Temporary Stadium Proposed
During a press conference late Thursday night, a mere week after his State of the City Speech, Mayor Gonzales finally released details for his plan to bring Major League Baseball to San Jose.
His inspiration seems to have come from an unlikely place – the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Earlier this week the council approved a $6.3 million tent facility to expand the space-challenged convention center to accommodate a future E-Bay event.
“I think we can do the same for a baseball stadium,” explained Gonzales. “If it can be done for the convention center and it is good enough for Cirque Du Soleil, why not build a stadium with tents? It could save money and time, provide protection from inclement weather, and when it was not being used, it could be folded up and put away. I believe the neighborhoods could get squarely behind this idea.”
Major League Baseball commissioner, Bud Selig, rumored to be intrigued about the possibilities of using temporary stadiums in other expansion cities, is taking a wait and see attitude while San Jose pushes forward the idea. “If that wicked-smart Mayor could get this done,” added Selig, “the Giants can kiss their territorial rights goodbye.”
Which, of course, would free up the possibility of the A’s making a move south.
When asked about recent conversations he has had with the Oakland Athletics’ new owner and San Jose booster, Lew Wolff, about that very possibility, Gonzales was emphatic: “We specifically have not talked to the A’s because, frankly, San Jose deserves the best and we have set our sights on a bigger prize – The New York Yankees.”
Several calls to George Steinbrenner were not returned.
We can’t even have a hockey season or keep the Quakes, so by all means, let’s put up a new tent!
Heck, why not have a tent for the Quakes. That’s actually a better idea than anything else he’s put forward.
Stadiums can Only do So much
http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/050218/sb200502180095_sb031_1.html
Is this your idea of a joke? There has got to be some journalistic responsibility here. I realize that these are all op-ed pieces, but some people might take your “quotes” seriously.
Rib the mayor if you like, but find a better way to do it then inventing sarcastic scenarios that belittle a movement that many of us in the community enthusiastically support.
Cisco just offered a million to sponsor the new tent stadium.
Wait…They just withdrew their offer…
Where’d that extra million bucks go?!
http://www.swlearning.com/economics/policy_debates/stadiums.html
subsidizing sports / stadiums
http://www.breadnotcircuses.org/brooking.html
Why stop at a baseball stadium. How about a circus tent for city hall? Instead of a midway with games such as the dime toss we can have lobbyist row where they can tout their projects in public with full disclosure of course.
well if the Yankees aren’t interested in moving I’m sure boston would give up the red sox instead of waiting another 85 years for a world series title. I would be interested in your source in the mayors office for this classified information
Hey Kevin Murray ever hear of this?
Sarcasm, if not here is the definition!
A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.
The use of sarcasm. See Synonyms at wit1.
Oh and for your information the Yankees will never leave New York, incase you are a Yankees fan! Did’nt want to get you even more upset! You must be a Red Sox’s fan!
Enjoy your weekend….TOOL!
If it’s like other things in the Mayor’s office, they will deny any knowledge of this—at least until the emails surface directly linking the Mayor and his staff.
As to those who fear some may actually believe the quotes in pieces like this, that speaks volumes about the Mayor and the current administration. They have acted so irresponsibly so many times that it is hard for some to know which ridiculous action may or may not be true.
But as long as we are talking tents, why not get Ringling Brothers to move their HQ from Florida to here? We’ve already got a new Clown College going up on Santa Clara Street.
I’ve been viewing this “blog” for some time. Although I am no fan of the mayor, this site disdain for him is a bit much. Why don’t you hire the guys that produced the swift boat commercials attacking Sen. Kerry’s record?
Because the Swift Boat guys based their attacks on untruths, half-truths, and otherwise distorted information.
The comments here may not be favorable to RG but they are fact based.
That’s your opinion, Ric. It’s easy to throw stones from the side lines and make broad suggestions on how to bring BART or a stadium to SF (or reasons not to bring it).
By the way, watch out, because the sky is falling.
Geez, people are a little sensitive about saracasm and criticism about the mayor. Please, it is about time that someone is speaking up and saying something about the lack of progress this guy has made. What is everyone so afraid of? Thank you for making light of the “tent” idea which is just being passed off as a great idea for expanding the convention center when they should have started building a permanent addition years ago!
Making constructive suggestions is not “throwing stones.” Many make comments from the “sidelines” because this Mayor has made it a practice to insulate himself and only surround himself with those who will say “yes” to everything he says.
If there were truly a public process in SJ, there would be little need for a “blog” like this. Have you ever tried to express an opinion different than the Mayor’s at a so-called public hearing? If you have, you know why this forum is a refreshing change.
Roid Rage,
Thank you for your insightful comments. Your posting of the definition of the word sarcasm has changed my outlook on life. Your school yard name calling has forced me to see the wrong of my ways. You have proven your selflessness by not accepting personal credit for your services, hiding your true identity behind a fake name. The contribution you have made is remarkable. If this is the kind of discourse I can expect here, I shall be back daily!
I wonder what happened to “the bubble” that used to cover SCU’s Toso Pavilion? If it hasn’t been recycled, someone could pull it out of mothballs and use that as the temporary structure. Then the convention center could afford the air-conditioning system they won’t be able to put into the current tent plan.
Perhaps I should clarify my position, for it seems that some have misunderstood the intentions of my first post.
I am not a vehement supporter of the Mayor. I encouraged the author to “Rib the mayor if you want.”
I understand that this piece was sarcastic. I noted the sarcastic nature of the article in my post.
I have two issues with the article, which I implied but did not state directly, so here goes:
1) The article, although inadvertently and by association, belittles the efforts being made to attract a Major League Baseball team to our city. This is a movement that I support, and believe that if successful, would bring economic enhancement as well as a sense of pride to San Jose.
2) Neither the article, nor the website, makes any disclaimer that quotes within the article are strictly parody – this is a problem. The author uses the names of real people, and has invented false quotes. Bloggers rarely hold themselves to the same journalistic standards that are a must for other, more traditional media sources, but they are not exempt from legal actions taken by those who can demonstrate that they have been hurt by false claims. Certainly Bud Selig has bigger distractions than the words of John McEnery, but if Mr. Selig chose to file suit against him, there would be grounds based on the misrepresentations herein.
Moreover, I have encouraged many young people to get involved in local issues, and I frequently recommend sites such as this as a source of public discourse on issues of local significance. You can’t fault a child or teen for being naïve. I feel that it was irresponsible of the author to assume that all of his readers would innately recognize his intended sarcasm.
Thank you, Kevin Murray, for addressing this issue. I agree with you 200%. Because of my focus on supporting bringing a MLB team to San Jose, I also tend to see this article’s sarcasm as being (inadverently), aimed at our efforts. The issues you raise re. false claims are right on. I also enjoy parody, but it has to be presented in a proper venue, and I don’t think that this article has been so presented, as there are no disclaimers re. the false quotes and the intended sarcasm.
This is my first time on this web page, but if this story is indicative of what is normally on here, I guess I won’t be back…
Who wouldn’t know this is a tongue in cheek article?
Love these Friday articles!!! Lots of energy & banter!! Any word from George yet??
Keep up the good work, John.
Leo
I think that these baseball stadium supporters are totally missing where this blog entry is aimed. I don’t think it is to discourage or disparage the efforts to bring a stadium to SJ but to parody the whole tent expansion of the convention center. That is what I got out of it.
There was an article in the local daily, “Neighbors take a swing at stadium plan”, explaining why neighbors object. The neighbors have good reason. The site, Del Monte, lacks space for such a facility, sufficient easily accesible parking and, as important, nearby major roadway access. Of course all of this could disappear if the city chose to use its awesome powers of emminent domain to remove the pesky surrounding home/property owners and small businesses- not a good idea.
A better plan is to locate the proposed stadium (if in fact, a team can move to San Jose) on the Mercury News location right off of Brokow/880and 101. Move the entire operation to any one of the empty buildings downtown. Sobrato’s new high rise would be perfect. Knight Ridder could either donate their land or become a partner with Lew Wolfe and Mr Phil DeNapoli and there would be no need to have an election to request funding from the already beleagured public for a subsidy for these very wealthy folks.
A stadium at 880 on Brokaw – yeah, like that wouldn’t be a traffic nightmare! Plus, why move the A’s stadium from 880 in Oakland to 880 in San Jose?
Also, emminent domain is sad, yes we know, but usually the people are MORE than compensated for their trouble.
Do you mean like that person who got moved from Almaden Ave for the convention center who wanted $900,000 to buy a comparable house in Willow Glen or Rose Garden? Maybe that is why they are upset…
Get a clue Murray and Vicki, The author is in favor of a baseball team in San Jose, What he sees is a Mayor who mouths something for political gain but has no plan what so ever in getting it done. Maybe if someone paid for a trip somewhere for him he might do something, such as Cisco did before they got their sweetheart deal with the city.
If the proposed “Tent” goes up at the site the mayor suggested (old Del Monte), and the OSH is torn down because of it, then where will they get the “Tent” repair kit should it rain and the tent leak? That is something serious to think about.
Face it folks, the only baseball team San Jose will ever host is the Class A San Jose Giants. And the only ballpark that San Jose will ever host a professional baseball game in is non other than Muni Stadium. Get over it folks. MLB will never, ever allow the a’s to move to the south bay. Even if they were to change their mind, it would cost a kings ransom to pay the Giants for these rights. Also, San Jose voters will never EVER subsidize with taxpayer money a ballpark for a very wealthy owner – funds that should be raised in the private sector.