POSTED: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - 1:28pm
UPDATED: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - 10:40am
Locals and County Officials React
El Paso, TX — Tuesday City Council will vote whether to authorize an agreement with the local MountainStar Sports Group to build a $50 million downtown baseball park.
The proposed $50 million stadium would be built where city hall is located now, and according to a non-compete clause, the Diablos would have to leave city limits when a triple-a team comes in. County Commissioner Anna Perez says she wants more details.
" Our buildings are downtown and so we at some point would hope that city would make a presentation to commissioners court because its county jurisdiction as well," said Perez.
She does agree a stadium would be good for El Paso's economy.
"As far as the economic development that comes with that. It's a very positive step, a very positive advancement on where El Paso County can be," said Perez.
As for the Diablos having to skip town, some think its time. El Paso native Hugo Rojo says he and his grandpa are huge baseball fans, but they're ready for something new.
" It gives me a big sense of pride. I know El Paso has been home to the El Paso Diablos a very long time but I think it's time for something bigger, something better, something that can put El Paso on the map,” said Rojo.
" I think it's probably best that we start expanding. I mean eventually it could be a fact that we might lose the Diablos but it'd be great to actually see another team maybe develop, maybe a fresh start which probably might be needed as we start to grow as a city," said local El Pasoan Jon Olgin.
County Judge Veronica Escobar says the proposed stadium is a wonderful idea.
" El Paso is a growing modern city but we still lack many amenities and we still lack many key aspects to quality of life that will make us a more competitive city. And so if we want to compete with other cities for industry, for jobs, for investment from the outside, we need to invest in ourselves," said Escobar.