BPD has a story link to a story out of Saskatoon:
Northern League perfect fit for city: Griffith
Apparently Clark finally made a trek to the city to survey it for himself:
Of course yesterday the same paper ran this story (also mentioned in BPD):
Pro ball has dubious history in Saskatoon
Writer Doug McConachie's words apparently weren't of concern to the commish:
Weather, the "antics" of previous owners (and their many unpaid bills), and that the people of Saskatoon would rather play the game (of softball) than watch it.
Of course his main gripe is that the city has been burned too many times to give anyone another chance. Which might explain the closing comment from Griffith:
Of course I don't think that's really the question at all... the real question is anyone willing to take the risk?
Northern League perfect fit for city: Griffith
Apparently Clark finally made a trek to the city to survey it for himself:
Quote:Well... there you go. You can buy into the NoL and Saskatoon with $2M and willingness to put up with Cairn Field for a couple seasons.
Little obstacles -- such as who might be willing to put up the $1 million US in expansion fees, or who would have a few hundred thousand to finance the team through a 96-game season, or even how you can get fans to sit in a badly outdated ballpark -- can all be overcome, Griffith said Tuesday as he surveyed the city to see what it has to offer.
(... ) It may not have the perfect ball park, he said before actually visiting Cairns Field, "but you can play in a bad ball park for a year or two," and in the process build solid support for the franchise.
"It makes perfect sense" to have Saskatoon join Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg in the eight-team league, he said. Griffith admitted his plan is to expand to two cities as early as next year, or at the latest 2009. He declined to name the other city he'd like to locate in.
There's no doubt that if the Northern League comes to Saskatoon, it will be successful, he said in a StarPhoenix interview. "The product is very good . . . we have to make Saskatoon work."
Griffith openly admits nobody has knocked down his door to get on board, which is why he flew into Saskatoon late Monday and spent Tuesday meeting with Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce officials and Mayor Don Atchison, as well as touring the city. The trip is to get the names of prospective partners, he said, but added that if anyone wants to get involved, all they have to do is call him (612-338-9097) in Minneapolis.
Of course yesterday the same paper ran this story (also mentioned in BPD):
Pro ball has dubious history in Saskatoon
Writer Doug McConachie's words apparently weren't of concern to the commish:
Quote:And he goes on to cite his reasons:
...Saskatoon would be a logical expansion city, says commissioner Clark Griffith of Minneapolis.
Yep. Then again, so would Regina.
On paper it could be a tidy five-team league, have inter-city rivalries and cut travelling distances.
And its chances for success? Two . . . nil and none. Not slim, not maybe. Following in the footsteps of the Riot, the Smoking Guns, the Stallions and the current trying-to-find-support Yellow Jackets, baseball fl ounders in this city.
Weather, the "antics" of previous owners (and their many unpaid bills), and that the people of Saskatoon would rather play the game (of softball) than watch it.
Of course his main gripe is that the city has been burned too many times to give anyone another chance. Which might explain the closing comment from Griffith:
Quote:If Doug's concern is the main factor, Clark is right. The NoL, unlike the previous failures in Saskatoon, is a legitimate and successful league.
The Northern League has proven itself . . . "we have a legitimate league, we have legitimate owners. I see Saskatoon as a very valuable franchise."
Of course I don't think that's really the question at all... the real question is anyone willing to take the risk?
