OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

darkcloud4579 · 08-14-2007, 04:01 PM

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS SAY "WHY NOT US?"

New Jersey's last major league baseball entry left in 1975, when the Jersey City Elites headed west to Kansas City. Despite vying for several clubs during the last expansion and attempting to woo teams, the city has been unsuccessful in its bids for teams.

The number one reason? It has nothing to do with usual city problems such as crime or even the lack of a suitable stadium. It has everything to do with the behemoth to the north. New York City.

"Teams are afraid to come here, because they feel all of our fans are already rooting for New York teams," said baseball writer for the Newark Star-Ledger Paul Kiper.

"But I think they'll find a much more nuanced environment and that New Jersey people like to root for New Jersey teams."

The most likely candidate on the block at present, are the Yankees, who are strongly considering a relocation from Tampa at the end of the season. While Indianapolis has privately emerged to be the frontrunner for the ballclub, Newark officials -- who say they have yet to talk to the team -- believe that their city is the perfect place for the team.

"Our brand new ballpark is less than a year old and has the ability to be expanded. Major League Soccer put its team just over the river in Harrison, NJ and the New Jersey Devils hockey team are moving this fall. It's the right time to be in Newark," said Mayor Cory Booker.

The city's woes in other areas such as crime and woeful schools say that "they should be focusing their efforts on other things," but the city says that "We're in the midst of a renassiance. Into the early 50s, Newark was still one of the largest cities in America. We're on the doorstep to the world's economic powerhouse. We believe this is the right place for a major league team and baseball's legacy here is long."

When asked about this, Yankees spokesman Randy Winter said, "I've heard nothing about this before."

08-14-2007, 04:01 PM	#73
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,689	NEWARK, NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS SAY "WHY NOT US?" New Jersey's last major league baseball entry left in 1975, when the Jersey City Elites headed west to Kansas City. Despite vying for several clubs during the last expansion and attempting to woo teams, the city has been unsuccessful in its bids for teams. The number one reason? It has nothing to do with usual city problems such as crime or even the lack of a suitable stadium. It has everything to do with the behemoth to the north. New York City. "Teams are afraid to come here, because they feel all of our fans are already rooting for New York teams," said baseball writer for the Newark Star-Ledger Paul Kiper. "But I think they'll find a much more nuanced environment and that New Jersey people like to root for New Jersey teams." The most likely candidate on the block at present, are the Yankees, who are strongly considering a relocation from Tampa at the end of the season. While Indianapolis has privately emerged to be the frontrunner for the ballclub, Newark officials -- who say they have yet to talk to the team -- believe that their city is the perfect place for the team. "Our brand new ballpark is less than a year old and has the ability to be expanded. Major League Soccer put its team just over the river in Harrison, NJ and the New Jersey Devils hockey team are moving this fall. It's the right time to be in Newark," said Mayor Cory Booker. The city's woes in other areas such as crime and woeful schools say that "they should be focusing their efforts on other things," but the city says that "We're in the midst of a renassiance. Into the early 50s, Newark was still one of the largest cities in America. We're on the doorstep to the world's economic powerhouse. We believe this is the right place for a major league team and baseball's legacy here is long." When asked about this, Yankees spokesman Randy Winter said, "I've heard nothing about this before."