Following on this earlier post, this Miami Herald article reports that the Florida Marlins, beset by lease and attendance problems, are seriously focusing on San Antonio as its most likely relocation target:
[Marlins President] Samson said the Marlins are ”very encouraged” about how aggressively San Antonio is pursuing the Marlins and that the city is ”under very serious consideration.” Samson always has said the Marlins prefer to remain in South Florida, but stadium talks remain stalled.
San Antonio was the first city the Marlins visited after receiving permission to explore relocation. ”I imagine there will be another visit there,” Samson said.
San Antonio is presently preparing a stadium financing plan, which will be submitted soon to the Marlins and Major League Baseball. With a stadium located with good access from both the San Antonio and Austin metro areas, my sense is that the Marlins could do quite well in San Antonio, which — along with Austin — is a hotbed of baseball interest.
However, San Antonio’s leaders may want to get the Chamber of Commerce in line with their effort to attract the Marlins.