph said many things have to fall into place.
City officials need to call the election for a ballot initiative for a special venue tax and the use economic development tools, like the city’s 4A and 4B Corp., to have funds to build the minor league ball park.
City Council is slated to call for the ballot initiative Aug. 19.
Adolph said the results of November’s election in will determine the future of the cultural and entertainment district proposed for undeveloped property being leased to the city by the University of Houston System at Sugar Land.
A minor league baseball park is one of five major components of the proposed cultural and entertainment district. According to consultants a ball park could cost between $30 million and $60 million.
A feasibility study indicated a baseball team affiliated with Major League Baseball tends to draw bigger crowds and generate more money than an independent league team.
Before the city can woo an affiliated team to Sugar Land, they will need the blessing of the Houston Astros. The Astros currently maintain the territory rights of the surrounding counties.
The team operate a AAA team in Round Rock and a AA team in Corpus Christie.
“We’re not in negotiations” with the team, Doug Adolph, city spokes man told the Sun Aug. 13.
“The team owner had made some public comments relative to negotiation with the county in the [Omaha] area where he referenced” a southern location.
The Nebraska CBS affiliate, Action 3 News, reported they received two separate confirmations that the Omaha Royals owners and Sugar Land politicians made contact about relocating the team to the city’s proposed cultural and entertainment district.
But the city officially denies those claims.
“We’re not at that point yet,” Adolph said.
Before the city begins to look at a team for Sugar Land, Adolph said many things have to fall into place.
City officials need to call the election for a ballot initiative for a special venue tax and the use economic development tools, like the city’s 4A and 4B Corp., to have funds to build the minor league ball park.
City Council is slated to call for the ballot initiative Aug. 19.
Adolph said the results of November’s election in will determine the future of the cultural and entertainment district proposed for undeveloped property being leased to the city by the University of Houston System at Sugar Land.
A minor league baseball park is one of five major components of the proposed cultural and entertainment district. According to consultants a ball park could cost between $30 million and $60 million.
A feasibility study indicated a baseball team affiliated with Major League Baseball tends to draw bigger crowds and generate more money than an independent league team.
Before the city can woo an affiliated team to Sugar Land, they will need the blessing of the Houston Astros. The Astros currently maintain the territory rights of the surrounding counties.
The team operate a AAA team in Round Rock and a AA team in Corpus Christie.
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