Minutes 04/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 13, 2004 04 - 142 - Adoption of a resolution in support of regional efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the Hampton Roads area. Recommendation: · Adoption of a resolution in support of regional efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the Hampton Roads area. Purpose and Need: · The City of Norfolk has rallied behind the effort to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to the Hampton Roads region and has been working with the Hampton Roads Partnership and the Norfolk Baseball Company to this end. · The Montreal Expos' franchise is currently for sale, and the Hampton Roads area is the largest population center in the United States without a professional sports franchise. A site selection committee has come to the area in support of the bid. · A Major League Baseball franchise would bring hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue to the region deriving from payroll, construction and tourism. · The City of Virginia Beach has also expressed its support in the form of a resolution. Financial Impact: · The financial impact for Portsmouth cannot be quantified at this time. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, 363 Middle Street, spoke in opposition to this item. Motion by Mr. Benn, and seconded by Mr. Whitehurst, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO BRING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO THE HAMPTON ROADS AREA. WHEREAS, the citizens of the Hampton Roads area are bonded together by years of mutual support, as well as their appreciation of outdoor recreation and sporting activities, and especially their enthusiasm for the national pastime of baseball; and WHEREAS, the Montreal Expos baseball franchise is currently for sale, and the Hampton Roads area is the largest population center in the United States without a professional sports franchise; and WHEREAS, a Major League Baseball franchise would bring hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue deriving for payroll, construction and tourism, and incalculable excitement to the entire region; and WHEREAS, our neighbors and colleagues in the City of Norfolk have rallied behind the effort to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to the Hampton Roads area; and WHEREAS, Major League Baseball has recognized the efforts of the Mayor and Council of the City of Norfolk, the Hampton Roads Partnership and the Norfolk Baseball Company by the sending a site selection committee to the area in consideration of the bid; and WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth and the City of Norfolk have a history of successful partnerships; and WHEREAS, the establishment of a Major League Baseball franchise will create a new era of partnership and cooperation between our cities that already have so much in common.